Thread by @aviation07101

Su-30 #Flanker #Thread
Lets do this Su-30 came into existence on requirement of Soviet Air Defence Forces #PVO needing a command aircraft to guide Su-27s via radio-data link to guard vast territory of USSR. #PVO was ranked higher than Soviet Airforce #VVS. 1/

Su-27UB & Su-30SM👇

#PVO chose trainer Su-27UB to be developed as combat capable interceptor/command aircraft in which 2nd officer would keep track of targets & assign roles to other aircraft e.g. Su-27s by distributing targets hence the term “Mini AWAC”. Su-27UB was manufactured by #Irkut Corp 2/

Single seat Su-27 was manufactured at KnAAPO which was given task of developing better air superiority Su-27M (now Su-35) by Soviet airforce. Irkut became home of Su-30 as plant was already producing Su-27UB. Su-27PU was demonstrator with new radar,refuelling,communication sys 3/

In the end #PVO decided not go for Su-27PU (Su-30) rather chose to stay with MiG-31 & Su-27 combo to guard USSR mainland which was about to collapse. All these upgrades were being developed in 1980s. By 1991 USSR was gone & Soviet industrial complex came to stand still. 4/

Breaking of USSR left all projects in limbo,
Su-27M now Su-35 (superiority)
Su-27PU now Su-30 (multirole)
Su-27IB now Su-34 (Bomber)
Su-27K now Su-33 (Naval)

Irkut pushed Su-27PU as Su-30M (M=Modernised) for new Russian Airforce but no sale, Russian Federation was in turmoil 5/

USSR is gone so are its needs of air power. KnAAPO is now stuck with Su-27M & T-50 (Su-57) in early stages of R&D. No sales of Su-27 till 🇨🇳 orders but not enough. Irkut Su-30M has no customer
Time to hit Airshows its 90s
Su-30MK #Irkut with full load demo 👀 & Su-27P #KnAAPO👇6/

In order to survive both production factories of Sukhoi OKB namely KnAAPO & Irkut pushed for commercial opportunities outside Russia.
Su-30M became MK (K=Commercial). India ordered a much improved variant with new Bars N011M radar, canards, AL-31FP engines & TVC called #MKI 7/

MKI (I=India) had special avionics “Project Ventrivale” with 🇫🇷🇮🇱🇿🇦🇮🇳components, new Fly by Wire system to accommodate Canards & Thrust vectoring. Later Malaysia (Su-30MKM) Algeria (Su-30MKA) ordered from #Irkut. Russian MK version is called Su-30SM & still in production 8/

Canards & Thrust vectoring actually came from Sukhoi OKB tech demonstrator single seater Su-27M called Su-37 Terminator which was a show-boy in 1990s performing all over the world in Airshows till it crashed. Tech from Su-27M air superiority also became part of Irkut Su-30MK. 9/

Meanwhile #KnAAPO sold Su-27SK to China & signed to provide 200 kits to Shenyang for assembling of Su-27S called J-11A. Looking at success of Irkut, KnAAPO developed Su-30MKK for PLAAF but without heavy PESA radar so Canards weren’t needed nor Chinese wanted thrust vectoring 11/

After Su-30MKK sale to PLAAF, PLA Navy wanted shore based naval strike aircraft & KnAAPO obliged with upgraded Su-30MK2. By early 2000s both major production facilities of Sukhoi OKB had Su-30 production lines. Su-30MK2 (white radome) was sold to Vietnam, Venezuela, Indonesia 12/

*Canards are only on Irkut produced Su-30s cos of heavy Bars-R & N011M radars to offset nose weight so is thrust vectoring.

*KnAAPO now only producing air superiority Su-35S & Su-57

Currently in production Su-30SM by Irkut, Su-35S by KnAAPO & Su-34 by NAPO