Sukhoi Su-30SM
Irkut · Russia · first flew 2012 · fighter
The Su-30SM is the Russian Aerospace Forces version of the two-seat Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighter. It is the third adaptation of the Su-30MKI, after the Malaysian MKM and the Algerian MKA.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 21.935 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Small canard foreplanes ahead of the main wing, shared with the Su-30MKI and Su-30MKM
- Two crew seated in tandem in a long cockpit
- Two afterburning Saturn AL-31 turbofans in side-by-side engine bays
It is a Flanker with canard foreplanes: a two-seater with the Su-27 style twin engines and fins but small canards, which separate it from the plain Su-27 or Su-30MKK.
Specifications
- The Sukhoi Su-30SM has a length of 21.935 m (72 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.7 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2120 km/h (1317 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Russia signed contracts for 60 Su-30SMs in March and December 2012. The type first flew on 21 September 2012, and the first two serial aircraft were handed over on 22 November 2012.
Variants
A modernised Su-30SM2 was ordered for Russian Naval Aviation in 2020. Kazakhstan also ordered 24 Su-30SMs, and Myanmar ordered six as the Su-30SME.
Where you'll see it
The Russian Aerospace Forces were reported to have 130 Su-30SMs in 2024. They deployed to Syria in 2015 and have been used for air superiority missions in the war in Ukraine.
Related aircraft
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