Analysis Report The Su 30-MKI (Flanker-H) is a customized Su 27 PU built according to Indian specifications. The M is for Modern...
Analysis Report
The Su 30-MKI (Flanker-H) is a customized Su 27 PU built
according to Indian specifications. The M is for Modernized, K for Commercial
and I for Indiski (India). It is probably the first time that an aircraft has
been built in Russia for a foreign customer specifications. The Su-30 was
evaluated along-with the Mirage 2000-5, and found to be cheaper, hence was
chosen. The Su27 was first evaluated by the Indian Air Force in 1994, when a
team led by the Chief of Air Staff (ACM S.K.Kaul) in Russia. The contract for the
first 40 Su-30 fighters was signed in 1996, and the aircraft originally supposed
to be delivered in batches and in a phased manner from 1997 through till 2000,
with each batch being progressively more improved that the previous batch.In
1998, the IAF signed another contract for the delivery of a further 10
aircraft, originally scheduled to be delivered to Indonesia.
In October of 2000, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was
signed, which paved the way for a complete Transfer of Technology (ToT) and the
manufacture of a further 140 Su-30MKIs in India by the Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited(HAL). The deliveries were not without their delays, which were flayed
in the India media, however, the first batch of Su-30MKIs were delivered in mid
2002 to the Lohegaon AFB in Pune.
WHY AND HOW WAS SU-30
DEVELOPED?
The emergence of more stringent requirements for
interceptors, the sheer length of the Soviet Union's northern borders and the
sheer scarcity of air-bases in the northern regions of the country, as well as
of airborne command posts and AEW&C aircraft, were the factors that led the
Sukhoi OKB to develop the Su-27UB trainer into a new specialized interceptor.
Firstly, operational experience with single seat
interceptors, including the Flanker, showed that working the weapons control
system during a dogfight, coupled with the high-G loads, was just too much for
the pilot. The problem was perhaps especially acute on the Su-27 with its
impressive fuel load and long-range; the pilot would feel like a squeezed lemon
when the day was done.
Secondly, the capabilities of today's avionics are more than
one pilot can handle in a dogfight; to paraphrase a well-known ad, one man, one
brain. A second crew-member was clearly needed to ease the pilot workload.
Besides, giving the back-seater a second set of flight controls enabled the
crew to operate more efficiently during long sorties. The pilot would fly the
aircraft, select the weapons and take care of the close-in fighting while the
Weapons System Operator (WSO) would detect and destroy the enemy at long range;
he could also take over if the pilot in the front seat was wounded or tired.
Additionally, the WSO could give directions to other aircrafts during concerted
action - that is, the aircraft could operate as a tactical airborne command
post en miniature. To this end, it would be equipped with a tactical situation
display in the rear cockpit and other appropriate avionics. In-flight refuelling
capability became a must in this situation.
Work on a two-seat interceptor/command post version of the
Su-27 began in the mid-1980s with I.V.Yemelyanov as chief project engineer. The
Su-27UB with its large internal fuel volume and ten pylons for AAMs was chosen
as the starting point. The encouraging results obtained with the aircraft 02-01
IFR system testbed showed that the Su-27P had room for improvement.
In the summer and autumn of 1988 a group of Sukhoi engineers
in Irkutsk and IAPO specialists modified two standard Su-27UBs to act as
proof-of-concept aircraft and coded '05 Blue' and '06 Blue'. Both had the
standard two-tone blue camouflage. New features included a retractable IFR
probe, a new navigation suite and changes to the FBW controls, life support
system and WCS. The aerodynamics remained unaltered. Designing and
manufacturing some special tooling and cramming the new equipment into the old
'shell' of the standard Su-27UB was the hardest part of the job. It took the
factory six months to do it. The 05-Blue entered flight test in autumn of 1988.
Initially the aircraft were flown by IAPO test pilots, while later by Russian
Air Force pilots. These trials proved successful and the aircraft were ordered
into production in Irkutsk as the Su-30.
DEVELOPMENT
The Su-30MKI was jointly designed by Russia's Sukhoi and
India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The MKI's airframe is a
development of the Russian Su-27 series while most of the avionics were
developed by India. Su-30 MKK aircraft. Its avionics, aerodynamic features and
components are similar to the Su-35. The aircraft featured many modifications
over the Su-27 and the Su-30MK variant. These included canard fore-planes,
2-dimensional thrust vectoring control (TVC), Russian-made N011-M passive
phased array radar (PESA) and a range of avionics complex sourced from Russia,
France, Israel and India which includes display, navigation, targeting and
electronic warfare systems. It is also speculated that the passive phased array
Radar Irbis-E will be added to the fighter jet by 2010, when the first totally
India-built Su-30MKI will roll out from HAL Nasik. The Su-30MKI is more
advanced than the basic Su-30MK or the Chinese Procurement.
In 1996, after 2 years of evaluation and negotiations, India
decided to purchase Su-30MKI aircraft. India signed a US$1.462 billion deal
with the Sukhoi Corporation on 30 November 1996 for the delivery of 50 Su-30
aircraft. These aircraft were to be delivered in five batches. The first batch
were 8 Su-30MKs , the basic version of Su-30. The second batch were to be 10
Su-30Ks with French and Israeli avionics. The third batch were to be 10
Su-30MKIs featuring canard foreplanes. The fourth batch of 12 Su 30MKIs and
final batch of 10 Su-30MKIs aircraft all were to have the AL-31FP turbofans. In
2000, another agreement was signed allowing the license production of 140
Su-30MKIs in India. The deal combined license production with full technology
transfer and hence was called a 'Deep License'. The MKI production was planned
to be done in four phases: Phase I, II, III and IV respectively. In 2007
another order of 40 Su-30MKIs have been made.
AIRFRAME
The Su-30MKI is a highly integrated twin-finned aircraft.
The airframe is constructed of titanium and high-strength aluminium alloys. The
engine nacelles are fitted with trouser fairings to provide a continuous
streamlined profile between the nacelles and the tail beams. The fins and
horizontal tail consoles are attached to tail beams. The central beam section
between the engine nacelles consists of the equipment compartment, fuel tank
and the brake parachute container. The fuselage head is of semi-monocoque
construction and includes the cockpit, radar compartments and the avionics bay.
COCKPIT AND ERGONOMICS
Cockpit instrumentation The displays include a highly
customised version of the Elbit Su 967 head-up display consisting of bicubic
phase conjugated holographic displays and seven liquid crystal multifunction
displays, six 127 mm x 127 mm and one 152 mm x 152 mm. The HUD was widely
misreported to be the VEH 3000 from Thales. Variants of the same HUD have also
been chosen for the IAF's MiG-27 and sepecat-jaguar-shamsher upgrades, on
grounds of standardisation. Flight information is displayed on four LCD displays
which include one for piloting and navigation, a tactical situation indicator,
and two for display systems information including operating modes and overall
operation status. The rear cockpit is fitted with a larger monochromatic screen
display for the air-to-surface missile guidance.
FLIGHT CONTROL
The aircraft has a fly by wire (FBW) with quadruple
redundancy. Depending on the flight conditions, signals from the control stick
position transmitter or the FCS will be coupled to the remote control
amplifiers. These signals are combined with feedback signals fed by
acceleration sensors and rate gyros. The resultant control signals are coupled
to the high-speed electro-hydraulic actuators of the elevators, rudders and the
canard. The output signals are compared and, if the difference is significant,
the faulty channel is disconnected. FBW is based on a stall warning and barrier
mechanism which prevents development of aircraft stalls through a dramatic
increase in the control stick pressure. This allows a pilot to effectively
control the aircraft without running the risk of reaching the limit values of
angle of attack and acceleration. Although the maximum angle of attack is
limited by the canards the FBW acts as an additional safety mechanism.
GENERAL FEATURES
The Su-30MKI on-board health and usage monitoring system
(HUMS) monitors almost every aircraft system and sub-system including the
avionics sub-systems. It can also act as an engineering data recorder
NAVIGATION
The aircraft is fitted with a satellite navigation system
(A-737 GPS compatible), which permits it to make flights in all weather, day
and night. The navigation complex comprises high accuracy SAGEM integrated
global positioning system and ring laser gyroscope inertial navigation system.
PILOT EJECTION
The crew are provided with zero-zero KD-36DM ejection seats.
The rear seat is raised for better visibility. The cockpit is provided with
containers to store food and water reserves, a waste disposal system and extra
oxygen bottles. The KD-36DM ejection seat is inclined at 30º, to help the pilot
resist aircraft accelerations in air combat.
AERODYNAMICS
Su-30MKI aerodynamic configuration is an unstable
longitudinal triplane. The canard increases the aircraft lifting ability and
deflects automatically to allow high angle-of-attack (AoA) flights allowing it
to perform Pugachev's Cobra high-lift devices featured as deflecting leading
edges, and flaperons acting as flaps and ailerons.The integral aerodynamic
configuration combined with thrust vectoring results in extremely capable
maneuverability, taking off and landing characteristics. This high agility allows
rapid deployment of weapons in any direction as desired by the crew. The canard
notably assists in controlling the aircraft at large angles-of-attack and
bringing it to a level flight condition. The wing will have high-lift devices
featured as deflecting leading edges and flaperons acting the flaps and
ailerons. At subsonic flights, the wing profile curvature is changed by a
remote control system which deflects the leading edges and flaperons versus the
AoA (Angles of Attack)."
A modified Su-30MKI is being developed to carry BrahMos cruise missiles, with induction planned for 2012. The program is experiencing difficulties due to the enormous weight of the missile.
RADAR
The forward facing NIIP N011M Bars (Panther) is a powerful
integrated passive electronically scanned array radar. The N011M is a digital
multi-mode dual frequency band radar. The N011M can function in air-to-air and
air-to-land/sea mode simultaneously while being tied into a high-precision
laser-inertial or GPS navigation system. It is equipped with a modern digital
weapons control system as well as anti-jamming features. N011M has a 350 km
search range and a maximum 200 km tracking range, and 60 km in the rear
hemisphere. The radar can track 15 air targets and engage the 4 most dangerous
simultaneously. These targets can even include cruise missiles and motionless
helicopters. The Su-30MKI can function as a mini-AWACS as a director or command
post for other aircraft. The target coordinates can be transferred
automatically to at least 4 other aircraft. The radar can detect ground targets
such as tanks at 40–50 km.
AVIONICS
Laser-optical locator system
OLS-30 laser-optical locator system to include a day and
night FLIR capability and is used in conjunction with the helmet mounted
sighting system. The OLS-30 is a combined IRST/LR device using a cooled,
broader waveband, sensor. Detection range is up to 90 Km, whilst the laser
ranger is effective to 3.5 Km. Targets are displayed on the same LCD display as
the radar.
LITENING targeting pod
Israeli LITENING targeting pod is used to target the laser
guided munitions. Litening incorporates in a single pod all the targeting
features required by a modern strike fighter. The original Litening pod
includes a long range FLIR, a TV camera, a flash-lamp powered laser designator,
laser spot tracker for tracking target designated by other aircraft or from the
ground, and an electro-optical point and inertial tracker, which enabled
continuous engagement of the target even when the target is partly obscured by
clouds or countermeasures. The pod integrates the necessary laser rangefinder
and designator, required for the delivery of Laser Guided Bombs, cluster and
general purpose bomb.
Electronic Countermeasures
Sukhoi Su-30MKI has electronic counter-measure systems. The
RWR system is an indigenously developed system by DRDO, called Tarang, (Wave in
Sanskrit). It has direction finding capability and is known to have a
programmable threat library. The RWR is derived from work done on an earlier
system for India's MiG-23BNs known as the Tranquil, which is now superseded by
the more advanced Tarang series. Elta EL/M-8222 a self-protection jammer
developed by Israel Aircraft Industries is the MKI's standard EW pod, which the
Israeli Air Force uses on its F-15s. The ELTA El/M-8222 Self Protection Pod is
a power-managed jammer, air-cooled system with an ESM receiver integrated into
the pod. The pod contains an antenna on the forward and aft ends, which receive
the hostile RF signal and after processing deliver the appropriate response.
PROPULSION SYSTEM
The Su-30MKI is powered by the two AL-31FP turbofans,
employing AL-100 vectoring nozzle. Each Al-31FP is rated at 12,500 kgf (27,550
lbf) of full afterburning thrust. Two AL-31FP by-pass thrust-vectoring turbojet
reheated engines (25,000 kgf full afterburning thrust) ensure a 2M horizontal
flight speed (a 1350 km/h ground-level speed) and a rate of climb of 230 m/s.
The mean time between overhaul for the AL-31FP is given at 1,000 hours with a
full-life span of 3,000 hours. The titanium nozzle has a mean time between
overhaul of 500 hours. Al-31FP builds on the Al-37FU with the capability to
vector in 2 planes. The TVC nozzles of the MKI are mounted 32 degrees outward
to longitudinal engine axis (i.e. in the horizontal plane) and can be deflected
±15 degrees in the vertical plane. This produces a cork-screw effect and thus
enhancing the turning capability of the aircraft. There is no strain-gauge
engine control stick to change the engine thrust in the cockpit, rather just a
conventional engine throttle control lever. The pilot controls the aircraft
with help of a standard control stick. On the pilot's right there is a switch
which is turned on for performing difficult maneuvers. After the switch-over,
the computer determines the level of use of aerodynamic surfaces and swiveling
nozzles and their required deflection angles.
FUEL SYSTEM
The Su-30MKI has a range of 5,000 km with internal fuel
which ensures a 4.5 hour combat mission. Also, it has an in-flight refueling
(IFR) probe that retracts beside the cockpit during normal operation. The air
refueling system increases the flight duration up to 10 hours with a range of
8,000 km at a cruise height of 11 to 13 km. Su-30 MKIs can also use the Cobham
754 buddy refueling pods.
OPERATIONAL HISTORY
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is the most potent fighter jet in
service with the Indian Air Force in the late 2000s. The MKIs are often fielded
by the IAF in bilateral and multilateral air exercises. India exercised its
Su-30MKIs against the Royal Air Force's Tornado ADVs in October 2006. This was
the first large-scale bilateral aerial exercise with any foreign air force
during which the IAF used its Su-30MKIs extensively. This exercise was also the
first in 43 years with the RAF. During the exercise, RAF's Air Chief Marshall,
Glenn Torpy, was given permission by the IAF to fly the MKI. RAF's Air-Vice
Marshall, Christopher Harper, praised the MKI's dogfight ability, calling it
"absolutely masterful".
In July 2007, the Indian Air Force fielded the MKI during
the Indra-Dhanush exercise with Royal Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoon. This was
the first time that the two jets had taken part in such a exercise.[26][27] The
IAF did not allow their pilots to use the radar of the MKIs during the exercise
so as to protect the highly-classified N011M Bars. During the exercise, the RAF
pilots candidly admitted that the Su-30MKI displayed maneuvering superior to
that of the Typhoon.
An earlier variant of the Su-30MKI, the MK, took part in war
games with the United States Air Force (USAF) during Cope-India 04, where USAF
F-15 Eagles were pitted against Indian Air Force Su-30MKs, Mirage 2000s,
MiG-29s and elderly MiG-21. The results have been widely publicized, with the
Indians winning "90% of the mock combat missions". It must be noted
that during the exercise, the USAF fighter jets did not exploit their beyond
visual range offensive capabilities, unlike those of the IAF. In July 2008, the
IAF sent 6 Su-30MKIs and 2 aerial-refueling tankers, the Il-78MKI, to
participate in the Red Flag exercise. In October 2008, a video surfaced on the
internet which featured a USAF colonel, Corkey Fornoff, criticizing Su-30MKI's
high friendly kill rate and serviceability issues during the Red Flag exercise.
A Sukhoi 30 MKI aircraft crashed on 30th April 2009 in the Pokhran region of
Rajasthan after it took off from Pune during its routine sortie, killing one of
its two pilots. This has been the only crash of the MKI, ever since its induction.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 2
Length: 21.935 m (72.97 ft)
Wingspan: 14.7 m (48.2 ft)
Height: 6.36 m (20.85 ft)
Wing area: 62.0 m² (667 ft²)
Empty weight: 17,700 kg (39,300 lb)
Loaded weight: 24,900 kg (54,895 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 38,800 kg (85,600 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Lyulka AL-31FP turbofans with thrust
vectoring, 131 kN (29,449 lbf) each
PERFORMANCE:
Maximum speed: Mach 2.35 (2,500 km/h) at 11,000 m (36,000
ft)
Range: 5,000 km (2,700 nmi) at altitude; (1,270 km, 690 nmi
near ground level)(With Internal Fuel Tank)
Service ceiling: 17,300 m (56,800 ft)
Rate of climb: >304 m/s (70,000 ft/min)
Wing loading: 401 kg/m² (98 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 1.07 (at loaded weight)
ARMAMENT: AIR TO AIR MISSILES:
6 × R-27R/AA-10A/Astra semi-active radar homing medium range
AAM of range 80 km.
6 × R-27T (AA-10B) infrared homing seeker, medium range AAM,
70 km
2 × R-27P (AA-10C) passive radar seeker, long range AAM
10 × R-77 (AA-12) active radar homing medium range AAM, 100
km
6 × R-73 (AA-11) short range AAM, 30 km
AIR TO SURFACE MISSILES:
2 × Kh-59ME TV Guided standoff Missile, 115 km
2 × Kh-59MK Laser guided standoff Missile, 130 km
4 × Kh-35 Anti-Ship Missile, 130 km
3 × PJ-10 Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile,300 km
6 × Kh-31P/A anti-radar missile, 70 km
6 × Kh-29T/L laser guided missile, 30 km
4 × S-8 Rocket pods (80 unguided rockets)
4 × S-13 Rocket pods (20 unguided rockets)
BOMBS:
6 × KAB-500L LASER guided bombs
3 × KAB-1500L LASER guided bombs
8 × FAB-500T Dumb bombs
28 × OFAB-250-270 Dumb bombs
32 × OFAB-100-120 Dumb bombs
8 × RBK-500 Cluster Bombs
