Kursk Air Regiment receives new Su-30SM fighter jets.

The first batch of multirole Su-30SM fighter jets for the second squadron of the air regiment in Kursk region arrived at the deployment airfield, the Western Military District said.

A VVS Su-30SM fighter landing on a Western Military District airfield in Kursk region
(Credit: Russian Ministry of Defense)

The first batch of multirole Su-30SM fighter jets for the second squadron of the air regiment in Kursk region arrived at the deployment airfield, the Western Military District said.

"Air regiment pilots of the Western Military District deployed in Kursk region flew the first batch of multirole generation 4+ Su-30SM to the deployment airfield. They covered over 5 thousand kilometers from Irkutsk aircraft plant," it said.

Su-30SM will replace MiG-29SMT of the second squadron. The air regiment will be fully rearmed by the end of the year and will receive another five batches of Su-30SM.

Multirole Su-30SM (serial, modernized) (Flanker-H by NATO classification) is designed to win air supremacy, block adversary airfields at major distances, strike at grounds and water surface targets day and night and in bad weather. The aircraft can escort and protect military aviation groups, provide targeting for its group and suppress adversary electronic warfare. Su-30SM can operate as an attack or air defense jet depending on the armaments.

It is equipped with a phased antenna array radar, frontal horizontal fins and steerable thrusters which make it super maneuverable. Maximum takeoff weight is 34500 kg. The glider is 21.9-meter long and 6.36-meter high. Maximum speed is 2125 km/h. Optimal combat engagement radius is 1500 km. The set of weapons includes a wide range of armaments, including guided air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, guided and unguided air bombs, an inbuilt 30 mm GSh-30-1 gun. Maximum weapons weight is 8000 kg. Air refueling capability, long-range navigation radio systems and upgraded life support provide for operations at a major distance from the airfield. Su-30SM has been built since 2012 and participated in the Syrian operation. The aircraft was accepted into service in 2018