Several
aircraft of this type will arrive for the Black Sea Fleet later in 2016,
the spokesman said.
"The renewal of the Black Sea Fleet’s naval aviation
started after Crimea’s re-integration into Russia in 2014. The
rearmament with advanced Su-30SM multipurpose fighter jets is nearing
completion," Trukhachyov said.
"As of today, a squadron of eight Su-30SM fighter jets has
been formed. It is based at the airfield in the town of Saki in Crimea.
This year, the Black Sea Fleet will receive another aircraft of this
type," he added. According to the spokesman, the Black Sea
Fleet’s naval aviation has learnt to operate unmanned aerial vehicles.
Air-launched weapons are also undergoing renewal and pilots are learning
to operate new types of aircraft.
Russia will replace all of its Su-24 Fencer bomber jets operating in
the Black Sea Fleet on the Crimean Peninsula with Su-30SM Flanker multirole
fighters by 2020, the head of the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s Naval
Aviation said Thursday.
According to Irkut
Corporation, Su-30SM are super maneuverable twin engine jets, equipped
with phased array radar, thrust vectoring engines and canards. The fighter
is able to use modern "air-to-air" and "air-to-surface"
high-precision weapons.
The Russian Navy Su-30SM are not intended for the Russian aircraft carrier
Admiral Kuznetsov but operate from naval aviation bases on land. They
have a two-tone dark gray camouflage and bear a St. Andrew's flag (Russian
Navy Ensign) painting by the cockpit. |
Su-30SM of the Russian Navy Black Sea Fleet in demonstration at MAKS
2015. Picture: V. Kuzmin