"The
Naval Aviation`s pilots complete missions, improve their skills in the
operational zones of the Pacific, North, Baltic, and Black Sea fleets,
and intensively master new types of weapons and military hardware. The
arm is supposed to be 25%-rearmed with Su-30SM multirole fighter jets
by the year-end," a MoD`s official spokeperson said.
Earlier, the Naval Aviation was reported to get over 50 Su-30SM multirole
fighters by 2020.
The aircraft will significantly shore up the combat capabilities of
the Naval Aviation`s units. Such Su-30SM`s distinctive characteristics
as long flight range (1,500 km), aerial refueling, and ability to fire
air-to-air and air-to-surface guided missiles are in high demand by
the arm.
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 previously.
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