Belarus to buy 18 IAF SU30K

[WisePanda]

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/article...273165&sid=NAT

Moscow, Feb 03: In an estimated USD 300 million deal, Belarus is to buy 18 second-hand Sukhoi SU-30k fighters from India for the modernisation of the aging Air Force of this former Soviet Republic.

According to influential financial daily "Vedomosti", 18 SU-30k fighters with limited capabilities were supplied to the Indian Air Force in 1997-98 at the initial stage of USD 4.9 billion Sukhoi deal for the development of a multi-role warbird SU-30MKI specially tailored for its specific requirements.

Cash-strapped Belarus would modernise the SU-30k jets to the su-30kn at its facilities with the help of "Russkaya Avionika" (Russian Avionics) company, a subsidiary of original manufacturer "Irkut" corporation. Sources in the aviation industry and Russian air force have confirmed the report, according to "Vedomosti".

Belarus is expected to field jets acquired from India against F-16s received by neighbouring Poland after it joined Nato, the sources say.

Under the deal for the supply of 50 SU-30 multi-role fighters signed in 1996, Russia had initially supplied 18 su-30k fighters with the limited capabilities, which were mainly used by the Indian Air Force as air defence platforms and were to be flown to Russia for upgradation to MKI standard capable of using sophisticated weapons against land and sea targets.

In 2004 Irkut Corporation had completed the deliveries of remaining 32 SU-30mki fighters and licensed production of 140 fighters has commenced at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Bureau Report

[WisePanda]

this was posted by stealth spy in august 2005. kinda makes sense now.

MINSK, August 22 (RIA Novosti) - Belarus will start purchasing new combat aircraft after 2010, a senior Air Force officer said Monday.

Major-General Mikhail Levitsky, the deputy commander of the Air Force and Air Defense, told journalists: "Modern aircraft have a service life of 25-30 years. After 2010, we shall start purchasing new warplanes. We are currently thinking about purchasing Russian-made aircraft and helicopters that can be modernized."

Levitsky said it would be practical for Belarus to fly multi-functional Su-30 (Flanker) fighters.

"This is a reliable plane capable of providing air support and delivering strikes against various targets and troops and transport facilities deep in the enemy's defenses," the general said. "It is two to three times more efficient in terms of combat power and combat use compared with Su-24M (NATO reporting name Fencer-D) and Su-25 (Frogfoot) planes."

"The Belarusian Air Force will operate Russian-made Il-76 (Candid) medium-range military transport aircraft until 2015," Levitsky added. "After that, Belarus will purchase new modified transport planes in line with its state rearmament program."

Belarus intends to purchase Il-76MF planes instead of Il-76MD military transport aircraft. The Il-76MF has an extended cargo hold and increased fuel efficiency. The aircraft is outfitted with a navigation system, which meets the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Levitsky said.

Belarus also intends to purchase An-74 (Coaler) military transport planes to replace An-26 (Curl) aircraft. The An-74 can carry five times more than the An-26.

The Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense are also considering buying Russian-made Mi-28N (Havoc) multi-purpose attack helicopters.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20050822/41205059.html

[cinciboy]

As far as I know.. su30K in IAF are pretty much beaten up.. usually fly very long missions..

[WisePanda]

but they are well maintained and they can do heavy overhaul to replace worn out parts. the machine is reliable , not a single crash in 8 yrs with the IAF.

[Ravula]

remember, these Ks were supposed to be modified into MKIs. Compared to that, refurbing them should be easy.

[cinciboy]

asking price ?.. anybody

[George J]

I thought these would be bought back from IAF (2-3 year old story) and the price will be adjusted against the delievery of the last of the first MKI which will be Mk.3. Russians are free to do what they want with the Su-30K.

The problem has been that we have not been able to come up with a respectable depreciated value for a Su-30K.

[SOC]

Originally Posted by George J

The K's can never be modified into MKI. Its more cost effective to build an MKI from scratch.

The first few Su-30MKI prototypes were modified from standard Su-30s...

[Vympel]

Heh- I'd never thought I'd hear of the Su-30KN again- the upgrade path for the Su-27 (remember the original Su-27UBM?) that lost to the Su-27SM as far as the Russian Air Force was concerned.

[crobato]

Originally Posted by Vympel

Heh- I'd never thought I'd hear of the Su-30KN again- the upgrade path for the Su-27 (remember the original Su-27UBM?) that lost to the Su-27SM as far as the Russian Air Force was concerned.

Correction, that was the upgrade path for the Su-27UBs, as in double seater. It was Irkut's scheme and it can't be done on the single seaters as KnAAPO never bought into that since KnAAPO has its own scheme. A change in leadership positions among the RuAF shifted the favoritism from Irkut to KnAAPO.

For that reason, you cannot "SM"-ize the Su-27UB, as much as you cannot "KN"-ize the Su-27S. In order to upgrade both single and double seaters, the bottomline is you will have to have Su-27SMs simultaneously with Su-27UBMs in the same fleet.

[ink]

For that reason, you cannot "SM"-ize the Su-27UB, as much as you cannot "KN"-ize the Su-27S. In order to upgrade both single and double seaters, the bottomline is you will have to have Su-27SMs simultaneously with Su-27UBMs in the same fleet.

FLANKER designations sound like a foreign language

[crobato]

Originally Posted by ink

FLANKER designations sound like a foreign language

But at least you understand what I meant right?

My understanding is that KnAAPO is only authorized to do upgrades on the aircraft they made (the single seaters), while IAIA is only authorized to do upgrades on the aircraft they made (the double seaters).

The thing is really, how different is KnAAPO's upgrade vs. Irkut's vision of the upgrade. That is one thing I never fully undersood. Both are upgrading the N001, and the firm doing that is actually NIIP. Is there for any reason that the radar on the Su-27UBM be different from the Su-27SKM? What about the rest of the avionics and systems? KnAAPO has their own satellites of suppliers while IAIA has their own satellites of suppliers.

[21Ankush]

boohoo !!! the IAF will lose its prettiest jet ! the bland color schemes on its MKIs are no match for the pretty Su-30Ks..

[ink]

But at least you understand what I meant right?

crobato, I didn't mean to suggest that what you wrote was unclear in anyway. I understood it (I'm actually ok with FLANKER designations). It just occured to me just how erm... wacky... they often are.

[Kojedub]

Nonsense,Belarus denies any plan to buy Indian jet fighters http://www.avia.ru/news/?id=1139236567 (in russian)

[vikraal]

makes sense. Those jets are flogged to their limits. I thought India was getting new MKI's in their place irrespective of what happens to MK's.

[crobato]

Originally Posted by 21Ankush

boohoo !!! the IAF will lose its prettiest jet ! the bland color schemes on its MKIs are no match for the pretty Su-30Ks..

Didn't the Su-30K's change their paint jobs to the same ones as the MKIs?

I did like the older paint job better.

[Austin]

Byelorussia Has not Bought Fighters from India
http://www.royfc.com

Byelorussian military personnel are refuting the information published by some media that Minsk intends to purchase a batch of Su-30 fighter airplanes in India, Interfax is reporting.

“I am hearing this for the first time. There is no such decision – this is precise. Some rumors have been going around, but I have not seen any concrete documents as regards this question. Apparently, these are some kind of proposals,” Byelorussia’s deputy air force and air defense troops commander and aviation chief, General-Major Mikhail Levitskiy declared.

As they announced at Byelorussia’s ministry of defense press service, “there is not a word about the Su-30 fighter” in the arms development program for 2006 – 2015 which has been approved by the country’s president.

Let us recall that earlier a number of media were spreading information that Byelorussia intends to buy from India 18 Su-30K fighters, which had been delivered to that country from Russia in 1997 – 1993.

Source: 06.02.06, Interfax

[George J]

Originally Posted by crobato

Didn't the Su-30K's change their paint jobs to the same ones as the MKIs?........

Since we know you cant read....perhaps a picture will help you. From Cope India 2006 (Nov 2005), the most recent -30K pics that I know off.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Im...pe06-VS-13.jpg

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Im...pe06-VS-33.jpg

[milavia]

Originally Posted by Kojedub

Nonsense,Belarus denies any plan to buy Indian jet fighters http://www.avia.ru/news/?id=1139236567 (in russian)

Ah yes, been waiting to hear that.