Su-30MKI

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Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, (Modernised-Commercial-Indiski), is the variant of the Sukhoi Su-30. The Su-30 MKI a highly specialized aircraft developed for the Indian Air Force. It is a Long-Range, Multi-role, air superiority fighter and strike fighter. The variant also consists of French, Israeli and Indian subsystems. The MKI variant is a much more advanced fighter jet than the basic K and MK variants and is considered a 4.5 generation aircraft. The MKI variant is considered to be the most advanced fighter aircraft of Russian origin in service.

Contents

Su-30 MKI Overview

The MKI version is the ultimate development of the Su-30 series, and regarded as superior in capabilities to the earlier versions of F-15 aircraft of the USAF.

Though a variant of Su-30, the Su-30 MKI is significantly more advanced than the basic Su-30 or the Chinese Su-30 MKK aircrafts. This variant has significant upgrades on it from the basic Su-30 MK version. The aircraft was jointly designed by Russia's Sukhoi and India's HAL.
Improvements:

Canard Foreplanes:Canards are installed to increase lifting effectiveness and enhance manoeuvrability of the aircraft,They are deflected automatically to ensure flight at high angle-of-attack.
Thrust Vectoring Control: The 2D TVC makes an aircraft highly maneuverable.The aircraft is capable of near-zero airspeed at high angles of attack and dynamic aerobatics in negative speeds up to 200 km/h.
The N011-M Bars Radar for the Su 30 MKI is a phased array system with a powerful processor and multiple targets track capability using NCTR methods. It can track 20 Targets and Engage 8 targets.
Integration with Western Avionics:France and Israel supplied Latest Avionics including Display, Navigation, Targeting and Electronic warfare systems.
Su-30MKI is similar to Su-30MK in other factors like Long Range, High Payload, Aerodynamic configuration.

About 50 Su-30 MKI aircraft are serving in the IAF, and 190 in all are expected to be in service by 2012.

MKI Comparison with other Su-30 variants

The Su-30 MKI has a maximum range, with one in-flight refuelling, of 8000 km. The Su-30MK and Su-30MK-1 has a maximum range, with one in-flight refuelling, of 5200 km (35% less than MKI variant).
The Su-30MKI has thrust vectoring engines whereas the Su-30MK and Su-30MK-1 do not have thrust vectoring engines.
The maximum speed of the MKI is higher than other variants.
The radar range & detection is further and more sensitive than other variants.
MKI can track and engage more enemy targets simultaneously than other variants.

Purchase

After 2 years of evaluation and negotiations, in 1996, India decided to purchase Su-30 aircraft.

India signed a US $1.462 billion deal with Sukhoi on 30 November 1996 for the delivery of 40 Su-30 aircraft.These aircraft would be delivered in three batches.First Batch is 10 Su-30K or Su-30MK, were the basic version of Su-30. Second Batch is 8 Su-30MK with French and Israeli avionics. Third batch would be 10 Su-30MKs featuring carnard foreplanes.The fourth and final batch Su-30MKIs of 12 aircraft would add the AL-31FP turbofans.
After the delivery of the first batch, Second batch got delayed due to some reasons. So it was decided to take delivery of full-standard Su-30MKIs.
IAF decided to the buy 10 additional Su-30Ks which were originally destined for Indonesia
The First batch of 8 Su-30Ks and these 10 additional Su-30Ks were to upgraded in India by HAL.

In 2000,Deal was signed allowing the license production of 140 Su-30MKIs in India the deal was sealed in Russia at the IAPO factory.The deal combines license production with full technology transfer and hence called a 'Deep License'.
India will eventually acquire a total of 190 Su-30MKI. Out of these 50 will be made in Russia while the rest will be produced in India by Hindustan Aeronotics Limited (HAL).
Recent news indicates that Belarus is to buy those second hand 18 Su-30Ks from India [link].

Though a variant of Su-30, the Su-30 MKI is significantly advanced than the Su-30MK or the Chinese Su-30 MKK Fighters.

Technical Information

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.

Aerodynamics

Su-30MKI aerodynamic configuration is an unstable longitudinal triplane.The canard increases the aircraft lifting and deflects automatically to allow high angle-of-attack flights.
The integral aerodynamic configuration combined with thrust vectoring results in practically unlimited manoeuvrability and unique taking off and landing characteristics.
The Su-30MKI has no AoA limitations: it can fly at even 180 degree AoA and still recover. This high super-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 (AoA) 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.

Flight Control

The aircraft has a Fly By Wire 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 stabilizers, 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 AoA and acceleration

Cockpit

Display

The displays include a Thales (formerly Sextant Avionique) VEH3000 head up display and seven liquid crystal multifunction displays, six 127mm x 127mm and one 152 mm x 152mm. 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

Navigation

The aircraft is fitted with a satellite navigation system (A-737 GPS compatible), which permits it to make flights in all weathers; day and night. The navigation complex comprises of high accuracy Sagem Totem integrated global positioning system and ring laser gyroscope inertial navigation system. '''

Communication

The communications equipment comprises secure VHF and HF radio sets, a secured digital telecommunications system, and antenna-feeder assembly. It mounts an noise-proof target data exchange system, which provides for coordination of the actions of several fighter aircraft engaged in a group air combat.An automatic flight control system makes all phases of its flight automatic, including the combat employment of its weapons.

Two-pilot crew

Two-pilot crew provides higher work efficiency as well as the engagement in close and long range combats and the air situation observation. Besides, the same dual control aircraft can be used as a combat and training aircraft.Additionally, the integrated air-borne equipment enables the aircraft to be used as an air command post to control the operation of other aircraft.
The Back seater is WSO (Weapons Systems Operator). The pilot flies the aircraft and handles air-to-air and some ATG weapons, as well as countermeasures. The WSO takes care of the detailed aspects of navigation, ground radar mapping & target designation, delivery solution for ATG weapons etc.

Ejection seats

The crew are provided zero-zero KD-36DM ejection seats. Rear seat is raised for better visibility. The cockpit will be provided with containers to store food and water reserves, a waste disposal system and increased amounts of oxygen. The KD-36DM ejection seat is inclined at 30º, to help the pilot resist aircraft accelerations in air combat.

Radar

The forward facing NIIP NO11M Bars (Panther) is a powerful integrated Electronically Scanned Phased Array Radar. The N011M is a digital multi-mode dual frequency band radar.
Features:

The N011M can function both in air-to-air and air-to-land/sea mode simultaneusly 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.
For aircraft N011M has a 350 km search range and a maximum 200 km tracking range, and 60 km in the rear hemisphere. A MiG-21 for instance can be detected at a distance of up to 135 km. Design maximum search range for an F-16 target was 140-160km.
The radar can track 20 air targets and engage the 8 most threatening targets simultaneously [link]. These targets include from cruise missiles to even motionless helicopters.
The Su-30MKI can function as a 'mini-AWACS' and can act as a director or command post for other aircraft. The target co-ordinates can be transferred automatically to atleast 4 other aircraft.
Radar can detect ground targets (without being operated in a down-looking mode) at a distance upto 40-50km for targets like tanks.
N011M ensures a 20 m resolution detection of large sea targets at a distance up to 400 km, and of small size ones at a distance of 120 km.

Integrated with Brahmos Missile, Su-30MKI can become a most formidable Anti-Shipping Platform. Future Upgrades:

Future upgradation plans include new gimbals for the antenna mount to increase the field of view to about 90-100 degrees to both sides. New software will enable a Doppler-sharpening mode and the capability to engage up to eight air targets simultaneously.
By 2010, when the first totally-built Su-30MKI will roll out from HAL it will be equipped with new, active phased-array airborne radar called the Irbis (Snow Leopard) which will replace the N011M Bars.

Radar Modes:

Air-to-Air : Velocity Search, Range While Search, Track While Scan, Target ID, close combat modes.

Air-to-Surface : Real beam mapping, DBS mapping, SAR mapping, moving ground target selection, tracking and measuring of ground target coordinates.

Anti-shipping : Sea surface search, moving sea targets selection, tracking and measuring of sea target coordinates, sea target ID.

Radar Specifications:

Frequency Bands: X and L Band (NATO D and I)
Antenna diameter: 1m
Antenna weight: 100 Kg.
Antenna gain: 36dB
Main Sidelobe level:-25dB
Average sideobe level: -48dB
Beamwidth: 2.4 deg (12 distinct beam shapes)
Maximum Aerial Search Range: 350km
Maximum Tracking Range: 200 km
Azimuth: ±90º
Elevation: ±55º
Vertical: ±45º
Horizontal: ±70º

Weapon Related Avionics

Laser-optical locator system

OLS-27 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-27 (Izdeliye 36Sh) is a combined IRST/LR device using a cooled, broader waveband, sensor.
Tracking rate is over 25deg/sec. 50km range in pursuit engagement, 15km head-on. The laser rangefinder operates between 300-3000m for air targets, 300-5000m for ground targets.
Detection range is up to 50km, whilst the laser ranger is effective from 300-3000m. Azimuth tracking is accurate to 5 secs, whilst range data is accurate to 10m. Targets are displayed on the same CRT display as the radar. Weighs 174kg.

Targeting Pod

Israeli Litening Targeting Pod will be 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 pod included a 1st Generation 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 bombs.

Electronic Countermeasures

An integrated ECM system turns on the warning units that provide signals about incoming enemy missiles, a new generation radio recon set, active jamming facilities and radar & heat decoys.It also includes an electronic intelligence unit, a chaff and flare dispenser and a RWR system.

The RWR system is an indigenously developed system by DRDO, called Tarang, 'Spectrum' 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 superceded 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.

Indian Contribution

Su-30MKI is fitted with substantial percentage of Indian designed and manufactured avionics. Advanced avionics were developed by DRDO under a project code named "Vetrivale"(Tamil name for God Karthikeya) in close collaboration with the PSUs and the IAF. The following are the components developed by Indian agencies:

The following are the components developed by Indian agencies:

Mission Computer cum Display Processor-MC-486 and DP-30MK (Defence Avionics Research Establishment DARE):The 32-bit Mission Computer performs mission-oriented computations, flight management, reconfiguration-cum-redundancy management and in-flight systems self-tests.In compliance with MIL-STD-1521 and 2167A standards, Ada language has been adopted for the mission computer's software.
Radar Computer - RC1 and RC2 (DARE)
Tarang Mk2 Radar Warning Receiver + High Accuracy Direction Finding Module
IFF-1410A - Identification Friend or Foe
Integrated Communication suite
Radar Altimeter
Programmable Signal Processor

Core Avionics Computer (CAC)

The DRDO has gone a step further and come out with a new design of the Core Avionics Computer (CAC) which can be used with a single module adaptation across many other aircraft platforms.
The CAC which is derived from the computers designed for the Su-30MKI can also be also used in the avionics upgrades for the MiG-27 and Jaguar aircraft.The CAC was demonstrated by DRDO at the Aero India exhibition at Yelahanka and attracted a good deal of international attention.

DARE took up the development and delivery in quantities of Mission Computers, Display Processors and Radar Computers for the Su 30 avionics upgrade. The requirements were analysed and instead of building three different computers DARE developed nine functional modules. The chassis was also common across the computers. These modules use state of the art processors. They are designed as independent modules to do a specific function such as generating computer generated imagery for display on HUD or MFD. But they are able to communicate with the main processor module through high speed Dual Ported RAMs. This makes development of software for these specific functions as independent activities. Also, HW changes in one module does not affect the other modules. Hence this approach reaps the benefits of Open System Architectures to the full.

The CAC is housed in a aircraft industry standard 3/4 th ATR chassis with an option rear mount ARINC 404 connector or front mounted 38999 series connectors. The tray is mounted in the equipment bay/rack of the aircraft and the computer is plugged in to the tray. It is forced air cooled and weighs less than 8 Kg.

PowerPlant

The Su-30MKI is powered by the two Al-31FP turbofans (P for povorotnoye meaning "movable"), which is a development of the Al-37FU (seen in the Su-37).Each Al-31FP is rated at 12,500 kgf (27,550 lbs) of full afterburning thrust

Al-31FP builds on the Al-37FU with the capability to vector in 2 planes. The TVC nozzles of the MKI deflect 32 degrees in the horizontal plane and 15 degrees in the vertical plane. This is done by angling them inwards by 15 degrees inwards, which produces a cork-screw effect and thus enhancing the turning capability of the aircraft.
The TVC nozzles will be made of titanium to reduce the nozzle's weight.The 2-nozzles can be vectored un-symmetrically, i.e. each nozzle can point at different directions independent from the other nozzle and thus multiplying the effect.
Two AL-31FP by-pass thrust-vectoring turbojet reheated engines (25000 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 MTBO of 500 Hrs

There is no a 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.

Range and Fuel System

The Su-30MKI has a range of 3,000 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 refuelling 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.
The IAF in cooperation with the Defence Food Research Laboratories (DFRL) has designed inflight meals to provide nutrition to pilots flying long duration missions.
Su 30 MKIs also can use the Mk 32B buddy-buddy refueling pods.

Health and Usage monitoring system

Russian Aircraft are often criticized due to poor servicebility. For acquiring predictive maintenance capability, IAF have joined forces with South Africa's Aerospace Monitoring And Systems Ltd which developed a health and usage monitoring sysem.

Predictive maintainence refers to the on and off board processing of aircraft sub-systems data, resulting in an accurate, conclusive indication of the health and usage status of various airborne systems
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

Weapons and Payload

The Su-30MKI combat load is mounted on 12 stations. The maximum advertised combat load is 8000 kg (17,600 lbs). The aircraft features the built-in single-barrel GSh-301 gun, a 30 mm weapon, and space for 150 rounds. Over 70 versions of guided and unguided weapon stores may be employed, which allows the aircraft to fly the most diverse tactical missions.
Armament:

Missiles:

6 X R-27R/AA-10A semi-active radar homing medium range AAM of Range 80km.
6 X R-27T(AA-10B) infrared homing seeker, medium range AAM, 70km
2 X R-27P(AA-10C) passive radar seeker, long range AAM
6 X R-77(AA-12) Active Radar Homing medium range AAM, 100km
6 X R-73(AA-11) Short Range AAM, 30km
2 X Kh-59ME TV Guided Standoff Missile,115km
4 X Kh-31P/A Anti-Radar Missile, 70km
6 X Kh-29T/L Laser Guided Missile, 30km

Munitions:

6 X KAB-500 Laser Guided Bombs
3 X KAB-1500 Laser Guided Bombs
4 X S-8 Rocket Pods (80 Unguided Rockets)
4 X S-13 Rocket Pods (20 Unguided Rockets)
8 X FAB-500T Dumb Bombs
28 X OFAB-250-270 Dumb Bombs
8 X RBK-500 Cluster Bombs

Pods

APK-9 (Datalink Pod)
UPAZ-1 (IFR Pod)
IAI - Elta EL/L-8222 (RF Jammer)
Rafael LITENING Laser Targeting Pod.