India - Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI SB129

Photographer's remark
(26.3.2023, 13:47 CET)
Sunset Flanker! The Sukhoi Su-30MKI (NATO reporting name: Flanker-H) is a twin-engine, heavy, all-weather, long-range, multi-role air superiority fighter developed by Russia's Sukhoi and built under license by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF has over 250 Su-30MKIs in its fleet. The first Russian-made Su-30MKI variant was accepted into the Indian Air Force in 2002, while the first Su-30MKI assembled in India entered service with the IAF in 2004. The aircraft is tailor-made for Indian specifications and integrates Indian systems, avionics, and French and Israeli sub-systems. The Su-30MKI has a range of 3,000 km with internal fuel which ensures a 3.75-hour combat mission. It also features an in-flight refueling (IFR) probe that retracts beside the cockpit during normal operation. The aircraft features N011M Bars Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) Radar. It can function in air-to-air and air-to-land/sea mode simultaneously 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. N011M has a 400 km search range and a tracking range of up to 200km. The radar can track 15 air targets and engage 4 simultaneously. The Su-30MKI is powered by two Saturn AL-31FP turbofans, each rated at 12,500 kg (27,550 lbf) of full after-burning thrust, which enable speeds of up to Mach 2 in horizontal flight and a rate of climb of 230 m/s. The aircraft has 12 hardpoints and can carry a plethora of air-to-air, air-to-surface, anti-ship missiles, and guided/unguided bombs. I have been a fan of this aircraft ever since I became an aviation geek, and it has been a dream of mine to see the Flanker up close. This dream became a reality at Yelahanka Air Force Station. Airframe SB129 is seen here resting on the Static Display Ramp as the sun sets on the Day 1 of Aero India 2023. The aircraft is armed to the teeth with 2x Vympel R-73 short-range infrared homing missiles (on both the outermost hardpoints), next to them are 2x RVV-AE (R77) active radar homing beyond-visual-range missiles, 2x R-27ET medium-range infrared-homing missiles, 2x R-27ER semi-active-radar homing extended-range missiles, 1x Griffin Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) (#4 from the right), 1x Brahmos-A supersonic cruise missile (Centreline hardpoint) and a LITENING targeting pod (in orange cover). The Su30MKI has been the backbone of the IAF Fighter jet fleet for two decades and plans to make this already formidable aircraft even better are in place under the “Super Sukhoi” program. This shot is dedicated to all the wonderful people I met during the air show. :)

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