The Myth of Su-30MK as a long-range fighter

So I was looking at Sukhoi’s www:
http://www.sukhoi.org/eng/planes/military/su30mk/lth/

Their Official Data in blue:

Maximum flight range (with rockets 2xR-27R1, 2xR-73E launched at half distance): 1270 km

This is not Combat radius. That is total number of km covered during a normal air to air mission, meaning a combat radius of less than 635 km since the load is dropped half-way in. Now some people will already be upset with me, but just stay tuned. Combat radius = distance it can fly to enter air combat, stay, fight and return)

Note the Internal fuel, engines:

Maximum internal fuel, kg 9,640 (21 252 lbs)
Normal internal fuel, kg 5,270 (11 618 lbs)

Powerplant
Number and type of engines 2 x AL-31F (2 x AL-31FP***)

Take off Weight:
Normal (including rockets 2xR-27R1 + 2xR-73E, 5270 kg fuel), 24,900 kg

I.e a normal air defense role with 5270 kg of fuel. Half that of a F-22A.

Suddenly the low combat radius of 635 km that I argue here seem more logical. Now I know this is a rough estimate but still. Quite far from the 1500, 3000-4000 km numbers often talked about by people on forums.

Ok so maybe they just have a different definition on combat range and radius ? But then how about the raw facts, a large, heavy jet Do note: SU-30MK’s empty weight of 17700 kg (!). with two engines burning 5270 kg of fuel will not be able to fly very far.

The single-engine F-16C with 3105 kg of internal fuel has a combat radius of 925 km.

Or in order words, SU-30MK’s offers 2635 kg of fuel per engine (85% of f-16c) giving the jet just 70% range of F-16.

Well… Objections, Comments ? What is interesting though, is how Sukhoi’s official numbers never seem to be quoted on forums.

(In a more in-depth look at this we could calculate fuel-burn at a specific altitude etc)