Russian AF Su-30KN/Su-27UBM upgrade article

Emailed my own doc to myself on my new computer to get this article up.

Here it is, a compilation of info from a variety of sources, with a big part of it from JED (Journal of Electronic Defense)

Upgrading has been proposed in three stages. The first stage is focused on upgrading air-to-air capabilities and adding some air-to-ground capabilities, by adding a new Baget-55 processor and MVK computer to the existing SUV-27 weapons control system and N001 radar. The new processor and digital computer have data exchange capability through a MIL-STD-1553b equivalent databus. The upgrades to the radar allow use of the RVV-AE/ R-77 AAM. In this first stage the radar can engage two targets simultaneously. The N001 radar also incorporates new modes, and is given the designation N001EM. An air-to-surface mode has been added, capable of acquiring large surface targets from 400km and small-sized surface targets to a range of 120km; it is also capable of terrain mapping (through synthetic aperture), moving target image selection and air-to-surface missile guidance. The Su-30KN can carry up to six Kh-29T TV-guided missiles or up to six KAB-500Kr TV-guided bombs. It can also use the Kh-31A and Kh-31P missiles (up to six can be carried). Three Kh-59M extended-range TV-guided missiles could also be added but their capabilities cannot be fully realized by the first-stage upgrade. To work with the TV-guided munitions, the presently used single monochrome displays are replaced by a single MFI-55 127x127mm color LCD MFD in both the front and rear cockpit. All the modernized aircraft with be equipped with L005S Sorbtsya ECM pods on the wingtips. Also added in the first stage is the A737 GPS, and a bolt-on in-flight-refueling probe.

The proposed second stage of upgrading is more sophisticated. The existing N001 radar’s twist-cassergrain antenna will be replaced by a new ‘Pero’ passively scanned, phased array antenna, developed by NIIP. This increases the radar’s range by 20-25%, as well as offering track-while-scan and multiple target (up to six) engagement capability. ECCM capability is also improved. The modified radar will be able to track ground targets, but its resolution is believed to be no higher than about 20m. Therefore, only large ground objects could effectively be targeted by the Kh-29T missile’s TV seeker. Laser-guided Kh-29L missiles can also be carried, but the crew would only be able to launch them from a dive, using the existing IRST. The OLS-27 IRST is presently only an air-to-air system, so the system’s software will be changed, and an illumination mode will be added to the existing laser rangefinder. The OLS-27’s capability to detect ground targets is relatively poor and its mount in front of the cockpit restricts the look-down angle, which is why the system can be used only in a dive and only with missiles, so there will be no capability to direct free-fall laser-guided bombs.
Also in the second stage, aircraft will receive a ‘glass cockpit’, with three MFI-68 and two MFI-55 LCD MFDs replacing the analog instruments in each cockpit, as well as HOTAS control.

In the proposed third stage, the existing radar will be completely replaced by a new phased array radar. It will significantly enhance the aircraft’s air-to-ground capabilities through the use of a Doppler beam-sharpening mode and a synthetic-aperture mode. The aircraft will also be equipped with the new SAPSAN targeting pod, designed by UOMZ. It will have FLIR and TV channels integrated with a laser rangefinder/ illuminator, with a much larger field of view, enabling use of laser guided munitions from both a dive and horizontal flight.

The Su-30KN Stage I prototype was tested in 2000. Conversion of an Su-30 into the Su-30KN Stage II prototype was begun in 2001, with flight tests scheduled to be complete and a preliminary report on the aircraft ready by year’s end.

In November 2001 a contract was signed covering the first stage of the upgrade of 30 Su-27UB aircraft to the first stage of modernization. The upgraded Su-27UB is known as Su-27UBM, the first aircraft was first delivered to the air force for tests in March 2001. The two-seater FLANKERs have priority for both training purposes and the proven greater capability offered by two-seat aircraft in a strike role.