Another PRC SU-30 order imminent

I got this from Sandyj in the CDF. Original article in JEDonline.

Further Su-30 Order Expected from PRC

A variant of the Russian Su-30 (shown here), dubbed the Su-30MKK3, is expected to form the core of Chinese naval aviation’s strike force. An order from the PRC for 18 such aircraft is expected soon. KnAAPO photo

As part of its plan to increase its strike capabilities, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) intends to order another batch of 18 Russian-made Su-30MKK aircraft soon from the KnAAPO factory (Konsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia). In all, the PRC will receive 76 Su-30MKKs. A first tranche of 38 ordered in 1999 were delivered between 2000 and 2001. An additional 20 were ordered in 2001, with delivery getting underway in 2002. The latter were manufactured to the improved Su-30MKK2 standard (for detail, see see “Eyes of the Eastern Eagles,”JED , February 2003). It is expected that a further 18 will be ordered soon, and these aircraft will be produced to the ultimate Su-30MKK3 standard. Delivery will take place during 2003-2004. In addition, all the previously delivered aircraft will be upgraded to the Su-30MKK3 standard. The Su-30MKK3, once delivered, will form the core of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force’s strike capabilities, supplemented by indigenously built JH-7 fighter-bombers. The PRC hopes to have in the Su-30MKK3 a weapon system that could seriously threaten US aircraft carriers in the area, especially around the Republic of China (Taiwan). It is to be something of a “mini-Tu-22M3” in PRC hands.

To date, 38 Su-30MKK and 20 Su-30MKK2 have been delivered to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), but the expected order of 18 Su-30MKK3 aircraft would be for use by the People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF) and, as such, possess some specific features found only on this version. The PLAAF’s existing 58 Su-30MKK/MKK2 will be probably upgraded with the Su-30MKK3’s new radar, but they would remain land-attack aircraft. For example, the Su-30MKK2 is armed with Kh-31 missiles, but only the Kh-31P anti-radar version. The Su-30MKK3 will be the only carrier of the modernized Kh-31A anti-ship missile.

The main novelty of the Su-30MKK3 version, though, is the use of the N010M Zhuk-ME radar. It is a multi-role system and was previously designated Zhuk-MS. However, the more advanced Sokol radar, with a phased-array antenna, was also sometimes called Zhuk-MS (the “S” standing for Sokol), so to avoid confusion, the technologically less advanced Zhuk-MS, with its slotted-array antenna, is now designated Zhuk-ME. The purely air-to-air processor C.90 was replaced by the Bagiet, adding several air-to-ground modes, such as ground mapping, detection and track of static ground targets, ground-moving-target indication, Doppler beam sharpening, and terrain avoidance. The radar antenna has been enlarged (antenna diameter increased from 680 to 960 mm) from the basic Zhuk, which was originally developed for the MiG-29. Its peak power increased to 6 kW and average power to 1.5 kW. The maximum air-to-air range of the N010M was boosted to 140 km (50 km in chase). The radar can detect up to 20 airborne targets simultaneously and can track and engage up to four targets with R-77 missiles. For the air-to-ground role, it introduced synthetic-aperture-radar (3-m resolution) and terrain-following modes. A destroyer-sized ship can be detected from about 180-200 km. Another interesting feature of the system is its ability to engage to sea targets simultaneously with two Kh-31A missiles fired upon individual targets in a single pass. The two targets can be within the same group, and the mid-course update ensures that the missiles will be engaging the designated targets, a capability made possible by the high resolution and accuracy of the radar and its powerful processor. The Su-30MKK3, however, will probably not be equipped with the Sapsan-E targeting pod, which was designed mainly for land attack.

To further increase its airborne strike capabilities, the PRC is also seeking longer-range anti-ship missiles of an unspecified type. Reportedly, air-launched versions of either Moskit (NATO: SS-N-22) or Yakhont (NATO: SS-N-26) missiles are being considered. – Michal Fiszer and Jerzy Gruszczynski