But Su-30M2 is a low risk option. Already developed with Indian and Malaysian money. modern and up to date, ready to replace legacy Su-27 and 30 airframes.

Su-30M2 is based on Chinese versions. You are probably referring to Su-30SM.

But eventually China will probably be the dominant one and their relationship might end up like US and S.Korean arms industry.

Russia is certainly going to be the junior partner because in terms of economy and population is nowhere near China, but I would not say it is comparable to South Korea because links with India are also very strong -amongst other things-.

KumAAP is planning to make 18 of the type this year. I think they manufactured 15 in 2014.

Are there any data on operating costs and how well it compares to a helicopter of same category with classical configuration? I wonder if the coaxial configuration adds a lot to the running costs.

It also goes with the story that one of the Su-27PD/Su-30 almost crashed after doing a airial refueling with an US tanker.
He lost both engines, and made at last an successfull Engine startup while gliding down to motherearth.

Is the refuelling kit compatible? The story sounds a bit fishy to me.

Apparently Shoigu wants to restart Tu-160 production… I love that plane as much as the next guy, but this is so, so dumb.

http://www.aex.ru/news/2015/4/29/133873/

An immaculate 9-12.

Perhaps the unpainted one? Both shots were taken at Kubinka.

Thanks for the translation TR1

Could be Venezuela (despite already having Su-30MK2)…talks is very vague might not mean anything serious.

I am not sure. Venezuela is really struggling at the moment. Peru could be a candidate. Argentina is also struggling, and has never operated Russian fighter aircraft before. They have been looking at FC-1 recently. Colombia could be an option I guess…

I agree that Flanker is an overkill for most countries. A MiG-35 would be enough for most of them, except Argentina and Brazil, who could be interested in the extra range and payload.

Reading Ajai Shukla about MMRCA is a nonsense. Je dot crazy about Dassault after he was denied a flight in a Rafale B

😀 That would explain a lot. IIRC he did change his views on Gripen after flying in one.

I stopped reading his nonsense after he criticised the “Su-30MKI with Tumansky engines” and “the MiG-21 Bison with Elta radar”.

– I think first four delivered Su-30M2 were actually leftovers originally destined for China..

I don’t have any data on China cancelling any Su-30 acquisitions. A license for 200 Su-27SK was indeed cancelled, but did this license include Su-27UBK? Under the agreement, fuselage was produced in China, with Russia providing avionics, radars and engines.

Many may believe Russian industry lacks the technology but I don’t… there’s no doubt Russian industry is capable of producing a new bomber – the question is how good it will be (i.e. how well it will perform in the missions that it is eventually assigned). As for resources – well, they are there in spite of recent economic difficulties, the question is whether they will be distributed in the direction of this programme or allocated to something else.

Tupolev does have issues with workforce. In 2012 it was at follows:

52.4% of workforce is more than 50 years old.
27.3% of workforce is more than 60 years old.
23.9% of workforce is less than 30 years old.
Average: 43 years old.
Retirement age for men in Russia is 60, 55 for women.