Sukhoi Soe-30, Sukhoi SU 30. Russia

by Gert Hilbink

The Sukhoy Soe-30 (Russian: Су-30) (NATO code name: Flanker-C) is a highly manoeuvrable fighter jet from Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoy and is built by the United Aircraft Construction Corporation. It can fulfil multiple roles, such as achieving air superiority, but it can also be effective as a ground attack aircraft. The aircraft is a modernised version of the Soe-27UB and has several variants, of which the K and MK series were commercially successful.
Due to a lack of air bases on the northern coast of the Soviet Union, the Soviet air force needed a specialised interceptor fighter to defend this area. The aircraft had to have the greatest possible range and accommodate two people for long flights. Therefore, in the mid-1980s, Sukhoy was asked to further develop the Soe-27UB trainer into a full-fledged interceptor fighter. In autumn 1988, two Soe-27UB aircraft were converted to T10PU to act as prototypes. When the aircraft went into production, it was renamed Soe-30.