INTL Confirmed: Iran and Russia to Co-Produce Su-30 Fighter Jet

[Housecarl]

Well this is an interesting turn......

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/confirmed-iran-and-russia-to-co-produce-su-30-fighter-jet/

Confirmed: Iran and Russia to Co-Produce Su-30 Fighter Jet

Iran’s defense minister revealed that Tehran is set to receive the Su-30 fighter jet at an undisclosed future date.

By Franz-Stefan Gady
February 14, 2016

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During a recent television interview, Iran’s Defense Minister, General Hossein Dehqhan, announced that Iran will sign a contract with Russia for the co-production of an undisclosed number of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighter aircraft, Fars News Agency reports.

Should the deal go through, Iran will be the first country in the world to produce a variation of the Su-30 fighter jet locally. However, as of now, it still remains unclear in what capacity Tehran will be involved in the aircraft production process.

According to a source within Iran’s Defense Ministry interviewed by Sputnik News, a contract could be signed as early as February 16, when the Iranian defense minister will arrive in Moscow to discuss the deliveries of S-300 air defense systems and the Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft.

“Minister Dehgan is taking a number of the Defense Ministry’s representatives to the Russian capital to meet with their Russian colleagues and other highly-ranked officials,” the source notes.

“The last stages will be discussed of delivering Iran the S-300 complex, the first part of which should arrive before the end of next month, and the second by the end of June. Minister Dehqwan will also discuss the delivery of Su-30 airplanes because the Defense Ministry believes the Iranian Air Force needs this type of plane. We’ve moved far in these discussions of purchases and I think that during the upcoming visit a contract will be signed,” according to the source.

First rumors about a likely Iranian-Russian Su-30 deal emerged already in the summer of 2015 during the MAKS airshow, held near Moscow. “We are discussing the purchase of Sukhoi fighter planes,” Dehqhan told Iran’s Press TV back then.

However, Iran’s Vice-President for Science and Technology Affairs, Sorena Sattari, who was also present during the discussions, downplayed the talks at the time: “We spoke about it but we didn’t discuss purchasing them and talks were mostly focused on the technological issues.”

As I explained previously (See: “Will Iran License-Build Russia’s T-90S Main Battle Tank?”):

Under the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCOP), an international agreement on the nuclear program of Iran signed in July 2015, the UN arms embargo will be lifted 5 years after the JCOP adoption day. However, conventional weapons sales can be decided on a case-by-case basis meanwhile. “During the five years arms deliveries to Iran would be possible if they clear a notification and verification process in the UN Security Council,” according to Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov.

It is unclear what variant of the Sukhoi Su-30 Iran is interested in, nor how many aircraft it wants to procure and within what timeframe. During his recent television interview, General Hossein Dehqhan, also rejected the idea of procuring Chengdu J-10 lightweight multirole fighter aircraft from China.

 

[Richard]

Hope this will boost the sale of Eurofighters in Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Countries.

 

[Housecarl]

Hope this will boost the sale of Eurofighters in Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Countries.

With oil prices being what they are right now, I'm wondering if the Saudis and the GCC States can even afford this Sunni-Shia "conflict" for much longer?

 

[Richard]

With oil prices being what they are right now, I'm wondering if the Saudis and the GCC States can even afford this Sunni-Shia "conflict" for much longer?

This a good observation one which was troubling me regarding the export of fighter planes to the ME, Kuwait needs to replace their F18s and SA needs to replace their Tornados although they have been recently updated to RAF GR4 standard, I'm hoping that now the Eurofighter with PE3 enhancements is now an all singing/dancing multirole jet the Saudis will replace their Tornados over a period of time with the latest version of the EF and they will follow the RAF in having the aircraft in full MR capability just as they did with the Tornados.

The Saudis have many F15s but they need a full MR jet fighter and I don't think the F35 is on the agenda.

This is assuming that they don't run out of money, however the 80 Tornado Saudi Jet fighter fleet needs replacing soon, the RAF intend to retire their Tornados within 3 years and the EF is being updated rapidly to fulfil the role. It will probably be cheaper to buy new fully MR Eurofighters than maintain their old Tornado fleet.

 

[Housecarl]

This a good observation one which was troubling me regarding the export of fighter planes to the ME, Kuwait needs to replace their F18s and SA needs to replace their Tornados although they have been recently updated to RAF GR4 standard, I'm hoping that now the Eurofighter with PE3 enhancements is now an all singing/dancing multirole jet the Saudis will replace their Tornados over a period of time with the latest version of the EF and they will follow the RAF in having the aircraft in full MR capability just as they did with the Tornados.

The Saudis have many F15s but they need a full MR jet fighter and I don't think the F35 is on the agenda.

They have a MR (multi-role) jet in the F-15S and SA, both variants of the "E" Strike Eagle. From a cost/benefit situation the Saudis would be better off either getting the French or Turks to sell them air launched cruise missiles to go with the Strike Eagles and Tornados and or start procuring solid fueled SRBMs that can at least reach across the Gulf and threaten Iranian oil and defense infrastructure in the same manner that the Iranian's various flavors of SCUDs and their newer solid fueled systems do the same to the GCC States (as well as Israel, Turkey and potentially all the way to London).

 

[Richard]

I don't know enough about the F15 and its latest variants to comment about ground strike capability, I assumed they bought the Tornado for its air to ground capabilities in the first place, as well as bribes.

The EF was recently used to drop Paveway IV bombs on the Yemen not the F15 so I don 't know what air to ground capability the F15 has, the EF was criticised as having austere air to ground capabilities but that is all.changing now within the last year with P3E. IMO the Saudis don't need that many F15s, they need more multirole future proven aircraft.

 

[Housecarl]

The F-15E and its sub-variants sold to Israel, South Korea, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia took the "A" and "C" models "not a pound for ground" added a WSO station in the second cockpit of the B/D two seat trainer, traded about 400 cannon rounds in capability and structural upgrades for the deep strike/interdiction role including nuclear strike.

The aircraft has a capacity of 23,000 lb (10,400 kg) of external fuel and ordnance and is still fully air to air capable.

 

[Housecarl]

I don't know enough about the F15 and its latest variants to comment about ground strike capability, I assumed they bought the Tornado for its air to ground capabilities in the first place, as well as bribes.

Yeah, they've had the Tornados since 1986. They started getting the F-15S in 1996.

ETA:

For those not familiar with this version of the Su-27 Flanker.....

http://www.sukhoi.org/eng/planes/military/su30mk/

http://www.sukhoi.org/eng/img/gallery/military/su30mk/30mkk.jpg

Su-30МК

The Su-30MK aeroplane has been designed on the platform of the Su-27UB; it is in series production in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and in Irkutsk.

The Su-30MK is a two-seat highly-manoeuvrable fighter designed for air-superiority and strikes at ground and naval surface targets using a variety of guided and unguided ADO, with an option of supporting group actions.

Historical background

Negotiations with India to supply Su-27 type fighters started in 1994. The Design Bureau commenced work to develop a Su-30-based plane for India's Air Force in 1995. A.F. Barkovsky was appointed chief designer of the project. On 30th November 1996 an intergovernmental agreement was made for phased development and delivery to India of 8 Su-30K two-seat fighters and 32 Su-30MKI multi-role two-seat fighters. The planes were scheduled for delivery in several consignments, with gradual enhancement of avionics, powerplant and weapons. The general contractors, according to a government resolution, were:

- for aeroplane development: Sukhoi Design Bureau OJSC (now JSC),
- for aeroplane production: Irkutsk Aircraft Production Association (IAPA, now Irkut Corporation).

Two prototypes were built by the Design Bureau in 1995-1998. The first prototype, Su-30I-1, was based on the Su-30 production version, the prototype completed in the spring of 1997. The first flight was performed by test pilot V.Yu. Averyanov on 1st July 1997. In July 1997, the Design Bureau launched a programme to test the plane jointly with SPFC of the Air Forces.

The aircraft has been in production in Irkutsk since 2000. The first pre-production plane was flight tested at the plant by V.Yu. Averyanov on 26th November 2000. The first three pre-production Su-30MKIs were handed over to the Design Bureau and have been used along with prototypes in the joint-testing programme with SPFC of Air Forces.

In accordance with the terms of the contract, the Su-30MKI planes were to be tested and delivered in 3 stages. The first delivery of 10 Su-30MKIs to the Customer took place in 2002; the second batch of 12 aeroplanes, in 2003. By 2004, the Su-30K and Su-30MKI planes had been put into service with two squadrons of India's Air Force.

The Su-30MKI’s distinctive features:
- for the first time in the world, a production aircraft has an engine with thrust vector control (AL-31FP, developed by the RDC named after A. Lyulka), and a remote control system integrated into a single control loop. Taken together, this renders the Su-30MKI extremely manoeuvrable;
- for the first time in the Design Bureau's history, a plane features a large-scale integration of avionics systems of foreign and domestic origin. The Su-30MKI has an "international" avionics portfolio, including as it does systems and units made by 14 foreign firms from 6 countries of the world.
- For the first time in the world, a production plane has a radar with PAA ("Bars" developed by the Scientific Research Institute of Instrumentation Technology). Moreover, the plane has a new ejection seat, the K-36D-3.5, and a number of other innovative systems of domestic origin.
- The ADO line-up has been significantly upgraded with the addition of the RVV-AYe air-to-air guided missile, Kh-29L/T/TYe, Kh-31A/P, Kh-59M air-to-ground missiles, and KAB-500 and KAB-1500 guided bombs.

The Su-30MKI programme has for the first time in Russian history showcased a new model for military-technical cooperation incorporating all types of long-term cooperation currently practised in the world such as:

- delivery of the first consignment of products in the baseline version (Su-30K),
- joint R&D to produce an upgraded version (Su-30MKI),
- granting the customer a licence to manufacture with subsequent replacement of Russian-made components with those of foreign origin (in December 2000, a contract was signed to sell to India a licence to manufacture 140 Su-30MKI planes of the final delivery group),
- upgrading of the planes from the first deliveries to the technical status of the final delivery group,
- setting up of a joint technical service centre for aftersales maintenance of the equipment supplied,
- using the «export beachhead» to expand into the regional market (in 2003, a contract was made to supply Su-30MKM planes to Malaysia).

Su-30MKK

The Design Bureau started work to produce a Su-30-based two-seat attack aircraft designated Su-30MKK for China's Air Forces in 1997, A.I. Knyshev having been appointed chief designer of the project. Under the contract, the Komsomolsk-on-Amur production plant (KnAAPO) was named as the general contractor. The Design Bureau produced a detailed design in 1997-98; the prototype planes were made in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in 1998-99. The new version of the two-seater was based to a great extent on the design solutions adopted for the Su-27SK and the single-seat fighter Su-27M. As a result, the Su-30MKK incorporated, for all intents and purposes without any redesign, the Su-27M's centre wing section, wing panels, air intakes, tail beams, fins and landing gear and the Su-27SK's tail-end fuselage assemblies. This way, the design scope was reduced dramatically, without any new components required for building the aircraft except for the nose. Besides, the production plant had already gained experience in setting up production of a two-seat trainer at the beginning of the '80s.

The first prototype was built in the spring of 1999, the Su-30MKK-1 having been taken off the ground for its maiden flight on 20th May 1999 by test pilots I.Ye. Solovyov (Design Bureau) and A.V. Pulenko (KnAAPO). The first four pre-production planes were handed over to the Design Bureau for testing. The testing was conducted jointly with SPFC of the Air Forces in 1999-2001, with the first 10 production Su-30MKK planes delivered to the customer in December 2000.

Su-30MKK design highlights:

- The plane features upgraded equipment of Russian manufacture, which includes a new version of radar with target designation and mapping capabilities; OSTS with target illumination using a laser beam; a GPS system, and a coloured multi-function LCDs in the cockpit, etc.;
- The ADO line-up has been upgraded with the addition of RVV-AYe air-to-air guided missile; Kh-29L/T/TYe, Kh-31P, Kh-59M air-to-ground missiles; and KAB-500 and KAB-1500 guided bombs. The Su-30MKK has been used as a platform to produce an upgraded version, the Su-30MK2, which differs from the parent version in its weapons and equipment systems configuration; planes of this type were been supplied to China in 2003. In addition, Su-30MK type aeroplanes were supplied to Indonesia in 2003.

 

[Richard]

OK I keep saying ad nauseam that at Farnborough Airshow a few years back, the SU35 was doing its tricks including the dreaded cobra movement, I asked an F15 pilot in leather jacket attire what he thought of it, he said they would not engage it........... very matter of fact, I thought what are you thinking about? Didn't bother to ask, maybe I should have.

The pilot is an employee of Govt.

 

[Housecarl]

OK I keep saying ad nauseam that at Farnborough Airshow a few years back, the SU35 was doing its tricks including the dreaded cobra movement, I asked an F15 pilot in leather jacket attire what he thought of it, he said they would not engage it........... very matter of fact, I thought what are you thinking about? Didn't bother to ask, maybe I should have.

No worries.....

 

[Richard]

No worries.....

Russians
The US fighter capability will never be upstaged by the Russians........ no matter what......... there are very few SU35s in service for a kick off..........