Russian expert comments on Vietnam's purchase of Su-30M2

Colonel Makar Aksenenko - Russian military doctor and test pilot has just expressed his opinion regarding the prospect of exporting Su-30M2 to Vietnam.

Regarding the possibility that Vietnam may consider asking Russia to resell one Su-30M2 multi-role fighter from the batch of four that was reduced in number according to the contract in 2009 to compensate for the shortage of the 927th Air Force Regiment, replacing the Su-30MK2 with serial number 8585 that crashed last year, Sputnik news agency interviewed Mr. Aksenenko.

According to the Russian military expert: "Personally, I do not see any problem in exporting Su-30M2 to Vietnam - a country friendly to Russia and a long-time partner of Russia in military-technical cooperation (of course, depending on certain conditions).

However, purchasing only one Su-30M2 will not increase the combat readiness of the Vietnam Air Force.

On the contrary, it can even create some problems, because in the composition of an air force unit there will be aircraft that are similar in appearance, but different in technical equipment and tactical and technical characteristics.

Operating different types of aircraft always requires additional costs and human resources.

In my opinion, the more reasonable option is to buy a batch of fighter planes, at least to form a squadron in the Air Force, with the prospect of increasing the number of planes to form a regiment. This option is favorable both economically and in terms of the development of the Vietnam Air Force."

He added: "Experience operating Su-30 fighter jets shows that it is necessary to modernize the electronic system as well as equip this aircraft with engines with greater thrust, including engines with 2-way thrust vector control.

This has increased the combat capabilities of the aircraft to meet the requirements of modern warfare. That is, Russia modernizes its fighter aircraft taking into account the experience of operating on the battlefield, the comments of pilots as well as the requirements for 4++ generation fighter aircraft.

Su-30M2 fighter jet number 20 'Red' of the Russian Air Force

Colonel Makar Aksenenko's opinion is not without reason, however, with their intelligence, diligence and creativity, the technical staff of the Vietnam Air Force have done quite extraordinary things.

Specifically, in the period from 2004 to 2010, Air Force Regiment 935 - the best-equipped unit of the Air Force - operated all three lines of Flanker fighter aircraft: Su-27SK, Su-27UBK and Su-30MK2 (the first four aircraft were delivered in 2004).

Therefore, if equipped with only one Su-30M2, it would not be a problem for Vietnam, because the two fighter lines Su-30MK2 and Su-30M2 cannot have such a big difference as the Su-27 and Su-30 that Vietnam once put into service with the same unit.

Of course, this is only a temporary solution to quickly compensate for the number. In the long run, we should also pay attention to Colonel Makar Aksenenko's advice to equip a whole new generation fighter regiment such as Su-30SM or Su-35S to increase strength and create synchronization and unity.

According to Baodatviet