The truth about the quality of Su-30 fighters produced by Irkut
Foreign customers integrate too much foreign equipment into Russian aircraft, causing system conflicts.
As is known, the Irkut complex is the place that produces Su-30 multi-role fighters with front canards including Su-30MKM, Su-30MKI, Su-30MKA - these are the most advanced Su-30 variants that Russia exports abroad.
In addition, the Irkut facility is also the place to assemble the domestic Su-30SM variant for the Russian Air Force and supply it to the Kazakhstan Air Force as well as mass-produce the Su-30SME variant for sale to the world arms market.
Although advertised as having very impressive features, Irkut's Su-30SME is showing signs of being inferior to the Su-35S assembled by Knaapo Complex, largely due to customers' concerns about their quality, especially when witnessing 2/3 of Malaysia's Su-30MKM squadron grounded along with many accidents occurring to India's Su-30MKI.
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| Su-30MKM multi-role fighter of the Royal Malaysian Air Force |
In response to the above argument, the Russian side explained that the technical errors that occurred with Irkut aircraft belonging to the Malaysian and Indian air forces were entirely due to the users' incorrect operating methods.
For example, Kazakhstan's Su-30SM has no complaints about the quality of the product. They rate the aircraft as very reliable and meets all their tactical requirements.
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| Su-30SM multirole fighters of the Russian and Kazakh Air Forces parked side by side on the runway. |
In addition to the operating method, the fact that foreign customers integrate too many foreign devices into Russian aircraft such as French sensors, display screens or Israeli target indication pods... is also said to cause system conflicts.
