Su-30SM fighter jets demonstrate power on the Crimean peninsula

Three Su-30SM multirole fighters have been added to the Russian Black Sea Fleet's Naval Aviation force stationed in Crimea, amid regional tensions following Ukraine's missile drills.

Black Sea Fleet spokesman Vyacheslav Trukhachev said three Su-30SMs were present at Saki airport in Crimea.

“The planes were built at the Irkutsk plant and have been delivered to the Black Sea Fleet as part of the Fleet's naval aviation upgrade,” Trukhachev said.

Su-30SM is a variant of the Su-30 series equipped for the Russian Air Force. Su-30SM is designed based on the Su-30MKI airframe exported to India.

The Su-30SM is equipped with a very modern upgraded avionics system, as well as an extremely powerful weapon system that allows it to attack all targets in the air, on land, and at sea (with the P-800 Oniks supersonic anti-ship missile with a launch range of 120-300km depending on the flight trajectory).

In particular, the Su-30SM is equipped with two AL-31FP turbofan engines with integrated thrust vector control system, providing very high maneuverability and a combat radius of up to 1,500km.

The Su-30SM has a flight speed of up to 2,100 km/h, a flight range of up to 3,000 km and a combat load of nearly 8 tons.

According to TPO