Belarus to Complement Russian Build Air Defence Network with Elite Su-30SM Air Superiority Fighters - Delivery Expected Within Months

The Belarusian Air Force is scheduled to take delivery of Russian Su-30SM ‘4+ generation’ air superiority fighters in 2019 - an advanced derivative of the Su-27 Flanker design fielding some of the latest avionics, sensors and electronic warfare systems. Many of these systems are derived from those more recently developed for the Russian Air Force’s Su-35 a more recent design for a high end air superiority fighter which entered service from 2014. While the Su-30 lacks the Su-35’s signature three dimensional thrust vectoring systems, it fields two dimensional thrust vectoring systems which will grant the aircraft supermanoeuvrability to enhance its survivability at all ranges. The fighters will reportedly be delivered with advanced R-27ER and R-77 long range air to air missiles, providing the Belarusian Air Force with by far its most capable air to air capabilities yet. A dozen of these fighters are set to be delivered to Belarus.

Su-30 Air Superiority Fighter

The Su-30SM was designed for the Russian Air Force, and its export to Belarus is somewhat unique given that specialised export variants such as the Su-30MKK and MK2 are usually sold to foreign clients. The close extent of defence cooperation between the two Soviet successor states however has facilitated such as sale, with the Su-30SM variant also having been sold to Kazakhstan which acquired half a dozen fighters. The Russian Air Force received 60 Su-30SM fighters from 2012 to 2016, and has continued to enlarge its fleet ever since. The fighters provide an arguably more cost effective alternative to the costly but more advanced Su-35. The Su-30SM saw its first combat operations in the Syrian theatre, where it was deployed alongside smaller numbers of Su-35 jets and equipped with air to air missiles to serve as a complement to advanced air defence systems, namely the S-400 and S-300V4, which between them were tasked with deterring any potential attacks by Western or Arab aircraft against Russian targets.

Belarusian Air Force Su-27 Air Superiority Fighter

The Belarusian Air Force previously fielded advanced heavy combat jets designed for air to air engagements - including the MiG-25 Foxbat interceptor during the Cold War and the Su-27 Flanker air superiority fighter. The Su-27 was reportedly used intensively by Belarus’ Air Force, and the country become the first and only one to retire the fighters from frontline service in 2012 after just 27 years in service. The country’s fighter fleet is currently comprised exclusively of advanced variants of the MiG-29 medium fighters - of which over 40 are currently in service. These aircraft were designed as lighter complements to the Su-27 and Su-30, and lack the range, payload, or operational altitude of high end air superiority platforms - or the sophistication of the Su-30SM. The fighters will nevertheless provide an effective complement to air defence platforms such as the S-400, S-300, BuK-M2 and Tor. How Belarus will afford to operate the Su-30SM, which costs considerably more per hour to fly than the MiG-29, remains to be seen however. With the country having refused repeatedly to provide Russia with an airbase on the country’s territory, it remains in Russia’s interest to strengthen the ability of the country’s armed forces to defend its airspace - and thus prevent the Western Bloc from attacking Russia through Belarusian territory in the event of war.