Fighter Aicraft
Fighter Aicraft
Sukhoi Su-30/32/34
By Easy Tartar
Date: 18 August 1997
Subj: Su-30/32/34 Update Report
The Su-32"FN", originally designated the Su-34, has been on the world scene for several years but only at this year's Paris Air Show did the West get a chance to look at the details of its cockpit, crew-station and its remarkable flight-handling characteristics in a competitive air show environment. It could be said that initially both Sukhoi and Roosvoorzhenie (the Russian Export Commission) wanted to keep the thrust-vector-control Su-37 from stealing the debut of the Su-32"FN" at Paris and hence delayed its arrival until the end of the show-week, but in all fairness, it appeared that political and technical problems hampered the release schedule of the Su-37.The tandem seat Su-30"MK", first seen at Farnborough in 1996, did not make an appearance at Paris despite its recent successes in India and Indonesia. In July, at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford, General Andreyev, the commander of the Russian Air Defense Forces (PVO), brought a tandem seat Su-30"K" and demonstrated it very effectively to the record crowd. But that baseline PVO Su-30"K" was a beefed up dual-seat Su-27"UB" trainer which then was designated the Su-27"PU" after modifications to accommodate an actual mission-qualified pilot were put in the back-seat for extended range PVO missions.
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Carlo Kopp's Su-30K/MK/MKI image
In general, the Russian Su-30"K" is a dual-seat full-system Su-27 interceptor with refueling probe, provisions for external fuel tanks, beefed up structure, improved ECM, and a slightly modified comm/oxygen interface block with the RD-36 ejection seat. The Russian home PVO variant is related to the multi-role "MK" or "MKI" export variants being sold around the world. The laser- optical locator system is advertised to include a day and night FLIR capability and is used in conjunction with the Helmet mounted sighting system. The onboard countermeasures suite includes an illumination warning system, an active jamming station, and passive dispensers for chaff and flares.
The Chief Designer for the export Su-30"MK" is Alexcy Knyshev. According to Knyshev, it is capable of performing all tactical tasks of the Su-24 "Fencer" deep interdiction tactical bomber and the Su-27 "Flanker A/B/C" air superiority fighter while having around twice the combat range and 2.5 times the combat effectiveness (Sukhoi numbers).
In the early 1990's, the Su-30"MK" supposedly found itself in competition with the Su-27"IB" side-by-side configured Flanker prototype, but there may be a lot of disinformation with these claims. The Su-30 was reported as early as January 1993 (JDW, 02Jan93, pg4) as being "in service" with the Russian Air Force and in series production at the Irkutsk Factory. At that time a modified and beefed-up dual-seat Su-27"PU" was being tested on long range flights, one of which went from Moscow to Komsomolsk in 15 hours and 31 minutes with air refueling. This evidently became the Su-30"K". Sukhoi then proposed a Su-30"MK" to the Russian Air Force as a dual-seat command post fighter that would designate targets for accompanying aircraft, a clear add-on or replacement for the MiG-31 Foxhound fleet that was having serious maintainability problems.
Shortly after, a new single-seat strike fighter / medium bomber that could replace both the Su-24 Fencer and the larger Tu-22/Tu-22M Blinder & Backfire bombers was proposed. It would be a low cost alternative to one of the expensive new bomber projects (T-60S). Mikhail Simonov, Sukhoi Chief Designer during this time, confirmed (JDW, 27Nov93, pg11) that the Russian Air Force has in fact funded some production Su-30"MK" aircraft but they would be single-seat variants. As time went on the dual-seat model returned to center stage.
Su-27K (Photo © Ivan Savin, Sukhoi)
In looking at the weight growth in the Flanker series, note that the normal takeoff weight of the basic single-seat Su-27 was 22,000 kg (48,500 lbs) while the dual-seat "UB" was 24,000 kg (52,900 lbs) with a max-takeoff weight at 33,500 kg (74,000 lbs). The "K" model has a normal takeoff weight of 24,800 kg (56,700 lbs) with a max-takeoff weight of 30,450 kg (67,000 lbs). Hence the beefed-up structure and added avionics subtracted from payload. The Su-35 with advanced weapon system, stronger airframe and canards takes the max-takeoff weight to 34,000 kg (75,000 lbs). The normal takeoff weight of the much larger Su-32"FN" is 42,000 kg (92,600 lbs) with a max-takeoff weight of 44,360 kg (98,000 lbs).
It is important to realize that the "FN" prototype, a derivative of the Su-27"IB" (istrebitel-bombardirovschik - fighter bomber), was a relative late-comer to the Sukhoi development scheme. It was always the tandem-seat arrangements of advanced models that prioritized the advanced design teams, not the unique side-by-side arrangement.
The Indian Air Force formally inducted its first eight Su-30 aircraft in a ceremony at Lohegaon Air Base, near Pune, in early July. This was barely six months after the $1.8 billion contract to supply 40 aircraft was confirmed, and officially described as Su-30's. The first batch of eight appear to be an enhanced Su-27"PU" variant which become the Su-30"K", modified again with an Indian particular navigation kit. News reports also eluded to the possibility that the InAF would return them at some later date. Another option was mentioned that over the next four years Sukhoi would upgrade these eight aircraft to full Su-30"MKI" status while delivering the 32 x Su-32"MKI"s in three batches. Deputy Sukhoi Designer Alexander Bartkovski said that the eight aircraft were shipped to India in An-124 Ruslan aircraft from the Irkutsk Aviation Production Association (IAPO) factory. Indian pilots are being trained in groups of ten at the Zhukovski Test Center.
As usual, things change, and the contract appears to have been changed top allow the new production aircraft to be delivered with canards and thrust-vectoring control (TVC) engines from the outset. The main difference being that the vectored thrust nozzle assembly would be applied to standard Lyulka-Saturn AL-31F turbofans rather than the AL-37FU's fitted to the Su-37 prototype.
The rapid progress being made by the Russians, as Western TVC fighters are barely out of testing, may be due to the relatively conservative Sukhoi flight control system philosophy, which combines manual, analog and digital systems with simple back-up modes, such as the manual mode for the TVC system which returns control of the deflection angle to the pilot.
Sukhoi deputy general designer Konstantin Marbashev told Chris Pocock, from Aviation International News, at the Paris Air Show, that the TVC flight test program with the Su-37 prototype had been completed and that many changes were made along with successful testing of the system in yaw as well as pitch, and with differential thrust. Now this confirmation brought the Su-37 VTC evolution into a new level of capability from what we have just seen a year earlier at the Farnborough Air Show. In fact, with "yaw" now as an interactive part of the pilot's control inputs, the Su-37 could exceed the maneuver potential of the F-16 VISTA, the X-31, and the new F-22, because they are either yaw-channel limited or require yaw-thrusters.
Yaw control, integrated with the pilot's standard rudder peddles, which in the fly-by-wire Sukhoi jets are not dis-abled and retain mechanical-electrical backup mechanisms, offer greater tactical freedom to the pilot once committed to the ultra-close dogfight that will feature VTC maneuvering. In-Close, Stay-Close, and Kill-Close would be one way to defeat the new generation of all-aspect, high-off-boresight missiles such as the R-73, Python 4, MICA-IR, and AIM-9X. Obviously one has to survive the transit from beyond visual range (BVR), to within visual range (WVR), to inside of minimum range. Once there however, both Western and Russian gun systems are capable of all-aspect, high crossing angle kills at ranges inside of 1500 feet. The final problem, of course, would be surviving the explosion and resulting trash that would follow the kill.
Since Farnborough there have also been changes back at Sukhoi headquarters. Alexei Fedorov, moving over from the senior director's job at the Irkutsk Aviation Industrial Association, took over the reigns of power. Simonov, who seemed weaker and troubled at Paris, was still reluctant to admit that the young Fedorov had in fact unseated him. The Sukhoi Aviation Military Industrial Complex (AVPK) was given life in August of 1996 and validated as both a State Enterprise and a Joint Stock Group by the Russian Government on the 30th of December.
AVPK Sukhoi now includes the two main design OKB facilities (Sukhoi & Beriev), three production factories (Komsomolsk-au-Amur, Novosibirsk, and Irkutsk), and several vender organizations. Fedorov studied business management at Oklahoma University and takes over both a complex organization but also a high tech industry in a very competitive marketplace. The mixture of State ownership and privatized holdings will be difficult to manage, but the ultimate goal is to eventually become completely privatized and competitive.
The Su-32"FN" is not being thought of as an air combat fighter because of its size, primary air-to-ground mission specialization, and completely different extended range scenarios. Hence, vectored thrust does not demand a high priority, although it does have applications in slowing approach speeds with heavy or asymmetric loadings and could be helpful in onboard computer-aided "dive-toss" deliveries of dumb (non-precision) munitions.
As with the "K"/"KM"/"MKI" aircraft, self-defense equipment has focused on active jamming counter-measures, and chaff & flare dispensers. But for the "FN" the new rear-firing version of the R-73 produced by Vympel has become a viable defense system. Approach-warning, acquisition and queuing of targets for these rear-firing missiles would be the function of a small rear-mounted radar housed at the end of the Su-32"FN" center section spine, or "stinger". The radar is located on a raised bracket assembly above the drag chute door which will be maintained. The R-73 missile will lock-on to its target before launch and will maintain its lock-on throughout its launch and flight sequence.
The first Su-35 prototype also was fitted with a rear-facing active threat warning radar in place of its drag chute. Major General Vasili Alexandrov, Chief of the Central Scientific and Research Institute of the Russian Federation Air Forces, said that the purpose of this radar was to provide an "over-the-shoulder" radar missile firing capability. So this would then incorporate forward-facing missiles, which are expected to be R-77 (AA-12) variants, that are given steering commands before launch or have high-angle-off seeker heads (beyond ±160°) locked-on before launch.
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Su-32FN (Photo © Ivan Savin, Sukhoi)
Su-32"FN" has been characterized by Sukhoi as a "specialized strike fighter" and "a reliable guardian of sea borders". It would be, according to Western terminology, a "missionized reconnaissance-maritime-strike platform" intended for around the clock operations to search for, detect, classify, and then destroy, if necessary, waterborne or submarine targets. It is boldly advertised as the potential successor to the Su-24, F-111, S-3A, RF-4E, EF-111A, A-6E, EA-6A, Tornado GR4, and the F-15E. And guess what, on the brute force merits as a platform, it definitely might be.
It all began around 1990 when the unique side-by-side Su-27"IB" was developed at the insistence of Viktor Pugachev, the famous Sukhoi Test Pilot, who at that time was tasked with coming up with a safe and reliable way to teach pilots how to come aboard the new carrier Knuznetzov. It made its maiden flight on 13Apr90, flown by Anatoly Ivanov. This first prototype was reported to not have ejection seats, sported a bolted-on canopy, and the pilots had to enter the aircraft under the fuselage from the rear part of the nose gear wheel well. Like the F-111, Su-24, or A-6, it allowed both crewmembers the opportunity to see forward directly down the aircraft reference line.
Pugachev had available to him several Sukhoi platforms from variants of the Su-27 "Flanker" and Su-24 "Fencer" to modifications of the Su-25 "Frogfoot". In the end, the Russian Navy elected to build around a dozen Navy trainer Su-25's, designated Su-28. But to show land-locked Russian Air Force pilots their first "look" at the back end of a full through-deck carrier, Pugachev elected to use the side-by-side variant of the Su-27.
The "IB" was introduced as a carrier demonstrator, but it became instantly a player in a new strike platform competition that was focusing on the tandem-seat Su-30. It was the Western press that has to be given much of the credit for making this happen because they played up the similarity of the "IB" to the Su-24 Fencer and the American F-111. It caught on with the designers and the fact that the avionics growth space had doubled made the idea very attractive. Ultimately two additional operational prototypes were scheduled to be produced at Sukhoi's Novosibirsk factory in Siberia. The first Su-34 prototype made its first flight on 18Dec93 and after transferring the development to Zhukovsky, it was decided that the third prototype would be the first Su-32"FN". This aircraft first flew a year later on 28Dec94 with test pilots Igor Votintsev and Evgeny Reunov at the controls.
The roll outs and first flights were reported on Russian TV and Su-34 re-designation was announced, the Su-32"FN" designation did not become public until Paris 1995. The Su-34 has a high degree of commonalty with the Su-30 in wing and lex design but the one most notable unique factor are the tandem double-bogey main landing gear, similar to those on the MiG-31 "Foxhound".
Funding was always a problem and delays in acquiring parts and equipment made the task of developing a full system prototype almost impossible, but the Su-32"FN" appeared to have priority. There were claims that Sukhoi received development money but that it was used to shore up the entire Sukhoi Joint Stock Company and its merging attempts to bring many of its venders under one corporate like company.
Sukhoi Deputy Designer Vladimir Yakovlev discussed the problems encountered over funding with the soaring Russian inflation rate. Funds promised for the "IB" and other programs often arrived weeks late, and by then the country's monthly 30% inflation rate had severely diminished the value of funding.
Sukhoi senior Navigator, Anatoly Gorbatov, was the responsible Test Director for the "IB" in its development and transition into a strike platform. In 1989, Gorbatov, flew into the Paris Air Show in the backseat of a Su-28, piloted by Leo Tsoi, the Chief Test Pilot. The tactical mission concept presented for the "IB" was then "Recce Strike Complex", which had to do with a Cold War "recce-pathfinder" and "post-strike recce" roles in one aircraft. As technology advanced and Sukhoi slowly applied its development money for the "IB", more refined "recce-strike" features were included and better integration with stand-off weapons was perfected. The "IB" was also configured with new titanium-bathtub armored cockpit and enhanced survivability features to allow it to penetrate into high threat environments.
Note for a moment that it was the Russian Air Force's decision to standdown, sell off, or give away their MiG-29 fleet (lack of parts and range primarily) and the dismal failure of the MiG-31 to maintain sorties for the PVO forces, that continually fed Sukhoi bits and pieces of budget and mission requirements which netted retrofit money for upgrading dual-seat "UB"s to full mission capable "PU"s / "K"s, and having available the best advanced product lines for the future in the Su-30, Su-34, Su-35, and Su-37. Through a switch in emergency funding, brought about by the sudden stand-down of Russian Naval Aviation and the collapse of the surface Navy, the Su-32"FN" was born.
Program Manager and Chief Designer for the Su-32"FN" is Rollan Martirosov who states that the key difference in the "FN" is its highly automated airborne radio-electronic equipment which will provide broad reconnaissance and combat capabilities. It is also capable of automated terrain following. A production order for 12 x Su-32"FN"s is expected to keep Sukhoi's line open until 1999. Many cockpit improvements were made that included K-36 ejection seats.
The Su-32"FN" has 12 armament/store stations and can carry the entire inventory of standoff weapons as well as up to four air-to-air missiles. The total weight for armament comes out to around 8,000 kg (17,600 lbs) with a flight range of around 4,000 km (2,160 nm), increased up to 7,000 km (3,777 nm) with in-flight refueling. It is noteworthy to mention that the Su-32"FN" can carry and employ the UPAZ air refueling store, so one Su-32 could refuel from another. External wing-tip mounted Sorbtsya ECM pods can also be carried.
One of the most fascinating features about the Su-32"FN" is its large side-by-side crew station that contains the left command-pilot and right navigator-armament operator's stations. It is a fully pressurized cabin that allows flight up to 10,000 meters (33,000 feet) without oxygen, hence it could effectively be a shirt-sleeve environment for the crew, but they still lack a cabin-module as in some F-111's. Standard K-36DM ejection seats are utilized with ejection being made upwards after the explosive destruction of the large main canopy.
Sukhoi designers believe that the cabin environment provides the pilot and navigator with conditions for good combat teamwork. It has been optimized for long-range patrol missions with multiple air refuelings extending to ten to fourteen hours. Once you enter the cabin from the built in stairs, you close up the entry area to access a small crew kitchen with a refrigerator and food-heating unit, a sewage disposal "john", and a first aid station that could serve as a place to laydown and sleep. For one of course.
This extended crew compartment also houses primary radio and navigation equipment as well as the ammunition box for the Gsh-301 cannon. Ammunition can then be interestingly exchanged for additional provisions. Beyond the crew station is the main integral fuel tanks and the main engine boost-pumps.
The Su-32"FN" is fitted with the "Sea Snake" avionics suite optimized for surface search, anti-surface warfare, mine-detection, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare. The active radar is designed to ensure detection of waterborne targets and submarine wake trails within a dispersion area of more than 3,000 sq.-meters from 150 km range at high altitude. The "Sea Snake" is also capable of detecting airborne targets, including small ones, low over the sea out to 200 to 250 kilometers. The "FN" is equipped with an integrated GLOSNOSS/GPS navigation and with its secure datalink can serve as a search-and-rescue coordinator or a maritime environment monitor.
The avionics suite has an extended architecture of computers, memory boards, color multi-function displays, and processors designed as self-contained information processing modules. They consist of large "Argon" digital computer units with specially programmed processors that use multiplex data-exchange channels. All information modules are controlled by a dual central computing system that fully coordinates workload and provides all relevant information to the flight deck. Two-way data link enables the mission planning and weapon aim-point computations to be loaded or updated while in flight or aircraft to aircraft.
According to Martirosov, Sukhoi utilized a high reliability modular approach that could complete most combat missions with a partial failure of any module. The avionics suite is also tailored to specific customer requirement with capabilities added or deleted. Western avionics could also be added at anytime.
When the aircraft is engaged in a maritime mission, the main weapon systems functions are performed by the onboard coherent radar, transmitting sonobouys, information provided by offboard data link, an onboard infrared/TV imaging system and a laser rangefinder. Target detection is carried out primarily with the help of the radar, in some cases visual contact is made, and the acoustic signatures are relayed by the sonobouys.
To detect submarines, 72 passive sonobouys are allocated in a wide range of frequencies with active directional hydroacoustical buoys and explosive wave generators. Performance characteristics of the Sukhoi sonobouys exceeds American products, according to a Sukhoi representative.
There is also a magnetic anomaly detector employed with the sonobouys while the radar can detect small periscopes just breaking the wave tops. Onboard passive radio-electronic reconnaissance systems operate through the entire usable spectrum.
In November 1995, static testing of the new Su-32"FN" prototype was completed and a simple flight test program was started. Because of the basic commonalty with the Su-27 family, the canard characteristics of the Su-30/33 and 35, and the almost identical handling qualities with its sister Su-34, the "FN" did not require expensive flight qualities testing. Instead, the flight testing focused on the highly automated avionics equipment that would provide it with broad reconnaissance and combat duties.
The all-moving differential canard surfaces have a span of 6.4 meters (21 feet) and an area of some 3 square meters (32 square feet) each. The sweep angle of the leading edge of the canard is 53.5 degrees. Sukhoi literature says that the combination of the front horizontal canards and conventional rear horizontal empennage are intended to ensure good maneuverability and excellent takeoff and landing characteristics with large loads.
In the tunnel under the fuselage between the two engine "pods", there are two tandem hardpoints designed to accept the extra-large anti-ship and air-to-surface munitions. The blended nose has been extended to accept a multi-purpose radar antenna.
The wing consists of a large titanium center-wing section and deployed panels with a leading edge sweep angle of 42°. Leading edge extensions contain defensive avionics bays and on the right side the Gsh-301 single-barrel 30mm cannon is mounted.
The main telescopic undercarriage legs are fitted with a tandem arrangement of large KT-206 tires. The front dual-nose tire semi-levered undercarriage is equipped with KN-27 tires. The main landing gear are retracted on a forward sweep, with a twist of the bogies, into the center section box well. The front gear are retracted rearward into the equipment compartment behind the cabin. This also seals the crew access door which is why the production aircraft adapted ejection seats and a self-destructive canopy for emergency egress. Undercarriage dimensions are 6.6 meters (21.6 feet) for the wheelbase and 4.4 meters (14.4 feet) for the wheeltrack.
An operational mission for the Su-32"FN" begins with a mission planning period that loads into the aircraft's two main computers the coordinates and elevations of every navigation and mission-dependent point from takeoff to landing. At each coordinate-point or time-hack, automatic switching of modes can be accomplished so that the pilots can be hands-off or involved with other parts of the mission. Data link with command aircraft, ground stations, and command ships will be maintained and where line-of-sight limits are reached these communications resort to satellites for expanded coverage. Mission updates can be passed by higher authority anytime during the flight. All types or tactical and strategic ordnance can be utilized with emphasis being placed on long range standoff weapons such as the AS-13/18 Kingbolt cruise missiles, AS-14 Kedge anti-radiation weapon, AS-17 Krypton, Kh-35 Harpoon like anti-ship weapon, and the Kh-41 Moskit long range anti-ship missile.
The Su-32"FN" remains perhaps the most flexible Sukhoi Flanker platform. It has the power and size to be converted to almost any role imaginable. As a platform it can go slow, fast, high, and low. It maneuvers like a small fighter plane, yet can carry cruise missiles made for bombers. It has range and load capacity superior to a Strike Eagle. The crew station is large and roomy with enough avionics volume to fit any Western or Russian weapon system. A crew member can fly, get up to cook dinner, visit the bathroom, and then stretch out for a nap, all while his buddy is pulling 7.0 G's.
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