Will Russian Su-30 get new engines?
Russian Ministry of Defence has so far signed contracts for a total of 116 Su-30SM, starting with the first one in 2012. So far, 108 airframes have been delivered.
Another contract is to be announced by the end of this year, for further 36 airframes. Timeframe for deliveries is to be around 3 years.
Russian Vedomosti.ru confirms that here.
With 152 airframes likely (more theoretically possible) the Su-30SM may become Russian most numerous airframe type. More numerous than Su-34, Su-35, Su-25 or MiG-31.
But Su-30SM isn't really that modern. Its airframe and materials are largely unchanged from end of Cold war design of original Su-30. It has more modern avionics, of course, and can use more modern weapons. But another one of leftover tech was the engines. It currently uses Al-31FP engines, which are more-or-less Al-31F, from Cold War era, when it comes to engine power. They have somewhat better reliability, added digital control and they have added thrust vectoring. Still, for a 18+ ton aircraft that usually goes up to 30 tons of take off weight, those two engines with thrust of 123 kn each have been somewhat of a sore spot.
Seeing how Su-35 uses a different engine, Al-41F-1S (or 117S), with thrust rating of 142 kn, it would seem like a good decision if those Su-30SM could also sport a similar engine. And, after years of waiting, it seems exactly that engine may be getting prepped for Su-30SM. (New engine also features vectored thrust)
This source seems to indicate just that:
http://www.aviationunion.ru/Files/Nom_5_UMPO.pdf
It says various companies, from producers of the plane to producers of the engine, will participate in research and development of integration of Al-41F-1S into Su-30SM.
The two engines are quite similar, but are not the same, so certain modification to Su-30SM airframe is needed, so they can use the newer, slightly bigger engines. It may take some more time (a few years?) until we can actually see Su-30SM being modernized so they accept new engines. Also, the most recent contract for 36 airframes may not see new engines installed right away, if the R&D process takes longer than a year or so.
But ultimately, the older flanker airframes may finally get the increase in thrust they have been missing for so long.
Another contract is to be announced by the end of this year, for further 36 airframes. Timeframe for deliveries is to be around 3 years.
Russian Vedomosti.ru confirms that here.
With 152 airframes likely (more theoretically possible) the Su-30SM may become Russian most numerous airframe type. More numerous than Su-34, Su-35, Su-25 or MiG-31.
But Su-30SM isn't really that modern. Its airframe and materials are largely unchanged from end of Cold war design of original Su-30. It has more modern avionics, of course, and can use more modern weapons. But another one of leftover tech was the engines. It currently uses Al-31FP engines, which are more-or-less Al-31F, from Cold War era, when it comes to engine power. They have somewhat better reliability, added digital control and they have added thrust vectoring. Still, for a 18+ ton aircraft that usually goes up to 30 tons of take off weight, those two engines with thrust of 123 kn each have been somewhat of a sore spot.
Seeing how Su-35 uses a different engine, Al-41F-1S (or 117S), with thrust rating of 142 kn, it would seem like a good decision if those Su-30SM could also sport a similar engine. And, after years of waiting, it seems exactly that engine may be getting prepped for Su-30SM. (New engine also features vectored thrust)
This source seems to indicate just that:
http://www.aviationunion.ru/Files/Nom_5_UMPO.pdf
 |
| Al-31FP and Al-41F-1S engines |
It says various companies, from producers of the plane to producers of the engine, will participate in research and development of integration of Al-41F-1S into Su-30SM.
The two engines are quite similar, but are not the same, so certain modification to Su-30SM airframe is needed, so they can use the newer, slightly bigger engines. It may take some more time (a few years?) until we can actually see Su-30SM being modernized so they accept new engines. Also, the most recent contract for 36 airframes may not see new engines installed right away, if the R&D process takes longer than a year or so.
But ultimately, the older flanker airframes may finally get the increase in thrust they have been missing for so long.
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