Why Does Moscow Want to Supply SU-30 to Yerevan?

Moscow / 20.06.18 / Turan: As the Moscow-based Kommersant newspaper reported, shortly before the change of power in Armenia, the Ministry of Defense of this country postponed the issue of purchasing Russian Su-30SM fighters until 2024. The contract, which assumes the supply of one squadron to Armenia, was signed in 2012. However, it never came into force because of Armenia's financial problems.

Russia expects to sell these planes to the new leadership of Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has already sat in the cockpit of the Su-30SM and called the fighter "one of the best in the world".

Talks about Armenia's desire to acquire Su-30SM resumed after Nikol Pashinyan posted a photo in the social network Facebook, where he sits in the cockpit at the Erebuni airport (where the Russian air base No. 3624 is stationed).

Pashinyan did not bring any details or comment on his actions to the Armenian Defense Ministry. However, according to local experts, negotiations for the supply of several Su-30SM are proceeding successfully and delivery can be carried out within the next one or two years.

In 2012, Moscow and Yerevan already signed a contract, according to which Armenia was to receive 12 fighters (the authorization for their supply was given by Vladimir Putin). In addition to the planes (in Moscow they tried to solve the financial problem of Yerevan by allowing it to buy the planes for Russian prices, not export ones), Armenia needed to purchase other weapons. For example, Yerevan became the first export recipient of the Iskander operational-tactical missile division, and it also acquired weapons for Russian loans of $ 300 million. Due to the lack of funds, Yerevan told Moscow that the purchase of the Su-30 was postponed until 2024.

Moscow expects to proceed with the implementation of the contract as soon as possible: it is necessary to load the Irkutsk Aircraft Building Plant until 2022 (then the production of the Su-30SM is planned to be curtailed and the focus is to be made on Su-35, which is serially produced at the plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur). Expert of the Strategies and Technologies Analysis Center Konstantin Makienko believes that "the supply of modern combat aircraft systems can provoke Azerbaijan to purchase Western fighters." Similar precedents were already in effect: in response to the delivery of Iskander missiles to Yerevan, Baku purchased Belarusian rocket launcher systems Polonaise. Therefore, Azerbaijan can offer to buy more modern Su-35 fighters, the newspaper writes.

According to military experts, aircraft of this class are not suitable for Armenia and Azerbaijan because of their small territory. During the Soviet era, fighter aircraft were not based in Armenia, since after the take-off the aircraft would almost immediately appear in the Turkish airspace. For this reason, the best aircraft for these countries are SU-25 or MIG-29, experts say.

Heavy fighters like Su-27, Su-30 and Su-35 are suitable for countries with a larger territory and duration of borders.

As for the characteristics of SU-30SM and SU-35 aircraft, they are as follows: the crew for SU-30 is 2 people and the maximum speed is 2,350 km per hour. The flight range is 3,000 km for 3.5 hours without refueling.

The armament includes a 30-mm cannon, 6 guided medium-range missiles R-77 and R-27R, 6 short-range missiles R-73, and 8 bombs weighing 500 kg or 250 kg (28 units). There are various combinations of controlled and unguided weapons of various classes.

Su-30SM is a multipurpose aircraft. It is able not only to conduct an air battle, but also to strike at land mobile or stationary targets of the enemy.

As for the Su-35, they have more advanced electronics and a level of protection against enemy radar. Recently, India refused a contract to purchase these aircraft, which did not meet their expectations. Nevertheless, the Russian side claims the SU-35 is superior to the Western analogues F-22 and F-35.

Today, for export, Russia sells combat aircraft worth $ 30 to $ 50 million, depending on their configuration.

The crew is 1 person, the maximum speed is 2,500 km, and the ceiling is 20 km. The armament is a 30-mm cannon, air-to-air missiles - 16 medium-range and 6-short range, 6 air-to-earth missiles and one long-range missile, precise ammunition and 12 unguided ammunition. -02D-