Sukhoi scheduled to deliver aircraft to Chinese naval aviation units from next year
Sukhoi has completed an initial series of flight tests of its advanced Su-30MK3 multirole fighter, which is scheduled for delivery to the Chinese navy's aviation units from next year.
A further development of the Su-30MK2 first delivered to China earlier this year, the new aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 38,000kg (83,800lb), and a maximum weapons load of 8,000kg. The aircraft will carry Raduga Kh-59ME subsonic and Zvezda-Strela Kh-31A supersonic anti-ship missiles. The navy has so far ordered 24 of the fighters, and is expected to announce follow-on orders.
The Su-30MK3 uses Phazotron-NIIR's Zhuk-MSE multimode radar, which the company says can detect a fighter aircraft target at a maximum range of 200km (108nm), track 10 targets and engage four simultaneously. A radar-equipped aircraft has so far conducted 13 test flights with the Zhuk-MSE sensor, it says.
VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW
Source: Flight International
