Russia has unveiled an upgraded version of the Sukhoi Su-27Flanker and an improved variant of the Su-30. Meanwhile, Russian state arms export agency Oboronexport has granted an export licence for the Su-27M (Su-35).
The Su-27UBM, an upgrade of the two-seat Su-27UB, was displayed at the Zhukovski test airfield outside Moscow last week.
The upgrade was developed by at Sukhoi design bureau, the Irkutsk factory in Siberia - where the Flanker is built - says the Russian air force, and includes colour multifunction cockpit displays, a datalink and a phased array radar. The Su-30KN, meanwhile, is an update of the Su-30 long-range fighter.
According to Itar-Tass, air force commander Gen Anatoli Kornukov six Su-27IBM and six Su-30KNs have been ordered while 20 could be upgraded this year. Clearance of the Su-27M for foreign sales is seen as part of the campaign to sell the fighter to South Korea for its 40-aircraft F-X requirement. The Boeing F-15K Eagle, Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon are also contenders.
Russia has a $1.9 billion debt to South Korea, and Seoul has exchanged BMP armoured personnel carriers and Kamov Ka-32 Helix helicopters for earlier debt.
Meanwhile, Sukhoi is considering the creation of a maintenance centre in Vietnam as part of a bid to sell more Su-27s or Su-30MKs to Hanoi. According to the local Lao Dong newspaper, the maintenance facility could upgrade Vietnam's Sukhoi Su-22M4 Fitters.
Source: Flight International
