The Irkut aviation plant on Sunday delivered the first two Su-30MKM multirole fighters to Malaysia, where they will be reassembled. Four more will follow in the summer and another six by the end of the year. The 18-aircraft order will be completed next year. The first two Su-30MKMs had been formally handed over to the Malaysian air force in a ceremony in Irkutsk on May 24.
Malaysia signed for the Su-30MKM in August 2003, during an official visit by Russian President Valdimir Putin. The selection of the Flanker was influenced by the successful operation of the Su-30MKI by India, with whom Malaysia maintains close ties. The Su-30MKM is based closely on the Su-30MKI and features canard foreplanes and thrust-vectoring. The avionics are a mix of Russian and Western equipment. Russia supplies the radar (NIIP N011M Bars phased-array), infrared search-and-track turret forward of the windscreen and jammers. Saab Avitronics provides the passive warning set, comprising RWS50 radar warning, MAW300 UV missile approach warning and LWS310 laser warning receivers. Rohde-Schwarz provides the comm system, while Thales supplies the head-up display, NAVFLIR infrared system and Damocles laser designation pod. The Reco NG pod has also been specified for the Su-30MKM. Weapons are initially of Russian origin, although it is expected that the MBDA MICA will be adopted, possibly with the Thales TopSight helmet-mounted display.
More In Aircraft
