Sukhoi Su-30SM: Deliveries in sight
We have already touched on the subject several times; The IAPO (Irkutsk) plant is not unemployed this year.
Mainly responsible for the production of Sukhoi Su-30SM for VKS and VMF as well as Yak-130 for VKS and export customers: needless to say, this plant has a significant workload.
It is customary for IAPO to "store" the devices and deliver them in bulk at the end of the year; The 2017 vintage will more than likely deviate from the tradition given the number of aircraft already ready to join the units.
The delivery schedule 2017 provides for delivery of 17 Su-30SM units this year. As of this date, there are already no less than 7 Su-30SM who made their first flight and some already sport their definitive colors.
Let us review them;
It was the T10MK5 1410 which opened the ball "2017" by making its first flight on March 18, 2017.
It will be quickly during the month of April by T10MK5 1411 (11/04/2017), 1412 (08/04/2017), 1413 (18/04/2017) and 1414 (30/04/2017). The month of May saw the first flight of two aircraft; T10MK5 1415 (17/05/2017) and T10MK5 1416 (24/05/2017).
Apart from these dates, the first photos available already give an idea of the units that will receive Su-30SM this year.
Unlike last year when no less than half of the aircraft delivered were assigned to an acrobatic team; This year, all deliveries will concern the front-line units.
In the first place, VMFs will receive several Su-30SMs, at least two of which will join Chernyakhovsk's 72 GvAB: the "72 White" is already confirmed and it can be assumed that the "71 White" will soon follow. Unless the VMF decides not to follow a logical sequence in the Bort numbers.
In addition, the next VKS squadron that will receive Su-30SMs will be the 14 IAP Kursk. This regiment currently equipped with MiG-29SMT / UB has already begun training crews on the Sukhoi.
With this transformation, the clearly stated goal of the Russian army is to strengthen its available capabilities near the border with Ukraine.
As a reminder, there are currently 88 Su-30SM ordered for VKS and 28 for VMF.
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