Later, different export requirements split the Su-30 into two distinct version branches, manufactured by competing organizations: KnAAPO and the Irkut Corporation, both of which come under the Sukhoi aerospace group's umbrella.

[11] Irkut traditionally served the Soviet Air Defense and, in the early years of Flanker development, was responsible for manufacturing the Su-27UB, the two-seat trainer version.

Along with its ground-attack capabilities, the series adds features for the air-superiority role, such as canards, thrust-vectoring, and a long-range phased-array radar.

[14] The integrated aerodynamic configuration, combined with the thrust vectoring control ability, results in high maneuverability and supermaneuverability characteristics.

[15] Some variants of the Su-30, notably the Su-30MKI and its derivatives including the Su-30MKM and Su-30SM, are fitted with canards to enhance maneuverability and also compensate for the heavier N011M Bars radar and mission systems in the nose.

The canards and the reshaped LERX help control the vortices and increase the angle-of-attack limit of the airframe, but they also add drag and reduce the maximum speed to Mach 1.75.

An aerial refueling system increases the range to 5,200 km (3,200 mi) or flight duration up to 10 hours at cruise altitudes.

[20] The sanctions policy created as a result of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine caused problems with aftermarket sales and servicing of the French systems that have become an integral part of the Su-30SM.

The VKS now needs, via its Rosaviaspetskomplekt partner, to have its warplanes maintained by the Kazakhstani firm ARC Group which is the "exclusive distributor of Safran Electronics & Defence in the Republic of Kazakhstan".

[21] After the regiment was disbanded in 2002, the aircraft became part of 4th Centre for Combat Employment and Retraining of Personnel in Lipetsk where they were flown mostly by Russian Falcons aerobatic team.

However, the Russian Defence Ministry was impressed with the export Su-30MKI's performance envelope and ordered a local version of the same aircraft for their own use, called the Su-30SM, which is the third adaptation of the MKI after the Malaysian Su-30MKM and the Algerian MKA.

[26] During the 2017 MAKS International Aviation and Space Salon, it was announced that the Russian Defence Ministry and Irkut Corporation are working on modernization of Russia's Su-30SM fighters to a new "Su-30SM1" standard.

[35] Su-30SMs were initially tasked with aerial escort of Russian attack jets and strategic bombers but conducted also air to ground duties.

[citation needed] On 3 May 2018, a Russian Aerospace Forces Su-30 crashed shortly after take-off from the Khmeimim Air Base, killing both crew members.

[44] On 9 August 2022, explosions at Saky air base in Novofedorivka, Crimea left at least three Su-30s destroyed and one damaged according to satellite imagery.

[48][49] On 27 August 2023, Ukrainian media, citing claims made by the Security Service of Ukraine, said that 16 Sypaq Corvo Precision Payload Delivery System drones had been used in an attack on the Kursk Vostochny Airport in Russia, with three shot down and the others hitting four Su-30s and one MiG-29 aircraft.

[citation needed] The contract worth US$1.6 billion was signed in December 2011, increasing the total number of ordered aircraft up to 272.

[62] To better counter USAF's expanding capabilities in the region, in 1996, an agreement worth US$1.8 billion was reached with Russia to purchase some 38 multirole combat aircraft based on the original Su-30 design.

Taking into account China's requirements for its new fighter, the aircraft became known as Su-30MKK (Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Kitayski - Modernised Commercial Chinese).

[63] In March 1999, first prototype took off from Gromov Flight Research Institute in Russia and a year later it appeared at Zhuhai Air Show in China.

[63] A modified variant, known as "Su-30MK2", was negotiated for the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF) in 2002, with contract for 24 aircraft signed in 2003.

[74] According to Malaysian defense Minister Mohamad Sabu, Malaysia has grounded 14 of 18 Su-30MKM due to engine problems and unavailability of spare parts in 2018.

[75][76][77] To overcome this problem and increase the readiness of the Su-30MKM fleets, Malaysia has approved the budget worth RM2.2 billion for the Su-30MKM to be upgraded locally by Aerospace Technology Systems Corporation.

][82] As part of wider US$8 billion deal signed with Russia in 2006, that also included 34 MiG-29 fighters and number of Yak-130 trainers, Algeria has ordered 28 Su-30MKAs for its air force.

[93] As part of a US$1 billion deal that also includes other equipment and maintenance services for the country, Angola has ordered 12 out of 18 former Indian Su-30K fighters on 16 October 2013.

[citation needed] On 14 June 2016, a Su-30MK2 of the Vietnamese Air Force went missing during a training flight 30–40 km off the coast of Nghệ An Province.

[111] In January 2016, then Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan mentioned that Russia had discussed the possibility of supplying Su-30 fighters to Armenia during a four-day Russian-Armenian intergovernmental commission on bilateral military-technical cooperation.

[124] On 20 June 2017, during the Le Bourget international air show, Belarus signed a contract to purchase 12 Su-30SMs under a deal worth US$600 million[125] and were originally planned to be delivered in 2018.

[129] In February 2016, Iran's then Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan during his visit to Moscow announced that the country intends to buy an undisclosed number of Su-30SM fighters.

[131] Data from KnAAPO,[17] Sukhoi,[18] Gordon and Davison,[199] deagel.com,[200] airforce-technology.com[201]General characteristics Performance Armament Avionics Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era