Flight tests of the new Su-30SMD at Zhukovsky

In February 2020, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Yuri Borisov, announced plans to unify the Sukhoi Su-30SM and Su-35 fighter aircraft which prompted development of a new version called the Su-30SMD, executed by the Sukhoi design bureau working together with Irkut Scientific Production Group.

Among the improvements is the replacement of the currently used Saturn AL-31FP engines with Izd.117S (AL-41F-1S) thrust vectoring turbofans currently installed on all Su-35S fighters. The new engines develop a wet thrust of 31,900 lbf (142 kN) which is 15% more than the original type with 27,600 lbf (122.6 kN). This requires some significant airframe and flight testing on the Su-30SM and based on the test results it would then determine whether the aircraft will enter the mass production and if the current airframes have to be modified.

Contrary to all expectations, the developers have decided not to use of the venerable Su-30MKI testbeds, but instead took a series Su-30SM airframe, serial RF-34010/Bort 72 Blue (construction number 10MK5-1411) serving with the 4th Guards Red Banner Maritime Attack Aviation Regiment of the Russian Naval Aviation based at Chernyakhovsk NAB in the Kaliningrad region.

The aircraft arrived at the Irkut plant for revision in mid 2020 and according to the plan it was due to be delivered by the end of the year. We do not know the exact date, but the spotters have finally caught it in late January 2021 at the Zhukovsky airport near Moscow, performing its testing routine.

Photo: Vyacheslav Grushnikov, kindly provided by RussianPlanes.net