SUKHOI SU30 MKM (FLANKER)- LIMA LANGKAWI AIR SHOW 2009 AFTERNOON AIRSHOW

Famous for it's maneuverability Sukhoi SU30 MKM is the latest addition of warplanes for Royal Malaysian Air Force. During the airshow, the pilot will showcase the awesome maneuverability of the plane which other types of warplanes will find it difficult to perform.

The contract for 18 Sukhoi SU30 MKM was signed by RMAF during the official visit of Vladimir Putinm (President of Russia) to Malaysia in August 2003.

The Su-30-MKM features a laser warning system and missile detectors. Two Russian-made active jamming systems are located inside wing-tip containers, and the fighter also has passive jamming systems featuring dipole reflectors and 98 decoys against heat-seeking missiles in the tail section.

The Malaysian version has more Russian-made components than the Su-30-MKI because Indian and Israeli systems have been removed from it. However, the Su-30-MKM features additional French-made systems.

Russia's Bars phased-array radar can simultaneously track at least 15 aerial targets and directs fire against four of them at a time. Moreover, it can also effectively detect ground targets. The Su-30-MKM features the same guided weapons as the Su-30-MKI.

Besides RMAF, the Indian Air Force (IAF) uses this type of supersonic, super-agility fighters with vectored-thrust engines.

Flown by two crew member to improve combat capabilities, the first pilot flies the plane, controls weapons and performs dogfight, while the co-pilot take cares of beyond visual range missiles such air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons in long-range mission, look out for any dangers and performs command and control operation during group mission.

General characteristics

1. Crew: 2
2. Length: 21.935 m (72.97 ft)
3. Wingspan: 14.7 m (48.2 ft)
4. Height: 6.36 m (20.85 ft)
5. Wing area: 62.0 m² (667 ft²)
6. Empty weight: 17,700 kg (39,021 lb)
7. Loaded weight: 24,900 kg (54,900 lb)
8. Max takeoff weight: 34,500 kg (76,060 lb)
9. Powerplant: 2× AL-31FL low-bypass turbofans

Performance

1. Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 (2,120 km/h, 1,320 mph)
2. Range: 3,000 km (1,620 nmi) at altitude
3. Service ceiling: 17,300 m (56,800 ft)
4. Rate of climb: 230 m/s (45,275 ft/min)
5. Wing loading: 401 kg/m² (82.3 lb/ft²)
6. Thrust/weight: 1.0