Luftwaffe pits Eurofighter against Su-30MKI (David and Goliath):
Note: Errors due to translation maybe there.-SpArK
David and Goliath
Bareilly, India, 30.12.2010.
The Sukhoi Su-27 "Flanker" and its two-seat Indian development, the Su-30 MKI are aviation enthusiasts for many the epitome of highly agile fighter aircraft. Those who do not have the incredible "Cobra" - the major international aviation exhibitions in wonder amazed to maneuver and wondered: "Who's there's a chance in a dogfight?"
The answer is: The Air Force - and with the Euro Fighter
The Su-30 is impressive for its sheer size
The Sukhoi Su-30 MKI is a two-seat advanced variant of the Russian Sukhoi Su-27 interceptor "Flanker", equipped with the latest avionics from different nations, including Russia, Israel, France and India. It is the product of cooperation of Russian and Indian defense industry and also a thrust vector control provided with the machine itself means that it also maneuvers beyond the purely aerodynamic as possible, in the so-called "post stall" - to take wraps, area.
Lt. Col. Frank Simon,Su-30MKI.
Unique opportunity to compare
Lt. Col. Frank Simon was the right man for such a task. As a former pilot of a MiG 29, both the air forces of the NVA and the Fighter Wing 73 "Steinhoff" (JG 73 S), he has an in-designed machine Russia flown both, and the permission to € Fighter to fly the modern.
"So this flight was a special feature, and I looked forward with great anticipation to the experience. Equally excited as I was Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Neurath from € Fighter-type escort from Manching. He accompanied me on this trip to India. "
When creating the suit had already Simon his first-Deja Vu: "The Indian Flanker pilots use the same Russian anti-G trousers that we on the MiG-29 took advantage of it."
Then Simon became the Backseat of his pilots a briefing for the upcoming flight: As the ejection seat to operate it, a brief presentation of the Flanker and admission to the cockpit and the planned maneuvers and procedures.
Su-30 in the mountains
Cobras in the Himalayas
"In the training room by the breathtaking scenery of the Himalayas, it goes right down to business. My Indian pilot demonstrated to me how close and hard to maneuver Su-30 can and then even makes me try the same. We fly a variety of maneuvers with and without thrust vectoring, Immelmann, loop, and finally the cobra maneuver. " And although the Jets still below the Himalayan peaks are, the air would seem for the engines of the Sukhoi quite thin, because The Indian pilot like "the cobra" of the nose diagonally to the bottom only and do not move up because he probably fears that the incoming air is not sufficient for the combustion of oxygen to support the aircraft.
"In the end we still practice how to deal with the Flanker with the aid of the thrust vector control an opponent, attacking from the rear, out-maneuvered and can shoot. To this end, pull the edge after a hard curve sharply upward - based on her like a cobra. The steep attitude you get into a low speed range in which to counteract the thrust vector control. Now we turn so the thrust vector control - and the elegant nose of the Sukhoi falls at a rapid pace down to the astonished enemy to target the same: to speed with the helmet visor, an infrared missile opponents intrude on - and off it. " So much for theory ...
Size comparison
Lesson in physics
"Then I ask the pilot, he should do so again, while the nose quickly over the horizon to bring back order to follow the enemy, if our intention recognizes and tries to climb over us: But not just that he creates. Nose of the Flanker - despite thrust vector control - too heavy for planned maneuvers that. The " A € Fighter would now easy game: The Flanker is sluggish in the air without the speed. "We are the same try again at the end of the flight - with the same result .
In this case the result is not so amazing: Has she passed the Cobra maneuver was successful and the enemy pilot this is not recognized in time, then the Flanker-C possibly the winner of the duel. However, the Cobra maneuver is alive - no matter who runs what pilots and aircraft - even a little of the legend, as an experienced opponent can guess this maneuver. The rest is done by the inertia of the mass: A heavy fighter aircraft like the Flanker-C is disadvantaged by its high weight if it is set by its exceptional aerodynamics and powerful engines only in a position to take wraps to such a maneuver in general, which Most fighters do not make - not even with a thrust vector control. Just the Treibstoffzuladung the Sukhoi over nine tons weight reached nearly empty weight of the € Fighters themselves: Flanker-C is a heavy weight, a Goliath, even with its strong engine here at a - pushes limits - physical.
Defensive measures of EF
Information is everything
The knowledge is sometimes not so new, not necessarily because they already can read on Wikipedia, but also because the Flanker even at one or another international flight maneuvers here and was impressed experienced pilots but by a spectacular performance, but not take advantage of them: A maneuver is only as good as it is able to afford - in the real application, where it arrives within a few seconds later to make the right decision.
For one or the other young Euro Fighter pilots this knowledge will be a valuable pillow, for the extraordinary handling characteristics of € Fighters to the air force pilots, the aerodynamic and technical ability to escape the Cobra maneuver, while this would be combat aircraft of the third generation is usually overwhelming.
Su-30 starts
Duel of the best
Finally, one must ask why this recognition already so public was not, sometimes an indication that the pilots of the NATO and so successful were the past, because they often exerted significantly as, for example, pilots on a MiG-21 former Warsaw Pact countries. But even without the reference to the better practice practice, the Western world from this multi-purpose aircraft have respect for that part of the American F-15E Strike Eagle inspired was his in and one way or another exercise with NATO partners, their weapons systems offered Paroli. The U.S. armed forces even bought in May 2009, two Su-27 Flanker, the electronic warfare better able to assess, opportunities - and thus the results of our own and future weapon systems in comparison.
EF starts
Of course, all weapons systems have their strengths and weaknesses.
Because the Flanker as an interceptor designed and heavier in military service introduced was the original, it can be in the action described by the much smaller and lighter € Fighter can not compete, which, subsequently, a better thrust / weight ratio of the day creates what the Luftwaffenjet in fictional scenario to explain this would be winning on points. However, one must consider when comparing all weapon systems, such maneuvers that the detail of a reality show ever.
In real use it would likely be such that the two pilots, with its extensive arsenal of weapons from a distance fight - ever seen to have potential at all without the enemy. And of course, is the Su-30 MKI Cobra maneuver without a never to be underestimated opponent. Your experienced Indian pilots can now focus on maneuvers with the thrust vector control to take wraps extraordinary new. For your own purpose and location of such exchanges including thought - for both sides shall be a win-win situation one.
For the Air Force and all the nations that have concerned the € Fighter, is the knowledge that their weapon system, which has been since its introduction in constant development, the amount of time and that you have made with the technology support Euro Fighter is the right choice.
David und Goliath
