If you look closely at the picture the IAF tweeted, the forward port side of the fuselage had the Indian roundel. From what I understand, and correct me if I’m wrong, the original SU-30MKI had a Russian paint scheme and symbols. Apart from that an Indian test pilots confirmed the SAP-518 to be on MKI, although he didn’t specify if it was for testing.
Here is what I believe to be the original MKI, the picture the IAF tweeted seems to be a different aircraft:
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Some information about how the system operates:
https://www.airrecognition.com/inde...jamming-pods-following-syrian-experience.html
SAP-518 selects the most dangerous targets and produces effective programs to suppress them. The device uses the
so-called digital frequency memory technology. Multichannel memory devices can receive and store hundreds of radio signals. The system can thus generate dummy targets which are difficult to distinguish from the real ones. The signals are actually radio portraits of various targets. The system actually misinforms the adversary and it has to spend a major resource to track dummy targets which decreases the aiming efficiency.
Expert Alexey Leonkov believes the jamming stations will considerably increase Su-30SM survivability in the areas of air defense operation.
"
The main SAP-518 mission is to protect an individual aircraft. It operates as an antiradar and constantly sends distorted information to adversary radars. It reflects the signal with delay, distorts the distance to the target, as well as speed and angle position. It impedes the radar in detecting targets, determining their parameters and forming the necessary information for the weapons," he told the Izvestia.
Something else that that is interesting is that there was talk or rumors that the Malaysians chose the SAP-518 over the French PAJ FA and of course now they do use the jammers:
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Here is also a picture of an SU-30 flying with up to 11 hard points with weapons and the jammers. Some here were saying the SU-30 can barely fly with those jammers
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