Super Sukhoi SU30-MKI (discussion regarding upgraded systems)

[Satish Sharma]

Super Sukhoi program is IAFs program to upgrade it's fleet of SU30MKI. which will bring them to modern standards. It's upgrade will make it the best flanker. Total of 51 systems are being upgraded by IAF
the costs to upgrade each aircraft is around 715 crores each. Roughly around 85 Million dollars each

Here are some of the most important system which are going to be upgraded and will have very significant impact on performance of SU30 MKI.

Gallium nitride (GaN)based radar, mission computer , dual band-IRST(infrared search & track), 5th gen DR118 Electronic warfare suit, DC-MAWS (dual colour missile approach warning system), GaN based ASPJ (active self protection jammer pod), DFCC, digital glass cockpit, towed X guard decoy, heads up display ,software defined radios,fly by wire with quadruple redundancy, Chemring Countermeasures featuring Chaff Cartridges unlike the previous Flares utilized by Indian Flankers, RAS(radar absorbing structure)& RAM (radar absorbing coating)possibly,
Improved Air-frame life with total 6000 flying hrs,
Chassis wheels braking system,
Modern digital weapons control system,
Most important addition of new A2A, A2G weapons,
improvements in its engine life & thrust.

This upgrades will make SU30MKI most lethal flanker even surpassing Chinese flankers in its capabilities



IRST is infrared search and track systems which detects enemy aircraft from heat signature and can lock on it.
Most important IRST will be based on quantum dot infrared photodetector which is significantly sensitive than Quantum well infrared photodetector. QDIP is recent innovation which boosts detection & tracking range significantly. It will be best in its class. Other systems use Quantum well infrared photodetector which isnt as sensitive as QDIP.
Possibly the DC-MAWS too can be based on it.

DC-MAWS is dual colour missile approach warning system. Dual Colour MAWS system operates in the mid IR band for identifying the approaching missiles of all generations. The spectral information of two colors is used to discriminate efficiently between sunlight reflections, background radiation and the radiation from the missile. The DCMAWS consists of a set of up to six dual color IR sensors installed on the platform , which samples the space in accordance with the defined spatial coverage and integrated with advanced processor running state-of-the-art clutter rejection and tracking algorithms to declare the incoming missile threat. It reduces the false warnings.

Towed X guard decoy -

 

[Satish Sharma]

towed X guard decoy - Deployable and retractable in flight using an advanced reel-out/reel-in mechanism,
It's job is to protect aircraft & defeat/ misguide the incoming active radar seeker A2A missile. X-GUARD maintains both electrical and fiber-optic continuity throughout the flight. Upon mission completion, the decoy is reeled in to its stowed mode position inside the pod on the aircraft.
The system is certified for use within the fighter aircraft operational flight envelope, at low and high altitude, and subsonic to supersonic velocity.
X-Guard is integrated with the aircraft and its onboard EW system, using standard protocols. The X-GUARD pod and decoy are carried on air-to- air or air-to-ground weapon stations.

edit - as of now 80-90 SU30 have been upgraded with DC-MAWS , also it doesn't have all 6 sensors as it can only accomodate 4 only. Which covers area of both the sides & frontal. As of now it is not sure will those rest of aircraft will have 6 sensors or will they go for have 4 sensors only.
(Su30 wasn't designed to have MAWS so it is retro fitted because of which it couldn't accomodate other 2 sensors )
the solution to this could be like this, accommodating those 2 sensors or more in pylon which will then cover it's leftover area of MAWS field of view. (Which is behind the aircraft)

it will protect from manpads while flying low as it works seamlessly with countermeasures systems and can launch flares automatically after detection of a manpad being launched at aircraft.

 

[Satish Sharma]

Digital cockpit - the current su30 cockpit displays alot of information by analogue display units like shown in below images.. the newer cockpit is going to be advance. Upgraded Cockpit with New-Generation Touch Widescreen Displays, current displays will be replaced with state-of-the-art, next-generation touch widescreen displays. This upgrade improves situational awareness, enhanced data visualization, and better control over the aircraft's systems.

Newer cockpit view

 

[Satish Sharma]

New mission computer - A important component of the aircraft. will be replaced with newer and advance mission computer to support the new display systems, new radar and other modernization features. It will have more computational power.

 

[Satish Sharma]

The EW consists of dr118 digital radar warning receiver. It's job is to detect radar emission & it's source when aircraft is painted by enemy radars, pin point there precise location and alert the pilot.

 

[Satish Sharma]

Indigenous package for super sukhoi upgrade

 

[The Maverick]

With super mki upgrade will this make the super mki even more potent than rafale or dare I say Chinese j20

 

[vishnugupt]

With super mki upgrade will this make the super mki even more potent than rafale or dare I say Chinese j20

Answer will be "None of the above"

 

[Smoothbore125mm]

Answer will be "None of the above"

yup i agree the large rcs of su 30 cant be taken care of that easily (iirc there was a stealthy su 30 planned according to alpha defence) but the radar ,irst and other sensors would be class leading

 

[Satish Sharma]

Answer will be "None of the above"

Not really, it will be superior to Rafael but not to the j20 it's a stealthy aircraft no comparison

 

[Satish Sharma]

With super mki upgrade will this make the super mki even more potent than rafale or dare I say Chinese j20

.

Answer will be "None of the above"

When it comes to radar su30 mki will dominate Rafael. So much that before Rafael would detect su30 su30 will detect rafale. I will explain further later one by one..
Su30 has very big nose cone it will accomodate very radar compared rafale.
its new monstrous big radar which not just has x band but also on L band frequency, which are used in early warning radars & awacs and L band can detect stealth aircraft too. They have longer ranges than x band but can guide weapons like x band radars.
Not just this the radar will have GaN based trms so it will have WAY WAY Mora range of search detection & track..
Do you think that this radar could be jammed ? Nothing can jam this radars like it functions at different frequencies as of all jammers in existance are made for jam x band radars because they posses threat and can guide weapons. Whereas su30s will differentiate in false target and real target as it will have L band functioning so it synergy the x band can realised which is real target and which is not however this will apply for very close ranges as accuracy & precision of L band radars is low.. but neither the jammers work from very long distances (atleast don't work perfectly at long ranges...
most of RWR are not optimised for detection of low bands frequency unless you dont have 20 RWRs like f35. Usually aircrafts have 4 su30 will have 5.
The current bars radar has 400km search range & 250 tracking range.. so you can just imagine the range this fking gallium nitride radar will give.
The engine power is also quite alot more so yeah it will be better in all terms..
Now let's come to passive detection. The current
ols-30 has det

 

[Corvus Splendens]

With super mki upgrade will this make the super mki even more potent than rafale or dare I say Chinese j20

It'll snipe. And resist an easy counter lock. More countermeasures to play with.

 

[Satish Sharma]

Correction here

before Rafael would detect su30 su30 will detect rafale. I will explain further later one by one..Su30 has very big nose cone it will accomodate very radar compared rafale.
its new monstrous big radar which not just has x band but also on L band frequency, which are used in early warning radars & awacs and L band can detect stealth aircraft too.They have longer ranges than x band but cannot guide weapons like x band radars.
Not just this the radar will have GaN based trms so it will have WAY WAY Mora range of search detection & track..
Do you think that this radar could be jammed ? Nothing can jam this radars like it functions at different frequencies as of all jammers in existance are made for jam x band radars because they posses threat and can guide weapons. Whereas su30s will differentiate in false target and real target as it will have L band functioning so it synergy the x band can realised which is real target and which is not however this will apply for very close ranges as accuracy & precision of L band radars is low.. but neither the jammers work from very long distances (atleast don't work perfectly at long ranges...
most of RWR are not optimised for detection of low bands frequency unless you dont have 20 RWRs like f35. Usually aircrafts have 4 su30 will have 5.
The current bars radar has 400km search range & 250 tracking range.. so you can just imagine the range this fking gallium nitride radar will give.
The engine power is also quite alot more so yeah it will be better in all terms..
Now let's come to passive detection. The current
ols-30 has det

When it comes to RCS yes there are going to be significant RCS reduction measures. Even the radome is going to be changed. It will be stealthy most likely amca technologies. which will reduce its RCS..
It will have radars absorbent coating & I have even heard of composites coating its RCS will be reduced significantly if this measures are applied at high RCS contributing areas it will reduce its huge RCS...
It will have liminant of ram which will absorb alot of RF waves.
Watch this

 

[Blademaster]

Not really, it will be superior to Rafael but not to the j20 it's a stealthy aircraft no comparison

J20 stealthy?…. Hahahahaha yeah right. There’s a living example of an oxymoron if I ever see one.

 

[Satish Sharma]

J20 stealthy?…. Hahahahaha yeah right. There’s a living example of an oxymoron if I ever see one.

Atleast it will have less rcs than su30.

 

[Satish Sharma]

Correction here

When it comes to RCS yes there are going to be significant RCS reduction measures. Even the radome is going to be changed. It will be stealthy most likely amca technologies. which will reduce its RCS..
It will have radars absorbent coating & I have even heard of composites coating its RCS will be reduced significantly if this measures are applied at high RCS contributing areas it will reduce its huge RCS...
It will have liminant of ram which will absorb alot of RF waves.
Watch this

The only advantage Rafael will have is lower RCS, supercruise by limitings it's air to air missile to just 4. & 1 small ext. Fuel tank..
Apart from this I don't think they're will be any significant advantage rafale would have over su30s..

 

[The Maverick]

I heard each upgrade is costing 80 million dollars
Guys you can buy a brand new f35 lightening for this price or even block 70 f16

 

[Satish Sharma]

I heard each upgrade is costing 80 million dollars
Guys you can buy a brand new f35 lightening for this price or even block 70 f16

The 80 million price tag of f35 is shaddy thing it is just alone aircrafts.
There are alot of other things in an aircraft like weapon systems, spares to keep it flying, maintainance support equipment, simulators for training, training of maintainance crew and many more...
If it costs 80 million how could Romania purchase 32 f35s for 6.5 billion the each cost of aircraft will be 203 millions

 

[Satish Sharma]

Avionics ew upgrade always cost alot..
Our mirages upgrade costed us shitloads of money without any significant change..
This upgrades of super Sukhoi will strengthen the
Industry alot...

 

[Hari Sud]

If the West cannot sell you the new aircraft then they sell you the upgrade items for the previous aircrafts and price it 3 times the actual price. Hence, it is profit galore either way.