The Su-30MKK is equipped with a NIIP Tikhomirov N001VE (N001VEP on the Su-30MK2) coherent pulse Doppler radar with track-while-scan and look-down/shoot-down capability. The range of the radar against 3-square-metre targets is 110km in the forward hemisphere and 40km in the rear hemisphere. The radar has the capacity to search, detect and track up to ten targets with automatic threat assessment and prioritisation.
As a secondary means of detection, the aircraft is fitted with an OEPS-31E-MK forward-looking infrared/electro-optic and laser designation system which is located in front of the front cockpit windscreen. Developed from the OEPS-27 of the Su-27 fighter, the OEPS-31E-MK system includes an infrared search-and-track (IRST) sensor collimated with a laser rangefinder. The system is used to search, detect, and track airborne targets on their IR radiation with definition of their angular coordinates, find range for airborne and ground targets, and illuminate the ground targets with its laser beam.
The Su-30MKK fighter features a ‘glass cockpit’ with two large coloured multifunction displays (MFD) in both pilot and weapon operator seats. The aircraft has two sets of flight and weapon controls to allow either crew member to fly the aircraft or guide weapons. The pilots can utilise helmet-mounted sight (HMS) to guide the short-range AAM.
The front cockpit (left) and rear cockpit (right) of the Su-30MKK
(Sukhoi)
The OEPS-31E-MK forward-looking infrared and electro-optic system (Sukhoi)
The improved Su-30MKK2 fighter is fitted with a UOMZ Sapsan-E forward-looking infrared/electro-optic targeting and laser designation system, which represents the enhanced precision attack capability. It is also capable of carrying the M400 reconnaissance suite, a large airborne pod system housing sensors including a sideways-looking airborne radar (SLAR); a high- and low-altitude TV/infra-red payload; or a long-range oblique photography (LOROP) camera. The optical sensors are said to have a range of over 70km, while the SLAR is claimed to have a range of over 100km. Once equipped with the SLAR system, the Su-30MKK2 will be able to control up to 10 other fighters on a datalink, thus giving the Su-30MKK2 units an organic but limited “AWACS” function to compliment other PLA ISR systems.
Countermeasures suite onboard the Su-30MKK includes a L-150 radar warning receiver (RWR) and two wingtip-mounted active jamming ECM pods.
Armaments
A PLA Navy Su-30MKK2 carrying a R-77/AA-12 MRAAM under its right wing (Chinese Internet)
Fixed weapon of the Su-30MKK fighter includes an internal 30mm GSh-301 cannon with 150 rounds of ammunition. The aircraft has 12 hardpoints (4 under fuselage, 6 under wings, and 2 on wingtips) are available to carry payload of up to 8,000kg.
For a typical air-to-air mission, the aircraft could carry 6 R-77 (AA-12 ‘Adder’) active radar-homing medium-range air-to-air missiles (MRAAM) and 4 R-73E (AA-11 ‘Archer’) IR-homing short-range air-to-air missiles (SRAAM). Alternatively the aircraft could carry two R-73 and 2 wingtip ECM pods instead.
For air interdiction (AI) missions, the aircraft could carry the Kh-29T (AS-14A Kedge) TV-guided air-to-surface missile (ASM), Kh-59ME (AS-18 Kazoo) TV-guided air-to-surface missile, and KAB-500Kr or KAB-1500Kr TV-guided bombs. The aircraft can also carry a range of Russian-made unguided bombs and rocket launcher pods.
For suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) mission (hi-low-hi profile), the aircraft carries 2 Kh-31P (or its Chinese copy YJ-91) ramjet anti-radiation missiles (ARM), 2 Kh-29T air-to-surface missiles, and 4 R-73E SRAAM for self-defence.
The fire-control radar of the Su-30MK2 is also configured to launch the Kh-31A anti-ship missile. For a typical anti-ship mission (hi-low-hi profile), the aircraft could carry 4 Kh-31A anti-ship missiles and 4 R-73E SRAAM for self-defence.
The Su-30MKK is equipped with the Kh-29T TV-guided air-to-surface missile. Its targeting pod is able to transmit the target images to the ground in real time (Chinese Internet/CCTV)
