New footage circulating on social media reveals Russia’s upgraded Su-30SM2 multirole fighter jets, now fitted with advanced missiles, a strategic move in anticipation of the imminent deployment of U.S.-made F-16 jets in Ukraine. As Kyiv awaits these advanced aircraft, the Kremlin appears to be preparing to counter them with enhanced aerial capabilities.
According to reports from Russian and Ukrainian sources, the Su-30SM2 jets have been equipped with R-37 long-range hypersonic missiles. “Our military pilots, as it were, showed that they are quite ready for the arrival of NATO aircraft and will meet them properly,” a Kremlin-affiliated media outlet, Top War, stated.
The R-37 missiles, noted for their long-range capabilities, are not the only upgrade to these jets. Ukrainian military bloggers have identified the presence of R-77 active radar homing air-to-air missiles on the Su-30SM2, further enhancing the jets’ combat readiness. A prominent Russian military blogger also pointed out that the recent footage is the first evidence of R-37 long-range air-launched missiles on Su-30SM2 fighters deployed by Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
Despite these reports, the Russian Defense Ministry has provided a different narrative. They clarified that the footage shows Su-30SM jets, not the upgraded Su-30SM2, engaged in operations against Ukrainian naval drones in the Black Sea. The ministry did not specify which weapon systems were employed in the exercise.
The Su-30SM2 jets represent a significant enhancement over their predecessors. Russian state media have highlighted these jets’ sophisticated avionics and advanced radar systems, which bolster their target detection and identification capabilities over extended ranges. The jets are described as capable of delivering strikes against a wide array of targets, including aerial, ground, and naval, from several hundred kilometers away.
In November 2022, state news agency Tass reported that Moscow’s Defense Ministry had received a new batch of Su-30SM2 fighters. These jets were reconfigured to launch a broader arsenal of long-range, air-to-air, and air-to-surface missiles. Further drills involving these upgraded fighters were completed by Russia’s Baltic Fleet in April 2023, as reported by Russian state media.
The Military Balance, an annual assessment of global armed forces by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, indicated that Russia possesses four combat-capable Su-30SM2 aircraft. These jets are perceived as a strategic asset in countering the aerial threat posed by the forthcoming F-16s.
Western backers have pledged the delivery of Lockheed Martin-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, but the timeline for their operational deployment remains uncertain. Once operational, these jets will allow Ukrainian pilots to engage from greater distances, thereby challenging Russian ground defenses and potentially neutralizing some of Moscow’s aerial advantages. Ukrainian air force spokesperson Ilya Yevlash emphasized the significance of these jets, stating that even a single Western-made jet “be capable of performing certain functions together with our, unfortunately, outdated aircraft fleet.”
Relevant articles:
– Moscow Teases Weapon to Counter F-16s in Ukraine—Russian Media , Newsweek, 05/24/2024
– Moscow Teases Weapon to Counter F-16s in Ukraine—Russian Media, Head Topics, 05/23/2024
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