LMFS Wed Dec 29, 2021 5:03 am
Avia tolk: Kaliningrad's defense will be strengthened by sea "Super-Dry"ships
The Baltic Fleet will receive Su-30SM2 aircraft in 2022
Roman Kretsul
Anton Lavrov
The Russian Baltic Fleet has begun training the first crews and air crews of the new Su-30SM2 combat aircraft. It is expected that the first flights in normal mode will begin next year. According to experts, the arrival of the Su-30SM2 will significantly strengthen the potential of the air group covering Kaliningrad. The strengthening of the air component of the Baltic Fleet forces is taking place against the background of a significantly increased NATO military activity in the region.
The flight crew and specialists of engineering and airfield support have already begun to master the upgraded Su-30SM2 aircraft, Izvestia's sources in the military department said. Crews and air accounts are being formed, which will jointly undergo training on this type of equipment. It is expected that they will finish next year and then get the first cars, the sources said. The novelty will be delivered to the 4th Guards Marine Assault Aviation Regiment.
— This regiment is one of the most famous units of Russian naval aviation, "military historian Dmitry Boltenkov told Izvestia. — Their main task is to fight both ship-based and ground-based groups, as well as air operations in the waters of the Kaliningrad exclave. In general, in naval aviation, historically, Su-24, Su-24M, Su-30 aircraft are classified as naval attack aircraft, and not as in the VKS — bombers and fighter-bombers.
At a time when the Baltic states are actively purchasing new aircraft, the aviation covering Kaliningrad needs to be updated, the expert believes.
— Today, the fleet of the 4th Assault Aviation Regiment includes basic Su-30SM and rather outdated Su-24s, " he explained. — The latter should be changed long ago, and the Su-30SM needs to be upgraded to version 2. This military unit, along with the 689th Fighter Aviation Regiment, protects Kaliningrad from air strikes both from the sea and from the borders of neighboring states. The Su-30SM2S that will be delivered to this regiment are effective combat units that can withstand modern threats.
According to modern requirements
The basic version of the aircraft — the Su-30SM-has become the most numerous of the new types of fighters available to the Ministry of Defense. About 130 vehicles are in service with the Aerospace Forces and naval aviation. In 2015, work began on creating its deep modification, which will increase combat capabilities and import substitution. The first flight of the machine designated Su-30SM2 took place in February of this year.
Improvements as part of the upgrade have expanded the range of guided weapons, including high-precision missiles. To do this, the on-board radar station was modified on CM2.
In 2018, on behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, a program was launched to unify the Su-30SM and Su-35 fighters. It should bring their characteristics and capabilities closer together, as well as simplify the maintenance of the fleet of aircraft. The new modification will receive the same AL-41F1S engines that are installed on the Su-35S. In terms of traction, it is 16% higher than the AL-31FP engine currently used. It will also have twice as much resource.
Following the fifth-generation fighters, the Su-30SM2 received a multi-channel integrated communication, data exchange, navigation and identification system (OSNOD). It will allow the vehicle to be integrated into modern automated control systems and interact with the Su-57, and subsequently with heavy drones.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke about the conclusion of the first contract for 21 serial fighters of this model at the end of 2020. Izvestia has already written that an agreement has also been signed to upgrade the combat-ready Su-30s currently in service to the CM2 level. The number of aircraft that will be improved was not officially announced.
The Baltic region, like the Black Sea region, remains a point of tension right now. Air groups that patrol near the borders of Russia are constantly sent to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on rotation. On December 26, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said that during this year, NATO countries have made more than 1,200 sorties of aircraft and more than 50 warships for maritime reconnaissance in the Baltic Sea zone. Last year, the NATO Command conducted more than 20 operational and combat training activities in the region. At the same time, neutral states and Russia's closest neighbors — Finland and Sweden-are actively involved in the coalition activity.
In recent years, the Defense Ministry has been actively strengthening both the air and ground components of the forces covering the Kaliningrad region. Until recently, the 4th Guards Assault Regiment was the only aviation unit in the region, but in 2019, the once-famous 689th Fighter Aviation Regiment was recreated there. A few years ago, the ground group was consolidated into the 11th Army Corps (AK). Until this year, it included separate motorized rifle brigades and a regiment. This year, the 18th Guards Motorized Rifle Division was formed on the basis of the brigade. In addition, the 152nd Guards Missile Brigade, which received Iskander tactical missile systems in 2018, is defending Kaliningrad. The corps artillery is represented by the 244th Artillery Brigade. Last year, it was upgraded from 122-mm Grads to 300-mm Smerch multiple launch rocket systems. The firing range of these complexes exceeds 100 km.
https://iz.ru/1270981/roman-kretcul-anton-lavrov/avia-tolk-oboronu-kaliningrada-usiliat-morskimi-super-sukhimi