Angola receives twelve Sukhoi Su-30K jets, upgraded to ‘SM’ standard
The Angolan Su-30Ks can now have the ability to jam air-to-air missiles operating in 8–12 GHz frequency range and carry weapons that include the Kh-31A anti-ship missile, Kh-31P anti-radiation missile, and air-to-air class RVV-AE (export version of R-77) medium-range air-to-air missiles.
Alexander Vorobey, Deputy Director for Development at the 558th Aviation Repair Plant.
The National Air Force of Angola or FANA has received all of it’s twelve Sukhoi SU-30K Flanker fighter jet ordered in October 2013, after they had undergone upgrade by Belarus’ 558th Aviation Repair Plant in conjunction with Russia’s Rosoboronexport.
The Tass news agency reported on 16 May that while citing an Alexander Vorobey, Deputy Director for Development at the 558th Aviation Repair Plant, that the modernisation of the Angolan Su-30 had effectively brought them up to the Su-30SM standard.
According to the official, the FANA’s Su-30Ks can now have the ability to jam air-to-air missiles operating in 8–12 GHz frequency range and carry weapons that include the Kh-31A anti-ship missile, Kh-31P anti-radiation missile, and air-to-air class RVV-AE (export version of R-77) medium-range air-to-air missiles.
The delivery of a flight simulator and training aids from Belarus is also included in the contract. The first two Su-30ks were delivered in September 2017, while the last two Su-30Ks were delivered Angola in April this year
The Sukhoi Su-30SM is a specialised version of the thrust-vectoring Su-30MKI and MKM variants built for the Russian military and produced by the Irkut Corporation. It features an improved avionics suite, notably a glass cockpit and Bars-R radar, amongst others. For enhanced manoeuvrability, the Su-30SM has canards and thrust vector control, however, it still comes with the AL-31FP engines.
The National Air Force of Angola (FANA) aircraft was formerly operated by the Indian Air Force, however, India had intended to upgrade aircraft but instead used them as part-exchange for new aircraft. The Su-30Ks will compliment Angola’s around half-a-dozen Su-27s and will be operated by the 13th Fighter Squadron, which is part of the 25th Fighter Aviation Regiment at Kuito Air Base.
