The Belarusian Air Force has received a new batch of Su-30SM2 multirole fighters from Russia, which will soon be incorporated into the country’s air defense operations. The information was released by the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus.
The aircraft recently landed at one of the airfields of the Belarusian Air Force. Although the exact number of units has not been officially disclosed, experts believe it involves two jets, consistent with previous deliveries and the current production rate at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant in Russia.
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According to the commander of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Forces, Major General Andriy Lukyanovych, Belarusian pilots underwent retraining in the Russian Federation to operate the new model. “In the coming days, we will begin technical acceptance of the aircraft. Afterwards, they will be ready for air defense missions as early as next week,” he stated.
Lukyanovych also revealed that another batch of Su-30SM2 fighters, as well as Mi-35M attack helicopters, is expected to be delivered later this year, further strengthening Belarus’s military aviation capabilities.
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The contract between Belarus and the Russian manufacturer Irkut was signed in 2017 and originally provided for the delivery of 12 aircraft between 2018 and 2020. However, technical adjustments to the aircraft configuration and international sanctions affecting component supplies caused significant delays.
So far, only the first batch of four units has been officially confirmed, delivered in 2019. In 2021, then Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov stated that the contract could be considered fulfilled after the delivery of that first group.
Source and images: Militarnyi / | Telegram @modmilby. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
