Dogfight F 15 vs Su 30

5 months ago
28

Avionics APG - 63 ( V ) 2 has a tracking range of about 5nm 9km longer than the NO11M BARS The advantage in radar range is not significant but the F - 15C's AESA frequency agile radar is more jam resistant . Unfortunately , AIM - 120D missiles are not and armament is the F - 15C's biggest shortcoming in this comparison ; The Su - 30SM or Su - 30MKI both carry high power output ECM suites that can operate at distances from which the APG - 63 can provide tracking information and attain a lock on the Flankers , and multi pulse DRFM jamming can also render AMRAAM's useless from long distance . The AN / ALQ - 135 ECM fitted to the F - 15C on the other hand lacks range to do much against the NO11M BARS radar and does not have necessary components for DRFM attack . US aircraft fitted AN / ALQ - 167 DRFM capable ECM are : A - 6E , EA - 6A , EA - 6D , EP - 3J , F - 14A / B , F / A - 18A - D , EC - 24A , and NKC - 135 ( surprisingly not F - 15 and F - 22 although they are large enough ) . This makes the F - 15C more vulnerable to active or semi radar homing missiles , relying on chaff and evasive maneuvers to defeat them . The Su - 30SM / MKI also have significant advantage in missile kinematic range and firepower to be exploited . As others said , pilot skill and experience as well as unit cohesion between squadron members and ground control is more detrimental especially when the hardware are closely matched , at least in beyond visual range engagement in this case . Both the Su - 30MKI and Su - 30SM have a crew of two which is a strategic and tactical advantage , the workload is divided . Of course the crew of the F - 15C would also work as a team , but team work can go further with the Flankers The F - 15's reported record of no losses to air to - air combat is circumstantial , the opposing pilots were usually poorly trained and their ill maintained aircraft were prone to failures . The aircraft's dogfight performance is also not as stellar as it's radar has been throughout much of it's operational history . As the simulated dogfight exercises demonstrate . the Flanker is inherently more maneuverable than the F - 15 . Variant There are some ' Su - 30 ' variants which are not combat ready . The Su - 30M2 for example is a trainer with avionics not designed for combat . But the most capable among them are the Russian Su - 30SM two seat multi role fighter and Indian Su - 30MKI with Western built ECM . India operates and Meteor missiles and are reportedly trying to develop ways to use them on the Su - 30MKI .

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