On July 9, 2026, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced in a press release that it had delivered an unspecified number of Su-30SM2 multirole fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), along with a batch of Su-34 fighter-bomber aircraft.
It is widely reported that the Su-30SM2 features the more powerful AL-41F-1S (Product 117S) engine and the Irbis-N035 radar, both of which are fitted on the Su-35S. While the latter (radar update) is true, the former (engine upgrade) is most likely not yet the case. That may well be the reason why HAL’s current Su-30MKI upgrade plans do not include an engine upgrade.
Su-30SM2
The Su-30SM2 is an effort to converge the Su-30 family with the Su-35 series to the maximum extent possible in order to reduce logistics and maintenance overheads.
In addition to the new radar and engine, the Su-30SM2 variant is expected to feature improved avionics and an upgraded OLS. It will also be capable of carrying new air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons developed for the Su-57 fighter.
S-70 Okhotnik Integration
Notably, the Su-30SM2 is expected to feature secure radio communication channels that will allow it to exchange tactical data with the S-70 Okhotnik low-observable attack drone. The range of this communication equipment is reportedly between 350 and 450 km, potentially reducing the need for Russian fighters to enter airspace controlled by enemy air-defense systems.
Order and Operational Induction Status
At the Army-2020 forum, the Russian Ministry of Defense and UAC signed a contract for the supply of 21 modernized Su-30SM2 fighters for the Russian Aerospace Forces (RuAF) and the Navy.
The RuAF and Fleet Aviation are inducting the Su-30SM2 on two parallel tracks:
1. Upgrading existing Su-30SM fighters to the SM2 standard.
2, Producing new Su-30SM2 fighters.
In April 2021, Izvestia reported that the initial batch of Su-30SM2 fighters would be earmarked for the Russian Navy, with deliveries prioritized for the Northern, Black Sea, and Baltic fleets.
“Slightly more than two dozen aircraft” were reportedly scheduled to be handed over to the Russian Ministry of Defense by the end of 2022.
Flight testing of the aircraft began in September 2021.
Deliveries of the aircraft started in January 2022.
“The United Aircraft Corporation, part of Rostec, has begun deliveries of modernized Su-30SM2 fighters for naval aviation of the Navy,” Rostec said in a statement to TASS on January 20, 2022.
Batch deliveries containing an unspecified number of fighters were made in November 2022 and July 2023.
Deliveries to the RuAF likely began in late 2023.
The RuAF reportedly received two two-seat Su-30SM2 aircraft in 2023.
On August 10, 2024, RIA Novosti reported, quoting a UAC press release, that the Irkutsk Aviation Plant of the United Aircraft Corporation had manufactured and delivered new improved Su-30SM2 multirole fighters to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The batch delivered on July 9, 2026, was the latest such delivery.
Radar Upgrade
Designed by the Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute (NIIP) in Zhukovsky, the Irbis-E radar is a direct evolution of the BARS radar, but is significantly more powerful.
The BARS radar is fitted on Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighters and their Russian Su-30SM analogues. Both the Irbis-E and BARS are PESA hybrid radars.
The Irbis-E reportedly retains the hybrid phased-array architecture. Its noise figure is slightly worse at 3.5 dB, but the receiver has four rather than three discrete channels.
“The biggest change is in the EGSP-27 transmitter, where the single 7-kilowatt peak-power-rated Chelnok TWT is replaced with a pair of 10-kilowatt peak-power-rated Chelnok tubes, ganged to provide a total peak power rating of 20 kilowatts. The radar is cited as having an average power rating of 5 kilowatts, with a 2-kilowatt CW rating for illumination.”
The detection range has reportedly been increased by almost two times compared with the Su-30SM, for ground targets as well as air and sea targets.
AL-41F-1S (Product 117S) Engine Upgrade
As mentioned earlier, the Su-30SM2 is intended to be powered by the AL-41F-1S engine.
Compared with the Su-30SM’s AL-31FP power plant, the Product 117S offers a 16% increase in maximum thrust (14,500 kgf) and twice the service life (4,000 hours), while retaining the same weight and dimensions.
Importantly, the more powerful Product 117S facilitates increased electrical power generation, allowing more powerful radar and electronic warfare (EW) systems to be fitted on the fighter. The higher-powered Irbis radar of the Su-30SM2 consequently increases the detection range of air and ground targets.
Current Product 117S Status
The initial Su-30SM2 aircraft delivered to the RuAF and Navy were almost certainly not fitted with the Product 117S engine.
In January 2021, a source in the aviation industry told Interfax:
“Currently, special flight tests (SLI) of the Su-30SM aircraft with the AL-41F-1S engine are being carried out. It is planned that they will be completed by December 2023.”
In July 2024, a report published on the Rostec website stated that the Product 117S engine, which was then undergoing testing on the Su-30SM2, would enter mass production the following year.
The UAC press release covering the transfer of the latest batch of Su-30SM2 fighters to the RuAF stated:
“The powerful radar allows the fighter to ‘see’ much farther than the previous version and accurately strike a wide range of ground, air, and naval targets without entering the enemy’s air-defense zone.”
Notably, the press release made no mention of a new engine.
Russian forces have operationally deployed the Su-30SM2 without a more powerful engine in order to leverage the available upgrades to the radar, optical sensors, and weapon systems.
Conclusion
Russian official sources have previously stated that the Product 117S engine is undergoing tests on the Su-30SM2. However, there has been no confirmation that these tests have been successfully completed.
On November 30, 2023, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the modernization of the Indian Air Force’s Su-30MKI fleet by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
As part of this upgrade, HAL will equip the aircraft with the indigenously developed Virupaksha AESA radar, an electronic warfare (EW) suite, and other advanced avionics. Additionally, HAL will integrate several indigenously developed long-range weapon systems into the aircraft’s weapon management system.
The modernization will also extend the service life of the Su-30MKI fleet by more than 20 years, with the IAF reportedly planning to retain the upgraded aircraft until 2055.
However, there have been no reports indicating that HAL plans to upgrade the aircraft’s engine.
It is possible that HAL is awaiting confirmation regarding the suitability of the Product 117S engine for the Su-30MKI before committing to an engine upgrade.
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