Malaysia’s SU-30MKMs – Will a New Competition Bring More?

Mar 28, 2013 15:47 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff

Malaysian SU-30MKM
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In August 2003, Malaysia signed a $900 million contract with Irkut Corp. for 18 SU-30MKMs. Malaysia flies the F/A-18D Hornet, and was offered Boeing’s F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, but chose the SU-30MKM instead. The SU-30MKM is an advanced variant, whose performance involves considerable improvements over SU-30MK/MKK fighters. Their fighter fleet will now consist of R/F-5E/F Tiger IIs (to be phased out), F/A-18D Hornets, MiG-29 Fulcrums (until 2015), and SU-30MKMs. The results from their internal training and air combat exercises would be interesting, to say the least.

On May 24/07, a rollout and demonstration ceremony was held for the first 2 Su-30MKM fighters for the Royal Malaysan Airforce (RMAF) at Russia’s Irkutsk Aviation plant. Irkut was to deliver all aircraft by the end of 2008, but the 18th plane didn’t arrive until the summer of 2011. Even that may not be the last SU-30MKM delivery, depending on how Malaysia’s competition to replace its MiG-29Ns shakes out.

The SU-30MKM

The SU-30MKM (Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Malaysia – Modernised Export Malaysia) is strongly similar to India’s SU-30MKI. Like its Indian counterpart, the SU-30MKM is a substantial advance upon the original SU-30K export version, maintaining much of basic airframe but incorporating a number of advances from the SU-35/SU-37 project.

The SU-30MKI/M can legitimately claim super-maneuverability via digital fly-by-wire, canards, and 2 thrust vectoring Lyulka AL-31FP engines producing 27,500 lb thrust each with afterburners. This gives them an edge in close-in fights, allowing the pilot to rapidly point the plane at potential targets to draw them within the AA-11/R-73 Archer’s wide infrared seeker cone, then launch and quickly change energy state and direction. SU-27/30s have become somewhat famous at international airshows for their unique maneuvers, and the MKI/MKM’s additions take that capability to new levels. Sukhoi’s former general designer Mikhail Simonov has reportedly said that:

“We even made a corkscrew spin a controllable manoeuvre – the pilot can leave it at any moment by a single motion of the stick that engages thrust-vectoring and aerodynamic surfaces.”

For longer range aerial combat, the SU-30 MKM also bears the NIIP N011M phased array radar system that can officially track up to 15 targets and simultaneously engage 4. Their standard aerial weapon for beyond visual range engagements is the AA-12/R-77, but they can also carry infrared-guided AA-10s that provide no advance lock-on warning, and could even be equipped with long-range “AWACS-killer” missiles the Russians have developed.

SU-30s are fully multi-role, with strong ground attack capabilities if required. The SU-30MKM is no exception, and its Damocles targeting pod adds to that capability. For strike missions, it can carry large (up to 8,000 kg/ 17,650 lb) and diverse weapon loads over a very good unrefueled radius (more than 700 nm).

Many observers consider the SU-30MKI/M to be superior to all US aircraft except the F-22A Raptor; this would include the Boeing Super Hornet it beat for the Malaysian order, as well as the new F-15SGs bought recently by neighboring Singapore.

For the Malaysian deal, Irkut was the main contractor, but canards, stabilizers and fins were manufactured by India’s HAL Nasik under a $25-30 million value subcontract, and India plays a role in helping the RMAF to maintain their fleet. The main difference between the MKI and MKM versions is the replacement of Indian and Israeli avionics, ECM (electronic counter-measures), and LITENING pods with Russian, French and South African equipment. This includes original Russian equipment, Thales of France’s HUD, NAVFLIR, and Damocles surveillance and targeting pod; Avitronics South Africa missile approach warning sensors and laser warning sensors. India’s SU-30MKI Mk3 is also be equipped with an on-board mechanical health-and-usage monitoring system (HUMS) from South Africa’s Aerospace Monitoring And Systems (Pty) Ltd (AMS), but there is no announced word on whether the Malaysian SU-30MKMs are equipped with a similar system.

These sourcing changes have had an impact beyond Malaysia, as the MKM model has become the basis for other customers. Indeed, the SU-30MKM/SM appears to be gaining ground on previous SU-30 versions as a preferred baseline for exports and for local production. The SU-30MKAs sold to Algeria are believed to be based on the MKM, and so is the SU-30SM fighter that Russia began buying for its own air force in March 2012.

The SU-30MKM Deal: Old Offsets & New Opportunities

As is often the case in these deals, there were offsets involved. Some are industrial, including a service center for the aircraft in Malaysia, but one offset was especially interesting. According to Victor Komardin, Deputy Director General of FSUE Rosoboronexport:

“…the offset clause of the Contract with Malaysia envisages the on-site setup of the Service center for the Russian-made aircraft as well as the assistance in promoting the Malaysian national space program. In autumn 2007 the first Malaysian cosmonaut is due to visit the International Space Station as a member of the 16th space crew.”

And it was so. Orders progressed, and all 18 SU-30MKMs were delivered.

A Second Bite? Malaysia’s MiG-29N Morass

A competition to replace Malaysia’s MiG-29N fleet has opened up another opportunity for Sukhoi, as Malaysia concluded that the cost and effort of maintaining a barely-serviceable fleet is no longer justifiable. To win, Sukhoi will have to fend off several competitors.

BAE has entered the Eurofighter Typhoon, drawing on its long-standing relationship with Malaysia’s military. They can depend on fellow Eurofighter consortium member EADS/Airbus for some help with industrial offsets.

Boeing could offer a step up from the RMAF’s F/A-18Ds with its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet International, which would also create commonality with regional partner Australia’s F/A-18F Block IIs at joint airbase RMAF Butterworth. Boeing is in an excellent position to offer industrial offsets.

Dassault is promoting its Rafale, which is India’s preferred M-MRCA fighter, and may receive a contract in 2013. India already assists the Malaysians with SU-30 support & maintenance, which is a potential plus. On the other hand, the aircraft’s weapon fit doesn’t correspond with any of Malaysia’s current fleets, and the requirement of full industrial offsets could be challenging.

Saab is offering its JAS-39 Gripen, complete with weapon commonality, an appealing purchase cost, a great record in the important area of operating and maintenance costs, and an 18-plane lease-to-buy option that has piqued interest in Malaysia. Saab has a good record for industrial offsets, and already has a happy Gripen customer next door in Thailand. Thailand’s buy also included mid-tier AWACS aircraft, which Malaysia wants. Saab is the only competitor in this group who could make that joint offer.

A choice of more SU-30MKMs would improve logistics costs in a fragmented air force, while still leaving an opportunity for multiple vendor sourcing when Malaysia’s F-5s and F/A-18Ds need replacement. On the other hand, Sukhoi doesn’t have that much experience with industrial offsets, and will need to go beyond the measures undertaken in its 1st deal. Perhaps a few more space flights could be arranged?

As of March 2013, everyone is still waiting for the formal MiG-29N replacement RFP. It won’t arrive until after Malaysia’s 2013 general election, which is expected to be hotly contested.

Contracts & Key Events

March 28/13: Support. Sukhoi says that they’ve signed a $100 million deal with Malaysian Defense Ministry, covering technical maintenance and spare parts for the RMAF’s 18 SU-30MKMs. They didn’t say what time period that covered. IANS | RIA Novosti.

March 28/13: List confirmed. Malaysia’s Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirms to Reuters that the fighter list under consideration is the one everyone thinks: Eurofighter, Gripen, Rafale, Super Hornet, Sukhoi SU-30MKM, with a goal of 18 planes.

One way or another, all 5 contenders are present at LIMA 2013. Reuters.

March 26/13: F/A-18i. Malaysia’s Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition includes many of the aircraft vying to replace its MiG-29Ns. The F/A-18 Super Hornet exhibit is especially interesting, as the mock-up includes Boeing’s conformal fuel tanks to extend its range. That’s a feature from the Super Hornet International concept, and Boeing is looking to take the tanks into flight tests by summer time.

Boeing engineers are quite proud of the tanks. Their shaping is said to add lift, creating almost zero net drag at cruising speeds. If tests bear that out, it means that almost all 3,000 pounds of extra fuel could be used to extend range. With that said, nothing in physics comes without a cost. The conformal tanks add weight and some transonic drag, reducing the Super Hornet’s already marginal transonic acceleration during missions that add them. This isn’t a fatal problem if the goal is long-range strike, but it could be an issue for air superiority missions like Combat Air Patrol. The logical solution would be to remove the conformal tanks for those kinds of missions, and accept the extra cruising drag inherent in multiple drop tanks. Flight International | DEW Line.

March 26/13: No lease. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is quoted as saying that Malaysia isn’t interested in a fighter lease (vid. Sept 23/12):

“I want to emphasise that the report is not true as Malaysia is only interested in buying defence assets…”

March 26/13: Gripen. Saab announces a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia’s DRB-HICOM. It could be extended to handle industrial offsets for a Gripen buy, but it’s actually broadening a 2011 agreement to collaborate on Malaysia’s Airborne Early Warning and Control systems (AEW&C) requirement.

Areas of cooperation to be explored under the new MoU include the design and manufacturing of advanced composite system and components, composite repair technology, UAV systems and technology, and system integration of electronic warfare, avionics and other airborne systems. Saab.

March 26/13: Rafale. Dassault CEO Eric Trappier says that an assembly line in Malaysia is an option, and touts the firm’s efforts to line up local partners like CTRM, Zetro Aerospace and Sapura.

A production line for 18 fighters is ridiculous, but if Malaysia is willing to pay what it would cost, then sure. AFP | L’Usine Nouvelle.

Sept 23/12: SU-30s still an option. RMAF chief Tan Sri Rodzali Daud tells The Sun Daily that contrary to rumors and reports, the SU-30MKM and Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen are still under consideration as Malaysia’s MRCA MiG-29N replacements. Other sources had told the paper that those 2 had been eliminated in technical tests, but Daud stressed that all competing aircraft were still under consideration.

He added that Saab’s offer to lease 18 JAS-39 Gripens was under serious consideration as a lower cost alternative to buying fighters, and that operating and maintenance costs would play a big role in the RMAF’s choice.

If those criteria turns out to be accurate, the SU-30MKM’s installed maintenance base, and Gripen’s proven design for low operating costs, could give them an important advantage over the Eurofighter and Rafale in Malaysia. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet would fall somewhere in between. It’s more expensive to operate than the Gripen, and doesn’t have much commonality with Malaysia’s F/A-18D Hornets, but the joint base at Butterworth, Malaysia would offer Super Hornet interoperability with Australia. Just as the Gripen would offer interoperability with neighboring Thailand.

Nov 16/11: Irkut visit. No decision yet. Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi visits JSC Irkut’s Irkutsk, Siberia plant, but instead of announcing an order, he says only that Malaysia “may” buy more Su-30 family jet fighters from Russia, and may also buy Yak-130 advanced jet trainer/light attack aircraft. The key word here is “may” – there is no decision. Voice of Russia.

Nov 15/11: More SU-30MKMs? Russian media report that Malaysia’s MiG-29 replacements will be 18 more SU-30MKM fighters, with modifications that will let them carry the Russian-Indian PJ-10 BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. There is no contract yet, however, so the reports must be treated as rumors.

If true, it would represent Brahmos’ 1st export sale, though the P-800/SS-N-26 missile on which it’s based has been bought by neighboring Vietnam and Indonesia. More SU-30MKMs would provide Malaysia with fleet commonality savings, but an air-launched Brahmos missile would require its own integration effort. India’s similar SU-30MKIs have a different avionics suite, so Malaysia could re-use India’s physical integration work, but not the software and electronics changes. The RMAF would then have to run their own testing program.

If Malaysia decides to buy BrahMos, instead of more conventional Russian anti-ship and land-attack missiles like the SU-30 compatible Kh-41 Moskit/Sunburn, there are deal clauses that could offset those integration costs. Other countries have signed deals where the vendor country has shared integration costs, or even inked deals that provide a small royalty on future related sales. Either approach would be designed to reflect the broadened sales potential for BrahMos created by integration with the SU-30MKM’s more standard Russian/Thales avionics. Locally, Vietnam and Indonesia would be obvious sales targets, but the lack of an air-launched P-800 might even draw interest from Russia. RIA Novosti.

July 12/11: Eurofighter. BAE confirms that it will be promoting its Eurofighter Typhoon in Malaysia’s MiG-29N replacement competition, and confirms that the government asked it for rough pricing in February 2011. The proposal was submitted on March 30/11, “together with other competitors,” and the target is reportedly 18 jets.

Beyond the Eurofighter, competitors are expected to include Sukhoi’s SU-30MKM and SU-35, and Boeing’s F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet. Other expected competitors in Malaysia include Dassault’s Rafale, Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen (flown by neighboring Thailand), and possibly even the F-16E/F Block 60 flown by the UAE. Malaysia’s Business Times.

June 8/11: Rafale. Dassault Aviation is opening offices in Malaysia, which appears to signal a bid by its Rafale fighter for Malaysia’s MiG-29N replacement order. Malay Mail.

Sept 2/10: Gripen. With Thailand already in the fold as a customer, Saab steps up efforts to interest Malaysia in its JAS-39 Gripen fighter. Bloomberg.

Nov 6/09: China for support? Malaysia’s national Bernama news service reports that Malaysia may be looking to China for maintenance help with its SU-30 fleet. Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief Jeneral Datuk Seri Rodzali Daud was quoted as saying that:

“China had risen to become the superpower of the region and is advanced in its technology as well and our relationship with China is getting better and better… They can help us in many areas, like for parts and maintenance of the SU-30. In fact, Malaysia is also looking into some of the Chinese military products.”

Russia’s maintenance performance, and its maintenance model of shipping parts to and from Russia rather than setting up local facilities, has created problems for several customers. If Malaysia responds by giving China and Chinese firms a significant role in servicing its SU-30MKM fleet, the Russians will have created a problem for themselves as well.

While China also operates SU-30s, they are much less advanced models, without the canard wings, thrust vectoring, or improved electronics. Chinese theft of Russian designs has made the Russians much less eager to sell them more advanced equipment, but collaboration with Malaysia on SU-30MKM maintenance could open a different door for industrial espionage. Most military sales have terms and conditions designed to prevent this sort of thing, but the key lies in management and enforcement.

Oct 28/09: Follow-on competition? Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says that Malaysia’s MiG-29Ns will be phased out early, due to their high maintenance costs. The ministry intends to immediately reduce its fleet to 10 MiG-29Ns for airspace defence (something that may simply ratify existing operational numbers), which would decline further to 6 in 2010. The jets will be phased out at the end of 2010. From The Malaysia Star:

“With this, the Government would save RM260mil [about $76.1 million] a year in maintenance costs and the sum could be used to maintain other aircraft in the Royal Malaysian Air Force inventory… [Zahid said that] Malaysia bought the [18] MiG[-29Ns] at a relatively low price but later, the RMAF had to contend with higher expenses in spare part replacement and maintenance work… Each MiG also needed to undergo preventive and restoration work which cost RM10mil and RM7mil [$2-3 million] for engine overhaul every year after it completed a flight time of between 1,000 hours and 4,000 hours, he said. Zahid said the cost of maintaining the MiGs was also high as the jets needed to be sent to Russia for overhaul.”

Later comments indicate that the MiGs will all be sold. The SU-30MKMs will take the MiGs’ place initially, and with Malaysia’s F/A-18Ds aging in place, a competition may be in the works for a new set of lighter interceptors if Malaysia’s recovery continues. Zahid mentioned the possibility of buying from America (likely the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, which was offered in the SU-30MKM competition), Britain (Eurofighter), France (Rafale), or Sweden (JAS-39 Gripen). Malaysia’s neighbors in Australia will soon induct F/A-18F Super Hornets into service, and Thailand has begun receiving JAS-39C/D Gripens. Russia appears to have been pointedly excluded from that list, and buying more SU-30MKMs does not seem to be an active option at this time.

Aug 12/09: 14 delivered. Irkut corp. announces that the first 2 Su-30MKMs from the last batch of 6 have been handed over to Malaysia, raising deliveries to 14. The remaining 4 fighters are expected to arrive soon.

May 29/09: Jane’s Defence Weekly reports that:

“Malaysia has yet to take delivery of its final six Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighters… The six aircraft are ready for delivery, local industry sources told Jane’s , but Malaysia is refusing to accept them until Sukhoi fixes integration problems with the avionics on 12 Su-30MKMs that have already been delivered.”

May 29/09: 12 delivered. The Malaysia Insider quotes the Chief of Air Force Jen Datuk Seri Azizan Ariffin, who says that

“We have already received 12 such aircraft and the remaining six are expected to arrive by year end.”

March 5/08: 10 delivered. Vietnam’s News Agency reports that Russia has added 4 more SU-30MKMs to the 6 delivered in 2007. Defense Aerospace report.

Oct 10/07: Ad Astra. The Soyuz-FG space rocket launches the Soyuz TMA-11 transport manned spacecraft (TMS) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The crew of the 16th Expedition to the International Space Station (ISS) includes: Soyuz TMA commander, flight engineer of Expedition 16, Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center mission specialist Yuri Malenchenko (Russia), NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson (US) and Malaysian cosmonaut (called angksawan at home), orthopedic surgeon at a university hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor. Rosoboronexport:

“This day will go down in the national history of Malaysia as an equally significant event as the day of 12 April 1961 went down in the history of our country… It is planned that the Malaysian cosmonaut will return to Earth together with the Expedition 15 crew consisting of Russian cosmonauts Fyodor Yurchikhin and Oleg Kotov… The flight of the Malaysian cosmonaut became a reality owing to a contract between Rosoboronexport and Malaysia for the purchase of 18 Su-30MKM combat planes for the Royal Air Force of this country. Under the contract signed as early as 2003, Rosoboronexport undertook a package of offset commitments, including training and launch to the ISS of a Malaysian cosmonaut.”

May 24/07: 2 delivered. The first 2 serially produced RMAF Su-30MKM fighters are rolled out and demonstrated at the Irkutsk Aviation plant. The ceremony was attended by a high-ranking delegation of the Malaysian Defence Ministry and the RMAF, top management of Russia’s Rosoboronexport weapons export agency, management from the Russian aircraft design and production agencies, and a large number of media representatives. Irkut release

Additional Readings

• Vayu-Sena – Irkut/HAL Su-30MKI. The best single source we’ve found.

• Sukhoi – SU-30MK: Historical Background

• MILAVIA – Sukhoi Su-30 Multi-Role Flanker

• Air Power Australia – Sukhoi Flankers: The Shifting Balance of Regional Air Power. Includes program history, details, regional procurement notes, and analysis of the SU-30 family’s current capabilities and planned/likely future upgrades. It concludes with a look at how the F-35 Lightning II will stack up.

• AIN Online (Feb 15/12) – Malaysia Set To Restore Military Aviation Spending After Pre-Election Budget Cuts

• defpro (Nov 2/09) – Replacement of Malaysian MiG-29 Faces Future Budget Challenges

• Vayu Sena (April 2002) – An Interview with Mikhail Simonov (Sukhoi’s former general designer). Very interesting comments re: Russian design philosophy, and some of the maneuvers the SU-27/30 family can perform.