Belarus reinforces air force with new Russian Su-30SM2 fighters
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
According to information published by the Belarusian Telegraph Agency on August 14, 2025, the Belarusian Air Force has received a new batch of Su-30SM2 fighter aircraft from Russia, marking another step in the deepening military-technical partnership between the two allies. The aircraft, delivered on August 14 to an Air Force and Air Defense Forces base, are being integrated into combat service as Minsk seeks to expand its aerial defense posture in response to mounting regional security challenges.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Su-30SM2 is a twin-engine multirole fighter with advanced radar, long-range precision weapons, and superior maneuverability, designed to perform both air superiority and strike missions (Picture source: Belarus Defense Ministry).
Colonel Andrey Rachkov, Chief of Staff and First Deputy Chief of Aviation Operations for the Belarusian Air Force, underscored that the Su-30SM2 represents a leap in combat capability compared to previous models. The upgraded fighter offers almost triple the detection range of earlier variants, while new avionics and enhanced navigation systems allow operations independent of satellite guidance. The platform also broadens Belarus’s strike options with advanced precision-guided munitions and an expanded mix of guided and unguided missile systems, positioning it as a core element of national deterrence.
The Su-30SM2 is powered by twin AL-41F-1S afterburning turbofan engines, each producing 14,500 kilograms of thrust with afterburner, enabling a maximum speed of Mach 2 at altitude. Its range exceeds 3,000 kilometers with drop tanks and extends beyond 5,000 kilometers with aerial refueling, giving the aircraft a strategic reach far beyond Belarusian borders. The fighter has a service ceiling of 17,300 meters and incorporates thrust vectoring nozzles, granting exceptional maneuverability in close combat.
The avionics suite has been significantly upgraded compared to the original Su-30SM. The N035 Irbis-E passive electronically scanned array radar can track up to 30 targets simultaneously and engage up to 8 at once, while detecting aerial threats at ranges of up to 400 kilometers. Complementing the radar is the OLS-35 infrared search and track system, allowing passive target detection and engagement without radar emissions. The cockpit features modernized multifunctional displays, a digital glass cockpit environment, and compatibility with helmet-mounted cueing systems for rapid target acquisition.
The armament capability of the Su-30SM2 is among its most formidable assets. With 12 hardpoints and a payload capacity exceeding 8,000 kilograms, the fighter can deploy a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. Air superiority missions are supported by R-77-1 active radar-guided missiles, R-73 short-range infrared missiles, and the long-range R-37M, capable of engaging targets at over 300 kilometers. For strike missions, the aircraft can employ Kh-31 anti-radar and anti-ship missiles, Kh-59 stand-off precision missiles, Kh-29 heavy tactical missiles, and KAB-series guided bombs with satellite or laser guidance. It is also equipped with a GSh-30-1 30mm internal cannon for close-range engagements.
Operationally, the Su-30SM2 enhances Belarus’s ability to conduct both defensive and offensive missions. Its long-range sensors and powerful weapons load enable it to act as an airborne command and control asset, coordinating other aircraft during complex operations. In defensive roles, it strengthens Belarus’s capacity to intercept NATO reconnaissance or strike platforms at extended distances, while in offensive roles it can conduct precision deep strikes against critical infrastructure. The combination of long-range missiles and advanced radar makes it especially effective for denying adversary air superiority in contested airspace.
For Belarus, the induction of the Su-30SM2 must also be understood in the context of its strategic dependence on Russia. Minsk lacks the industrial base to sustain advanced combat aviation and relies entirely on Moscow for deliveries, upgrades, training, and maintenance. While this gives Belarus access to modern Russian technology, it also locks the country into a relationship of asymmetric dependence, with Russia holding leverage over its long-term combat readiness. In return, Moscow secures a loyal forward-operating partner on NATO’s eastern flank, embedding Belarusian air power into the Union State’s integrated defense architecture.
This delivery builds on the first Su-30SM2 batch received earlier in 2025. Belarusian pilots and technicians have already completed conversion training, enabling immediate operational integration of the aircraft into quick reaction alert missions. Additional crews continue to train on the platform to expand the Air Force’s readiness and ensure full-scale deployment in the coming months.
The transfer highlights the tightening defense integration between Russia and Belarus under the Union State framework. Beyond equipment deliveries, this partnership encompasses synchronized air defense planning, joint exercises, and modernization programs designed to counter what both governments describe as increasing external threats. With the Su-30SM2 now reinforcing Belarusian squadrons, the Union State is consolidating its collective airpower to secure shared skies and strengthen its regional force grouping.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
According to information published by the Belarusian Telegraph Agency on August 14, 2025, the Belarusian Air Force has received a new batch of Su-30SM2 fighter aircraft from Russia, marking another step in the deepening military-technical partnership between the two allies. The aircraft, delivered on August 14 to an Air Force and Air Defense Forces base, are being integrated into combat service as Minsk seeks to expand its aerial defense posture in response to mounting regional security challenges.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Su-30SM2 is a twin-engine multirole fighter with advanced radar, long-range precision weapons, and superior maneuverability, designed to perform both air superiority and strike missions (Picture source: Belarus Defense Ministry).
Colonel Andrey Rachkov, Chief of Staff and First Deputy Chief of Aviation Operations for the Belarusian Air Force, underscored that the Su-30SM2 represents a leap in combat capability compared to previous models. The upgraded fighter offers almost triple the detection range of earlier variants, while new avionics and enhanced navigation systems allow operations independent of satellite guidance. The platform also broadens Belarus’s strike options with advanced precision-guided munitions and an expanded mix of guided and unguided missile systems, positioning it as a core element of national deterrence.
The Su-30SM2 is powered by twin AL-41F-1S afterburning turbofan engines, each producing 14,500 kilograms of thrust with afterburner, enabling a maximum speed of Mach 2 at altitude. Its range exceeds 3,000 kilometers with drop tanks and extends beyond 5,000 kilometers with aerial refueling, giving the aircraft a strategic reach far beyond Belarusian borders. The fighter has a service ceiling of 17,300 meters and incorporates thrust vectoring nozzles, granting exceptional maneuverability in close combat.
The avionics suite has been significantly upgraded compared to the original Su-30SM. The N035 Irbis-E passive electronically scanned array radar can track up to 30 targets simultaneously and engage up to 8 at once, while detecting aerial threats at ranges of up to 400 kilometers. Complementing the radar is the OLS-35 infrared search and track system, allowing passive target detection and engagement without radar emissions. The cockpit features modernized multifunctional displays, a digital glass cockpit environment, and compatibility with helmet-mounted cueing systems for rapid target acquisition.
The armament capability of the Su-30SM2 is among its most formidable assets. With 12 hardpoints and a payload capacity exceeding 8,000 kilograms, the fighter can deploy a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. Air superiority missions are supported by R-77-1 active radar-guided missiles, R-73 short-range infrared missiles, and the long-range R-37M, capable of engaging targets at over 300 kilometers. For strike missions, the aircraft can employ Kh-31 anti-radar and anti-ship missiles, Kh-59 stand-off precision missiles, Kh-29 heavy tactical missiles, and KAB-series guided bombs with satellite or laser guidance. It is also equipped with a GSh-30-1 30mm internal cannon for close-range engagements.
Operationally, the Su-30SM2 enhances Belarus’s ability to conduct both defensive and offensive missions. Its long-range sensors and powerful weapons load enable it to act as an airborne command and control asset, coordinating other aircraft during complex operations. In defensive roles, it strengthens Belarus’s capacity to intercept NATO reconnaissance or strike platforms at extended distances, while in offensive roles it can conduct precision deep strikes against critical infrastructure. The combination of long-range missiles and advanced radar makes it especially effective for denying adversary air superiority in contested airspace.
For Belarus, the induction of the Su-30SM2 must also be understood in the context of its strategic dependence on Russia. Minsk lacks the industrial base to sustain advanced combat aviation and relies entirely on Moscow for deliveries, upgrades, training, and maintenance. While this gives Belarus access to modern Russian technology, it also locks the country into a relationship of asymmetric dependence, with Russia holding leverage over its long-term combat readiness. In return, Moscow secures a loyal forward-operating partner on NATO’s eastern flank, embedding Belarusian air power into the Union State’s integrated defense architecture.
This delivery builds on the first Su-30SM2 batch received earlier in 2025. Belarusian pilots and technicians have already completed conversion training, enabling immediate operational integration of the aircraft into quick reaction alert missions. Additional crews continue to train on the platform to expand the Air Force’s readiness and ensure full-scale deployment in the coming months.
The transfer highlights the tightening defense integration between Russia and Belarus under the Union State framework. Beyond equipment deliveries, this partnership encompasses synchronized air defense planning, joint exercises, and modernization programs designed to counter what both governments describe as increasing external threats. With the Su-30SM2 now reinforcing Belarusian squadrons, the Union State is consolidating its collective airpower to secure shared skies and strengthen its regional force grouping.
