Why Indonesian Air Force Want Sukhoi Su-35 ?

Sukhoi Su-30 fighter Jet over Jakarta

Indonesian Air Force fighter aircraft are replacing the US-made F-5 were already obsolete by the latest Russian fighter Su-35 Super Flanker. However, the Indonesian government has not been able to take certain steps because the US also offers jet F-16 and F-18 jets them at AU Indonesia.

Currently, the fleet consists of Indonesian fighter aircraft and a US F-16 Russian aircraft Su-27 and Su-30. The fact that the US aircraft allied with Russia in Indonesian military plane is an interesting thing. "Indonesia is eyeing a Russian aircraft because they are needed," wrote Defense Industry Daily (DID). Indonesian Air Force fighter aircraft, the 12 pieces of F-16A / B and 16 pieces of F-5E / F, facing maintenance problems because the US imposed an embargo on Indonesia.

F - 16 A/B Indonesian Air Force

The embargo was given after Australia began to intervene in the conflict in East Timor, and the United States have accused Indonesia of human rights violations.

To overcome the problems due to the US embargo, in 2003, Indonesia signed a contract worth 192 million dollars with Russia to supply Sukhoi multirole combat aircraft through Rosoboronexport. The presence of Russian warplanes making Indonesia has the combat capability equivalent to its neighbors, including China and Australia.

Four years later, in the aviation exhibition MAKS 2007 in Moscow, Indonesia and Russia signed a further contract worth 300 million US dollars to supply Sukhoi Flankers. Interestingly, at that time Indonesia still buy Russian military hardware even though Indonesia has sealed cooperation with Washington. "It proves that these purchases do not reflect the geopolitical orientation Indonesia. It was purely due to the interest of Indonesia to the plane Sukhoi, "said international relations analyst Martin Sieff of UPI.

Delivery of jet fighter Sukhoi su-30
to the Air Force

Based on information from DID, both Su-27 and Su-30 SK belonging to Indonesia, which is still in operation, had the same combination of characters associated Sukhoi Flanker long distance range, large payload, and the performance of air that can compensate all American combat aircraft unless F-22A Raptor. With these capabilities, as well as Russia's policy is never to mix-mortar political situation with the sale of weapons, encouraging Indonesia to turn to Russia and make Russia as a supplier of arms.

Sukhoi has to fulfill peculiarity arrival on stage Asia Pacific. Australian pilot, who claimed to belong to the advanced forces to fly the F-18 Hornets, now have to deal with Flanker which is superior in almost every aspect. According to Air Power Australia, "The acquisition of Russian fighter aircraft Sukhoi Su-27SK and Su-30MK by the countries in our region shows that the F / A-18A / B / F was outdated various key aspects."

Technology Leap Forward

Sukhoi Su-35

Su-35 Super Flanker, which targeted by Indonesian Air Force, of course, more sophisticated. Sukhoi aircraft classifies as a 4 ++ generation, which is located just below a fifth-generation stealth aircraft. Compared with the F-16 and F-18, which is based on 1970s technology, the Su-35 has just entered the treasury of the Russian Air Force weapons. China has also signed contracts worth billions of dollars to acquire 24 pieces of Super Flanker and the Chinese pilots have come to Russia to undergo training.

Based on information from the Air Force Technology, Su-35 has a high maneuverability (+ 9g) with a high angle of attack, and is equipped with advanced weapons systems that make this aircraft has an outstanding combat capability. The aircraft reached a maximum speed of 2,390 kilometers per hour, or Mach 2.25.

The magazine said that the Su-35 missiles capable of carrying a number of air-to-air, air-to-surface and anti-ship missiles. The aircraft can also be equipped with a variety of bombs directed, and the sensor is able to detect and track up to 30 air targets with a radar cross section (RCS) within a radius of 400 kilometers using the mode-and-scan chain.

In the Aviation Week report of the Paris Air Show in 2013, the legendary aviation expert Bill Sweetman writes that agility exhibited by the Sukhoi Su-35 is rooted in the Russian concept that emphasizes short-range and low-speed aerial combat.

Su - 35 Specifications

"The aircraft is equipped with three-axis thrust vector (three-axis thrust-vectoring) and had a flight control and propulsion that is integrated entirely, featuring maneuverability unmatched by any fighter," wrote Sweetman.

Sweetman also quoted Sukhoi test pilot Sergey Bogdan head, "Most fighters that we have today have the impulse vector. Su-30MKI and MSM can show off these maneuvers. The thing that distinguishes this aircraft is that it has much more encouragement, so when displaying maneuver, he can still stand firm, and after combustion begins, the aircraft can maintain flight up to 120-140 kilometers per hour. "

Emphasis "super maneuverability" contrary to the doctrine of Western air combat, which emphasizes high speed, avoid "smelting" slow and energy-saving tactics. However, according to Bogdan, super maneuverability is a very important aspect.

"Classic air battle started at high speed, but if you missed the first shot, and the likelihood is great because there are maneuvers to avoid the missile, the battle will last longer," says Bogdan. "After the maneuver, the aircraft will be at low speed, but both aircraft will be in a position where they can not shoot. Super maneuverability make the aircraft can be turned in three seconds and re-shoot. "

Su-35 Manuver Ekstreme

Related to energy saving, Bogdan noted, "The theory of air combat is always evolving. In the 1940s and 1950s, the main priority is the height and speed, and maneuverability, and weaponry. Then in the third and fourth generation, the order turns into a speed, altitude, a new maneuver. Super maneuverability added. It was like a knife in the pocket of the army. "

Although not have stealth capabilities, the Su-35 can 'disappear', invisible enemy radar, on certain conditions. Sweetman explained, random speed changes take place can create damaging radar. The maneuver is very useful for the Su-35S because the pilot can fly the aircraft in all directions.

Future Proof

Australia plans to buy 72 planes F-35 stealth fighter at the end of this decade, so that Indonesia must take steps counterweight. Russian aircraft T-50 is probably the most ideal candidate, but for a while the Su-35 can be used as a defense in the face of the threat of the F-35.

Dave Majumdar of National Interest mention that the US Air Force-are well aware of the F-35-believe that the Su-35 can be a serious threat to America's newest jet. F-35 aircraft were made as the attacker and do not have the speed or altitude capabilities such as the Su-35 or F-22. "The ability of the Sukhoi aircraft to fly high and fast is a major problem that we face, including the F-35," said the US military.

Tony Abbott inspects an F-35 at
Fairbairn RAAF base

According to Majumdar, as the superior fighter aircraft Su-35 has a combination of high-flying skills and exceptional speed. "Su-35 could launch weapons of supersonic speed, about Mach 1.5 at an altitude of more than 45 thousand feet. While the F-35 will generally operate at an altitude of 30 thousand feet at a speed of about Mach 0.9. "

Sergey Ptichkin of Rossiyskaya Gazeta said the Su-35S is almost identical to the T-50 in the aspect of electronic equipment, control systems, and armament. "So, all pilots are able to control the Su-35 can easily control the classic fifth-generation fighter aircraft stealth technology, the T-50," said Ptichkin.

By learning to control the Su-35, the pilot Indonesia later was ready when I had to fly a fifth-generation stealth aircraft in the coming decades.

Exercise Joint Pilot Reliably

On October 2013, India agreed to train the Indonesian Air Force to operate a fleet of fighter aircraft Sukhoi. Based on this agreement, which was approved during the visit of Indian Defence Minister to Jakarta, India and Indonesia will cooperate in the fields of training, technical assistance, and supply of spare parts.

Chief of Air Staff Indian Air Force
visit Adisutjipto Airbase

In the past, Indonesia has an agreement with China to train their pilots and provide technical support for its fleet Flanker. However, Indonesia has now reversed course in India, because India is viewed AU ideal mentor. Force India has a worldwide reputation as a superior fighting force after defeating US forces in a number of air exercise Cope India. Moreover, in three wars in 1965, 1971 and 1999, India defeated Pakistan army. In other words, support is easily available in the region, if Indonesia decided to enlarge its fleet Flanker.

Nobody Association

The argument that most support for Indonesia to buy Russian aircraft is, unlike other great powers, Moscow never gave embargo due to a conflict. In addition, measures to sell weapons to a country but then stopped supplies in time of war like "stab in the back". The US embargo on the East Timor crisis clearly intended for the benefit of Australia. In the conflict between Indonesia and Australia in the future, the results may not be much different. Indonesian political leaders should consider carefully when they are about to take a decision to buy fighter aircraft.

Source : indonesia.rbth.com