IRKUTSK, February 15 (AVN) - The town of Zhukovsky in the Moscow region will host the presentation of the first modernised SU-27UBM Flanker combat and trainer fighter in late February, a spokesman for the Irkutsk Aircraft Production Association (IAPO) said on Thursday.
The presentation of the two-seater modernised on the order of the Russian Air Force is likely to be attended by Air Force Commander Anatoly Kornukov, the spokesman told the Military News Agency.
The modernised SU-27UBM will be a prototype in the SU-27 family modernisation programme that will be effected in accordance with the standard set up by earlier SU-30KN Flanker fighter modernisation, the spokesman noted. The SU-30KN was exhibited at the hydro-air show in Russia's Gelendzhik in 2000.
The forthcoming state tests will involve the above-mentioned SU-27UBM and SU-30KN planes, as well as SU-30 fighters modernised by IAPO and SU-27 single-seat fighters modernised by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft production association. Their major share will take place this year, but their programme is not yet approved.
The SU-27 modernisation will have two stages, the spokesman said. At the first stage the fighters will be fitted with new onboard avionics modernised to accomplish air-to-surface class missions, as well as with a new onboard radar and new types of armament. The second stage is kept secret.
When the tests are completed and the Air Force approves their results, modernisation of a part of SU-27 and SU-30 fighters will be launched, the spokesman noted.
Meanwhile, the onboard radar has passed the first stage of modernisation. For instance, its combat capacities are considerably enhanced by adding to it the Baget-55 computation device, developed by the Korund design bureau.
Modernised fighters may be used as multifunctional combat systems for accomplishing air engagement missions and suppressing ground and naval targets.