A detachment of the Russian Navy's Sukhoi Su-30SM 'Flanker-H' fighter has been deployed to Khmeimim Air Base in Syria in its first overseas mission for the latest air supremacy service fighters, according to the IHS Jane website.
Two Su-30SM Russian Navy fighter jets were first photographed during a media visit to Russia's main air base in the Middle East country on 21-22 April and on May 9th where the Su-30SM fighter jet in a typical color scheme of Russian Naval Aviation was on display during the Victory Day Parade held at Khmeimim Air Base.
Six examples of canard-mounted jets are also seen in commercial satellite imagery from airbases taken six days earlier. It is unclear when the unannounced deployment began, but a Russian Navy Su-30SM appeared in the image of Khmeimim Air Base which was installed online late March. The naval jet does not appear in the satellite imagery of the air base taken in the previous month.
Although the Su-30SM has multirole capabilities, but the aircraft photographed in Syria appears to be configured for air supremacy operations combined with medium-range Vympel R-77 missiles and short-range Vympel R-73 missiles.
***
**