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World Defense & Security News - Belarus
 
 
Belarus confirms plans to purchase Su-30SM fighter jets in 2017
 
Belarus plans to buy Russian Su-30SM fighter jets for its air force and defense this year, Belarussian Deputy Defense Minister Major-General Igor Lotenkov said. "In 2017 we plan to purchase Su-30SM aircraft," he was quoted as saying by the Belarussian Military Gazette.
     
Belarus confirms plans to purchase Su 30SM fighter jets in 2017 640 001A Russian Air Force Su-30SM fighter jet
(Credit: Alex Beltyukov)
     
Air Force and Defense Commander of the Belarussian army Major-General Oleg Dvigalev earlier said it was planned to buy at least a squadron of Su-30SM by 2020. "It (the aircraft) performed well in the Syrian conflict and is operational in a number of countries," he said.

Belarus and Russia announced they reached agreement in principle on the sale of Sukhoi Su-30SM on February 2016. Once the contract formalized, Belarus will be the third customer for the Su-30SM after Russia and Kazakhstan (which received four aircraft in 2014-2015).

The Belarusian Air Force already operates a fleet of Russian-made Su-27 and MiG-29 aircraft.

Su-30SM is a two-seater multifunctional generation 4+++ aircraft. It is a two-seat derivative of the earlier Su-27UB (NATO reporting name: Flanker) capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions with a wide variety of precision-guided munitions. The aircraft features thrust-vectoring engines to enhance maneuverability.
     
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