On August 14, 2025, the Belarusian Air Force took delivery of a fresh batch of Su-30SM2 multirole fighters from Russia, reinforcing the two countries’ expanding defense cooperation. The aircraft were handed over to an Air Force and Air Defense Forces base and immediately entered service, as Minsk works to bolster its aerial defenses amid rising regional security concerns.
The Su-30SM2 is a twin-engine fighter designed for both air superiority and strike missions, equipped with advanced radar, long-range precision-guided weapons, and enhanced maneuverability. Colonel Andrey Rachkov, Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander for Aviation Operations, emphasized that the aircraft marks a major leap in capability, offering nearly triple the detection range of earlier variants and advanced avionics enabling operations without satellite reliance.
Powered by AL-41F-1S turbofan engines, the jet can reach speeds of Mach 2 and operate over 3,000 km with external fuel tanks—or beyond 5,000 km when refueled in flight. With 12 hardpoints and a payload capacity exceeding 8,000 kilograms, the fighter can carry a wide mix of munitions, from R-77-1 and R-37M air-to-air missiles to Kh-31, Kh-59, and Kh-29 strike weapons, as well as KAB-series precision-guided bombs.
Operationally, the Su-30SM2 expands Belarus’s ability to conduct both defensive interception of NATO aircraft and long-range precision strike missions. Its advanced radar and missile suite allow it to deny adversaries air superiority in contested skies, while also serving as an airborne command-and-control node during joint operations.
The acquisition also underscores Belarus’s structural dependence on Russia. Without an independent defense aviation industry, Minsk relies on Moscow for procurement, training, upgrades, and maintenance. While this provides access to cutting-edge Russian systems, it ties Belarus’s combat readiness to its alliance with Russia—cementing Moscow’s influence on NATO’s eastern frontier.
This delivery follows the first Su-30SM2 batch received earlier in 2025. Belarusian crews have already completed conversion training, enabling immediate operational integration, with additional teams preparing to expand full-scale deployment in the coming months.
The reinforcement reflects the Union State’s integrated defense framework, which goes beyond hardware to include joint exercises, synchronized air defense planning, and modernization programs. With the Su-30SM2 now in Belarusian service, the two allies further consolidate their shared airpower to project strength and safeguard regional skies.
