Its a propaganda article for local consumption. Its funny when
ST decides to reproduce such articles which are factually
inaccurate.
(a) What makes the author think that Su-30 maintenance cost are
not far greater than the Mig-29? The engines are way more
sophisticated, the avionics from multiple sources and again far
more sophisticated. The parts way more than the migs esp with
multiple integration issues bet western and russki tech. Suffers
from the same inefficient, middleman procurement practices. Even
the pilots have to been sent to India for training.
(b) The Su-30 is indeed more capable than the F-15/F-16 in the
following areas:
- It has no aesa radar which means it reveals its location far
better than the F-15/F-16s;
- It carries A2A missiles that are outranged by the AMRAAMs not
to mention more likely to miss which means it is indeed better at
getting shot down than the F-15/F-16 not to mention that none of
its BVR missiles has been officially credited with a kill yet.
- It carries EW/self protection equipment that is far inferior
than the F-15/F-16 systems which means its likelihood of getting
shot down by sams/A2A missiles is indeed far better than the
F-15/F-16.
- It carries a 2nd rate western targeting pod that is 2-3 times
less range than the sniper pods that equip the F-15/F-16s which
means that its A2G capability is definitely better than the
F-15/F-16s in hitting the targets closer to launch range.
- It has far better non-mission capable and non-serviceability
rates which means planes will stay on the ground for
maintenance/out of comission far longer than the F-15/F-16. Sadly,
the F-16 has only the highest mission capable rates of any fighter
in the USAF inventory.
- Its equipment are not designed to last meaning it will have to
be replaced far more often than the F-15/F-16s. The PLAAF recently
decom their early su-27s after 20 years of service (which is better
than the 15 yr rmaf migs). Unfortunately, the F-15/F-16s can only
last for 30-40+ years and requires upgrading.
- It can use the far more inaccurate and unreliable munitions
that the russkis have. F-15/F-16s can unfortunately only rely on
the (dual mode) AIM-9X, GBU-54s (Laser JDAMs), JSOWs, JDAMs,
Paveways that have recently entered its inventory.
- It benefits from russian/indian air training techniques that
have outmanouvred western pilots in every war that never happened
but sadly kena shot down in almost every A2A encounter that did
happened.
Too lazy to cite more examples that the suks are way better than
the F-15s/F-16s. One cent money, one cent value.
Fantastic, get more of them pls.
P.s. rsaf does look at $ before procuring. Mindef just lousier
at middlemen resource allocation than the MY Mod.
