Russian Su‑30SM fighter jet downed over Black Sea, wreck found

The Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed the destruction of the Russian Su-30SM fighter jet. Ukraine admits that during an operation in the Black Sea, special forces soldiers took down a combat aircraft belonging to the 43rd Separate Naval Assault Aviation Regiment of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The Su-30SM aircraft was stationed at an airport in the city of Saky in temporarily occupied Crimea. At around 3 AM, the occupiers lost contact with the pilots controlling the aircraft.

Three hours later, the Russians initiated a search and rescue operation. An An-26 aircraft and Mi-8 and Ka-27 helicopters were among the search participants.

After a few hours, search participants reported to the command that they had discovered a characteristic fuel slick in the sea 37 miles northwest of Cape Tarkhankut. They later also spotted the wreck of the destroyed Su-30SM.

The first report of the incident came from the pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel Crimean Wind, citing Russian media reports. The aircraft was said to have been flying alongside a Su-35S fighter.

This mission aimed to launch Kh-31P anti-radar missiles as part of support for another drone-missile attack on Ukraine. The aircraft is believed to have launched four of the six rockets before disappearing from radar screens northwest of the Crimean Peninsula.

According to the Crimean Wind channel, the lack of information on the crew's fate might be why channels close to the Russian Aerospace Forces are keeping silent. Whether they should announce obituaries or inform about a successful Russian combat rescue operation is unknown.

Although Russia has not confirmed the loss of the aircraft, Ukrainian media have reported that the Russian aircraft fell victim to Ukrainian F-16 pilots. However, as Defence24 notes, the shooting down of the Russian Su-30SM by the F-16 is only one possible scenario, as the Patriot system, which also has the range to destroy the Russian aircraft, could have also contributed.

The aircraft could also have been involved in an accident. After launching four Kh-31P missiles, a malfunction could have occurred, leading to the loss of the aircraft.

The Su-30SM is a Russian multirole aircraft developed based on the Indian version of the Su-30MKI. The aircraft was made for the Russian Air Force. It can be refuelled in mid-air and has a system that allows it to generate false radar images of the aircraft.

Specialists believe that Su-30SM fighters could be the main opponents of F-16s in aerial combat.