Ukraine downs Russian fighter jet worth £40m over Black Sea
Soldiers from the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence destroyed a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet over the Black Sea using MANPADS. The cost of the targeted aircraft is approximately £40 million.
Anton Herashchenko, adviser to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, announced on social media that the fighter jet that fell into the sea belonged to the 43rd Independent Naval Aviation Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces, stationed at the airport in the city of Saky, in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
The Russians lost contact with the aircraft on 11 September 2024, around 5:00 AM GMT. About three hours later, they began a search and rescue operation involving an An-26 aircraft and Mi-8 and Ka-27 helicopters.
The invaders informed the command of a discovery at sea, 70 kilometres northwest of Cape Tarkhankut. A characteristic patch of aviation fuel was visible. Shortly afterwards, the wreck of the destroyed Su-30SM aircraft was also observed.
The cost of such an aircraft is approximately £40 million.
The Russians lost valuable equipment. It offers many capabilities
Su-30SMs are modern, two-seat, multi-role fighter jets of the 4++ generation developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. This upgraded version of the Su-30MKI variant can be used to destroy targets in the air, on land, and at sea.
Additionally, the aircraft excels in aerial reconnaissance missions and is suitable for electronic warfare. The jet can also function as a command and control platform in a fleet of combat aircraft performing joint missions.
According to Airforce Technology, the Su-30SM is equipped with Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment, a global positioning system, and an inertial navigation system.
