Back Channel Correspondence on SU-30

For those who enjoyed the airshow performed by the SU-30 in yesterday's video that might have in retrospect then questioned whether the US can compete with such gymnastics, this came across my desk. The author of the note wrote it in response to questions from some folks who saw the video. He is retired Gen. Al Slay, former commander of Air Force Systems Command:

Fw: Russian Jet Video.Awsome.......

Thanks for the Russian jet video, which is very impressive. Quite obviously, however, the writer of the comments doesn't know much about fighters and is also unaware that the F-22 can far outdo the Russian fighter in any performance area. The F-22 can maneuver at zero airspeed (which the SU-30 cannot do -- all the SU-30 can do is the "cobra maneuver", which the F-22 can also do easily); the F-22 can also out turn the SU-30 under any conditions, out accelerate the SU-30 under any conditions, outrun the SU-30 in mil power, and on top of all that the F-22 has much better air to air armament than the SU-30, and still more on top of that, the F-22 is stealthy, while the SU-30 has the radar signature of a large barn door. Add to those facts the additional fact that the radar, infrared and other "situational awareness" sensors aboard the F-22 are much, much better than those in the SU-30, and even the greatest advocate for the SU-30 would conclude that the SU-30 would be a sitting duck and a dead duck in any engagement that it may be unfortunate enough to encounter with the F-22.

Short recap: The SU-30 is a great airshow machine; but, regarding the statement that the SU-30 is "the best fighter in the world", it definitely ain't!! Not by a country mile!!!

Having said that, the SU-30 has better aerodynamic characteristics than our current first line fighter, the F-15, which is why the AF wants more F-22s. A force of F-15s going up against a comparable force of SU-30s would probably come out on top -- but only because of better pilot training, better tactics and better missiles -- not because it could match the SU-30 in a turning "dog fight" which our tactics dating back several decades have told us to avoid. Our F-15 and F-16 air-to-air tactics are now (and have been for many years) to approach an enemy force of fighters at high mach, fire BVR missiles, blow through the enemy force and only reluctantly get into a "fur ball" (the modern term for "dog fight"). Our short range missile (the Sidewinder) is a better killer than its Russian counterpart since it has much better off-boresight capability,

F-22 tactics, as demonstrated in many exercise engagements are much the same as described above. Those tactics, which still work well, plus the stealthiness, speed, incredible radar performance and the best air-to-air missiles in the world have made the F-22 a 100 to one winner in all exercise engagements to date. That statement is a documented fact. Also, if the F-22 did get into a turning engagement with the SU-30, there is no doubt in my mind as to which fighter would win -- the F-22 by very long odds.

Best regards,

Al