nWODT_Niack wrote:GBNATO wrote:I assumed he just meant data sharing and networking, but that is by no means unique to the Su-30 so who knowsAlthough judging by the size of the bloody thing I wouldn't be surprised if there was a command bunker complete with general staff inside the nose!
Makes the Squall look like a damn toy by comparison.
FYI, size difference and all, the Rafale lifts 9 tons payload, versus 8 for the Su-35 (couldn't find numbers for the Su-30MKI) ; and 14/13 pylons versus 12. The Su has the Rafale beat on range however, with its 4500 km on ferry range versus 3800 for the Rafale.
So most of the size must be fuel tanks.
Here goes the tricky thing, like with F-16. Is this range for Rafale with or without external fuel tanks and with what payload? Su-30MKI takes 9640 kilo of fuel vs 4500 kilo in Rafale M internal fuel tanks (7500 with external fuel tanks).
Suchoi claims that Su-30mki can carry 16 FAB500, so 9 tons isn't a problem.
http://www.sukhoi.org/eng/planes/military/su30mk/lth/
That's a problem in comparison of Russian\Soviet planes vs West. Russian\Soviet manufacturers claims numbers calculated by different system.
We can approximately calculate real performance by taking difference between empty weight and maximum take-off weight - it's our fuel and payload.
Su-30mki as wiki claims can take 20.4 tons of everything. With max internal fuel weight of 9.6 tonnes you have 10.8 tonnes for all your pylons
Rafale as Dassault aviation web-site claims can take 14.5 tonnes of everything. With max. internal fuel weight of 4.5 tonnes you have 10.5 for all pylons. But if you use external fuel tanks you have 7 tonnes with limited payload variants - main pylons are unavailable now.
