Sukhoi Su-30 MKI or F-16C? Which one is the better aircraft?

Question

True the F-22 is a generation ahead but amongst these two which one do you consider better. I believe its the Sukhoi Su 30 because despite being twice the size of a F-16 it can out manuver it, thanx to its thrust vectoring, infact it can out manuver any aircraft in the world such is the design, though I think the F-16 has better avionics. Which one would win in a dogfight? My money is on the Sukhoi.

Answer 1

Y'all are aware that he's asking about the late export version of the Su30 that was sold to india, that's what the MKI part means, Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy (modernized commercial) India.

The MKI has no AoA limit at low speed, the thrust vectoring, canards and stabilator allow it to be flown whilst pointing in any direction. This isn't some NASA test vehicle, it a fighter in service with the Inidan airforce that can point itself wherever it needs to.

Typically an F16 would expect to have an advantage based on superior avionics, but this isn't a purely Russian aircraft, the avionics are a mix of Russian, French, Israeli and Indian gear. For example the HUD is an Israeli Elbit unit. So the radar and other avionics in the F16 aren't necessarily superior.

The quality of the N011-M Bars phased array radar depends on how far india has got in replacing the data processor. Radar is very important in beyond visual range engagements, obviously. One interesting claim is that the radar can, through mechanical and electronic steering, detect a target at 60km in the rear quadrant. The radar was designed to detect an f-16 and 140-160km.

The ECM is also Israeli, if it is to their full capability then it will probably perform very well against the f-16 which is well known to the Israelis.

Empty an F-16C power/weight ration is about 1.5, the Su30 is about 1.2, full the F1-6C is 0.68 and the Su30 is 0.68

F-16C combat radius is 340nm with a typical weapon load, the Su30 combat radius is around 500nm.

The Su30 can also carry a lot of missiles, up to 10 R-77s which are broadly similar to AMRAAMs. It can also carry R-27 and R-23 missiles. These things bristle with missiles when loaded up. I think they could do with a more modern missile though, but who knows what the Russians have been doing with their missile electronics.

So where's that leave us? If an F-16C and an Su30 MKI got into it after flying for a similar time, and they can both be in-flight refueled so there's no intrinsic advantage either way, they would probably detect and engage at similar ranges. Both loaded and heavy would have similar performance, so they would be able to give their first BVR shots similar performance. It would be down to the avionics whether those shots would be on target. As the fight developed the aircraft would burn fuel fast in avoiding missiles and manoeuvering for shots, the F-16C would get more manoeuverable faster than the Su30. But the Su30 can keep firing in missiles and causing the F-16 to evade. If they got to visual range combat then things start to turn very sticky for the F16, it can accelerate faster by now, but it only has a couple of shots and it is fighting an opponent that can point in any direction to lock on and launch its missiles.

If the reliability of the systems is good on the Su30 MKI, the Israelis did a good job on the ECM and the Indians did a good job on the radar processor then I'd hate to be the F16 pilot facing one. In the end the F-16 is going to run out of fuel and missiles and find itself in a fight with an ultra manoeuverable and still heavily armed Su30 that can still afford to use afterburner and who even has a second crew member to help maintain situational awareness.

The Su30 is more a peer of the Eurofighter Typhoon and Rafael, neither of which would have much trouble taking out an F16.

Answer 2

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Naw, gimme a Sukhoi any day. The F-16 has been around since the 70's. Excellent plane, to be sure, but the Su-30...Mach 2+, thrust vectoring, cannards, can't stall it, carries a sh!tload of AAMs or AGMs. It's a whole new generation. And new tech can be temperamental, but the Block 60 is full of new tech. Plus, half of the avionics in the MKI aren't Russian, if that really makes a difference. Just don't ask which one would win in a dogfight. There is no right answer to that question, only guesses.

Answer 3

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RE:
Sukhoi Su-30 MKI or F-16C? Which one is the better aircraft?
True the F-22 is a generation ahead but amongst these two which one do you consider better. I believe its the Sukhoi Su 30 because despite being twice the size of a F-16 it can out manuver it, thanx to its thrust vectoring, infact it can out manuver any aircraft in the world such is the design,...

Answer 4

Your Comparing apples to Oranges my friend. A better comparison would be the F-15E or maybe the Super Hornet. The sukhoi is a long range interceptor based on the Su-27 trainer, two seats and all. The F-16 is a multi-role with more advanced avionics. But a dog fight is less about manuverability and more about the ability of the pilot to press his advantage and minimize hs disadvantage. My money is on the F-16, it is smaller, much smaller, which translates to a more elusive target. It also has a better thrust to weight ratio, which alows it to climb nearly 25 m/s faster than the Su. And between those two craft, manuverability is less important due to the fact that the limiting factor about of both planes is the amount of G's that the pilots can take, not the airframe.

Answer 5

In short Sukhoi Su-30 MKI is the better one.

Answer 6

Has the Sukhoi been tested in combat? I don't know. Has the F-16 series been tested? Yes, at least in the air-to-ground role. I don't know about dogfighting. I'd put $20 on the F-16.

Answer 7

Su 27 Vs F 16

Answer 8

The better plane does not determine who would win in a dog fight. The United States is the most technologically advanced military in the world. Your assertations of the aircraft is correct however you have not included anything on the tecnolgical advances of U.S. air-to-air munitions, advanced flight training (red flag, top gun, william tell, etc...), or even some of the most advanced electronic counter measure systems that US aircraft carry. So based on that I would take your money any day of the week. Because even though your Su-30 can out maneuver my F-16 it dosent change the fact its all about position. Getting it, maintaing it, and using it to your advantage.

Answer 9

The F-16 is the largest and probably most significant current Western fighter program, with over 4,000 aircraft built since production started in 1976. Though no longer produced for the United States Air Force, it is still produced for export.

The F-16 is regarded as a superb dogfighter, with innovations including a frameless canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while under high g-load, and reclined seat to reduce g-effects on the pilot. It was also the first fighter aircraft to be deliberately built to be able to sustain 9 g turns

i would definetely go for the f-16

Answer 10

Sukhoi-30MKI is far better than F-16C ,,,, actually it's not comparable ,,,, even MiG-29 is better than F-16C ,,,, but F-16C is better than MiG-21