Russian Knights Perform First Aerial Refueling Of Su-30SM Fighters

Russian Knights aerobatic team carried out an aerial refueling of the advanced multipurpose Su-30SM fighter jets for the first time.

"Flights of the advanced aircraft, which involved aerial refueling, took place at the Lipetsk air facility of the Aerospace Forces. For the first time, crews of the Russian Knights aerobatic team performed this activity using the multipurpose Su-30SM fighter jets," the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service said Wednesday.

The flights took place in daylight and at night. "The aerial refueling was carried out at altitudes of over 4,000 meters, at the speed of 550-600 kilometers per hour and at a distance of less than 20 meters between the fighter jets and the Il-78 aerial refuelling tankers. In total, the training involved three airfields and about 20 crews," the statement added.

The Su-30SM can be used to train pilots to fly advanced single-seat aircraft. It has been produced for the Russian Air Force since 2012.