British Marlet Missile Brought Down Russian Su-30SM Fighter Jet: Russian Sources

The shooting down of a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet over the Black Sea on September 12 was caused by a Britain-sent Light Multirole Missile (LMM) 'Marlet', which was recently announced as being sent to Ukraine.

Russian media sources opined that it would be impossible for a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) mounted on an unmanned boat to accurately track and fire at the fast-moving Su-30.

In a similar situation on June 21, 2024, a KA-29 helicopter of the Russian Navy was shot at close range by a R-73RMD-2 missile mounted on a Ukrainian Magura-V5 boat. The helicopter had time to release infrared decoys and dodged one missile but was struck by another. In comparison, the Su-30 was flying not only at a much higher altitude but also at high speed and would require a much more sophisticated missile and launcher to accurately target it in its flight path.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet's naval aviation recently thwarted an attempt by 14 Ukrainian Navy special forces landing craft to reach the Crimea-2 drilling rig, preventing 120-140 paratroopers from landing. However, Russia suffered losses, including the downing of a Su-30SM1 fighter.

The Su-30SM was used to counter potential Ukrainian F-16AM fighters and destroy American-made landing boats. Its loss was reported by several military-analytical channels, and a video published by Ukraine's GUR showed the aircraft's low-altitude maneuvering. The video indicated the Su-30SM was intercepted by an anti-aircraft missile from a MANPADS while launching Kh-31PD anti-radar missiles. The true target may have been the MPQ-65 radar of the Patriot PAC-2 GEM-C air defense system or Ukrainian surface vessels.

Analysis suggests the MANPADS was likely the British LMM Martlet system, which has a jam-proof control system. This system's effectiveness put the Su-30SM crew at risk, especially within a 7 km range.

The U.K. announced in early September that it plans to send 650 LMM missiles built by Thales. These missiles can be launched from various platforms on land, at sea, and in the air. Designed to engage a wide range of targets, these missiles can counter unmanned aerial vehicles, fast-moving boats, and ground vehicles.

Questions arise about the tactics employed, particularly why Su-30SM pilots engaged enemy landing craft at close range, risking their lives. Alternative options, such as Ka-52M helicopters or Inokhodets-RU/Forpost-RU drones, could have performed these tasks safely. These drones have successfully destroyed Ukrainian tanks in the Kursk region using tactical missiles and guided munitions. Their use could have avoided the Su-30SM's vulnerability to MANPADS.

The incident raises concerns about the command's decision-making and prioritization of pilot safety, particularly considering the availability of longer-range missiles like the Kh-38MT.