By comparison, the Royal Air Force does not have 250 aircraft equal to the Su-30.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Reports: Iran to buy jets from Russia

The Su-30 is an extremely capable aircraft, a potent adversary for aircraft like the F-15, F-16, Mirage 2000 and the F-18.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Reports: Iran to buy jets from Russia

It has purchased 300 to 400 Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighters and Su-30 fighter-bombers, plus Russian A-50 AWACS and anti-air and ground attack missiles.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Sell Taiwan the AIM-9X helmet display sighted air-to-air missile to confer a balance with the Russian R-73 helmet-sighted AAMs that arm PLAAF Su-27 and Su-30 fighters.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Deterring a Chinese attack against Taiwan: 16 steps

These include: eight sophisticated diesel submarines, advanced SU-30 fighter aircraft, modern air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles and as many as 350 short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Back on the China Front

The Su-30 is truly state of the art.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Reports: Iran to buy jets from Russia

It called the property Firebag East, deliberately aping Suncor Energy (nyse: SU - news - people )'s well-known Firebag project, 30 miles away.

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