On January 29, 2026, a new pair of Su-30SM2 multirole fighters, built by the Irkut Aircraft Corporation, arrived at the 61st Fighter Aviation Base of the Belarusian Air and Air Defense Forces in Baranovichi, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus reported. In released photos, the aircraft’s red tail numbers are digitally obscured.
This delivery marks the first shipment of 2026 and completes the fourth pair of Su-30SM2 jets delivered to Belarus since May 2025. The previous deliveries occurred on May 27, August 14, and December 26, 2025. With the latest addition, the Belarusian Air Force now operates eight Su-30SM2 aircraft, equivalent to a full-strength squadron under standard organizational structure.
Prior to the Su-30SM2 deliveries, Belarus received eight earlier-configuration Su-30SM fighters, also produced by Irkut. These transfers were conducted under an intergovernmental agreement signed in 2017, with contract details finalized in 2019 and 2021. The program’s implementation timeline was significantly extended beyond the initially planned three-year schedule.
Upgrading to the SM2 variant standardizes Belarus’s fighter fleet with the configuration currently supplied to the Russian Aerospace Forces. The aircraft are equipped with Irbis-E onboard radar and are integrated with long-range air-to-air missiles, including the R-37M and R-77-1.
The gradual increase of the Su-30SM2 fleet indicates continuity of the 2024–2025 contract line. If deliveries continue at the current pace, Belarus is expected to fully standardize its two-seat fighter fleet to the SM2 configuration in the medium term, reducing the variety of components and systems across operational units.
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