Belarus receives new batch of Su-30SM2 fighters from Russia
August 15, 2025
Belarus has come a step closer to taking delivery of its 2017 order for 12 Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets. This may bring Belarus’ inventory to eight (plus or minus two) as it phases out its aging Soviet-era fighter jets.
Belarus receives another batch of Su-30 fighters
Belarus 24 announced it has received another batch of Su-30SM2 Flanker aircraft. The news outlet stated, “These supplies are being carried out as part of the implementation of agreements between Belarus and Russia.”
This follows the “first batch of equipment was successfully commissioned at the beginning of the year. ” The fighter jets come with increased target detection range, modernised avionics, and an expanded arsenal.
Belarus is a country of around 9.5 million people that has very close relations with Russia. Since 1994, the Belarusian president, Lukashenko, has worked to maintain good relations with Russia, even at the expense of aspects of the country’s sovereignty. At the same time, he has worked to keep Belarus neutral in the Ukraine war, even though Russia used it as a staging ground to invade in 2022.
На один из аэродромов ВВС и войск ПВО прибыла очередная партия самолетов Су-30СМ2
— Belarus_24 (@Belarus_24) August 14, 2025
Подробности: https://t.co/aizsU1IuGV pic.twitter.com/ZduIV37J4B
The new Su-30 deliveries come as Russia lost another Su-30SM over the Black Sea in unclear circumstances on August 14th. In May 2025, Ukraine also successfully shot down one, and possibly two, Su-30s over the Black Sea using unmanned surface vessels armed with R-73 air-to-air missiles.
Belarus’ fighter jet fleet and orders
In 2017, Belarus ordered 12 Su-30SM aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet-era fighters. The first deliveries arrived in 2019 and are continuing. It is unclear how many have been delivered; some estimates suggest there were only four examples in service at the start of 2025. The total delivered now may be eight.
In its 2025 report, FlightGlobal estimated Belarus had 32 MiG-29s, 50 ground attack Su-25s, and four Su-30s (eight more on order) in service. Other estimates put Belarus’ combat-capable fighter jet fleet (excluding Su-25s) at 63, with only 18 MiG-29s in active service. The rest (16 MiG-29s and 21 Su-27s) were in storage.
Belarus remains a rare but limited market for its fighter jets. In 2024, Kazakhstan received its six Su-30 fighter jets. In early 2025, Myanmar received the last of six Su-30SME fighter jets it ordered.
Russia’s limited fighter jet exports
Since the US passed the CAASTA Act in 2017, Russia has seen its fighter jet exports collapse. Meanwhile, China has moved on to designing its own more advanced fighter jets, while India is also focusing on developing its own fighter jets and purchasing French Rafales. It is producing a dozen more Su-30MKI fighters locally under licence to replace accumulated losses.
Russia’s most notable and loyal customer is Algeria, which is currently ordering Russian Su-57s, Su-35, and possibly Su-34s. Iran had planned to purchase Russian Su-35s, but they seem to have been sent to Algeria instead. After Israel’s airstrikes in 2025, Iran may now be turning to China.
Other countries like Egypt and Indonesia have cancelled orders for Russian fighter jets, while others like Serbia chose to purchase French Rafales. The US is even attempting to get Vietnam to order its F-16 Fighting Falcon.
At the same time, Russia’s fighter jet (Su-30, Su-35, Su-34, Su-57) production rate is estimated to be between 20 and 30 a year, similar to France’s Rafale deliveries in 2024.
In 2022 and 2023, Binkov estimated Russia received Su-30 4-8 examples each year, while in 2023, IISS estimated that just two were delivered to the Russian Air Force. Defense Express estimated that two were delivered to the Russian Air Force in 2024. It is not clear if all of these estimates are just for those delivered to the Russian forces or if they include examples exported.
