A 'leader' system has been set up to allow the crew to control the on-board radio electronic equipment without them having to remove their hands from the aircraft and engine controls. There is defensive armour on the fuel tank, the engines and other vitally important parts of the aircraft. The total weight of the defensive armour is 1,480 kilogrammes. The aircraft's survivability system provides practically 100 per cent defence for the crew and vitally important aircraft assemblies against critical injury or damage as a result of cannon fire. The Su-32's survival factor is also provided for by an efficient electronic warfare system, which automatically detects threats, controls the launching of decoys, directs the aircraft away from air defence missile sites and launches strikes against the most threatening radar system sites.
Some manoeuvres are beyond the capability of western fighters.
The system to display target information within the crew s helmets makes it possible for them to be confident of winning a close-quarters dogfight. This is also helped by the missile homing system. The radar system even decides problems of terrain avoidance and low-level flight close to ground obstacles. The two channels can be used independently or jointly. They can be distributed around 12 weapon hard points.