Sukhoi Su - 30MKM The Sukhoi Su - 30MKM ( " Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Malaysia " – Modernized Export Malaysia ) is strongly similar to India ’ s Sukhoi Su - 30MKI . Like its Indian counterpart , the Su - 30MKM is a substantial advance upon the original Su - 30K export version , maintaining much of basic airframe but incorporating a number of advances from the Sukhoi Su - 35 and Sukhoi Su - 37 project . In 2003 , the Su - 30MKM was selected by the Royal Malaysian Air Force ( RMAF ) . In August 2003 , during the course of President Vladimir Putin ’ s official visit to Malaysia , the contract for the Su - 30MKM aircraft was signed . Except for Russian MiG - 29 s , the RMAF has previously operated aircraft of Western origin . Development . In 2003 Malaysia committed to purchase 18 Su - 30MKMs . As part of the contract , Russia sent the first Malaysian cosmonaut to the International Space Station . It was a project under the government - to - government offset agreement through the purchase of Su - 30MKM fighter jets for the Royal Malaysian Air Force . Under this agreement the Russian Federation bore the cost of training two Malaysians for space travel and for sending one to the International Space Station ( ISS ) in October 2007 under the Angkasawan program . In August 2003 , Malaysia signed a US $ 900 million contract with Irkut Corporation for 18 Sukhoi Su - 30MKMs . Malaysia operates the F / A - 18D Hornet , and was offered Boeing ' s F / A - 18E / F Super Hornet , but chose the Su - 30MKM . The Su - 30MKM is an advanced variant , whose performance involves considerable improvements over Su - 30MK / MKK fighters . Irkut has also subcontracted the task of manufacturing the canards , stabilizers and fins to HAL Nasik . The first aircraft were delivered by Irkut in 2002 – 2004 and are now being produced under license by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited from India . The successful operation of the Su - 30MKI in India greatly influenced the decision of the Malaysian officials in the selection process of the multi - role aircraft . Design . The Su - 30MKM was developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and is based on the Su - 30MKI . The aircraft has the same airframe , engines with the thrust vector control ( TVC ) , and an advanced digital fly - by - wire system . The MKM version differs from the MKI by virtue of the composition of the on board avionics . Thales supplies the Head - up display ( HUD ) , navigational forward - looking IR system NAVFLIR and laser designation pod ( LDP Damocles ) . Aircraft carries missile approach warning sensor ( MAWS ) and laser warning sensor ( LWS ) manufactured by the AVITRONICS company ( South Africa ) . The electronic warfare ( EW ) system , phased array radar , optic - location system with the laser rangefinder are all produced by leading Russian manufacturers . At that time , officers from the RMAF have formed a Su - 30MKM Project Team which is based in Moscow ; the team has actively participated in the integration of all the avionics systems . The Su - 30MKM can legitimately claim super - maneuverability via digital fly - by - wire , canards , and two thrust vectoring Lyulka AL - 31FP engines producing 27 , 500 lb thrust each with afterburners . This gives them an edge in close - in fights , allowing the pilot to rapidly point the plane at potential targets to draw them within the AA - 11 / R - 73 Archer ’ s wide infrared seeker cone , then launch and quickly change energy state and direction . For longer range aerial combat , the Su - 30MKM also bears the NIIP N011M phased array radar system that can track up to 15 targets and simultaneously engage 4 . The standard aerial weapon for beyond visual range engagements is the AA - 12 / R - 77 , but the aircraft can also carry infrared - guided AA - 10s . Su - 30s are truly multi - role aircraft , with strong ground attack capabilities if required . The Su - 30MKM ' s Damocles targeting pod adds to its air - to - ground capability . For strike missions , it can carry large ( up to 8 , 000 kg / 17 , 650 lb ) and diverse weapon loads over a large unrefueled combat radius ( more than 700 nmi ) .