Belarus Su-30SM2 Fighter Jets: Belarus has received more new fighter planes from Russia at the start of 2026. These are Su-30SM2 fighter jets, which are very modern and powerful aircraft. The Belarus Ministry of Defence shared the news on Telegram and said the country accepted two new jets on January 29. The planes landed safely at Baranovichi Air Base after flying in from Russia.
These fighter jets were made by Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation. After this delivery, Belarus now has eight Su-30SM2 jets in total. This number is enough to make one full squadron under the country’s air force system. The jets are now part of the 61st Fighter Air Base in Baranovichi. This base flies both the older Su-30SM version and the newer Su-30SM2 version together.
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A message shared online also said, “🇧🇾 JUST IN: Belarus has taken delivery of an additional batch of Russian made Su-30SM2 multirole fighter jets, further expanding its combat aviation fleet.”
Belarus Su-30 Jets
Belarus first showed interest in the Su-30 fighter back in 2016. A deal was later signed in 2017 during the Paris Air Show. The agreement was worth about $600 million and was meant for 12 Su-30SM jets. The planes were supposed to arrive in 2018 but delays happened because some parts could not be imported due to Western sanctions. The first four jets finally arrived in 2019 and the next four came in 2021.
Later, the deal was changed so Belarus would get the upgraded Su-30SM2 instead of more older jets. This upgrade made Belarus’ jets similar to the ones used by the Russian Air Force. Since early 2025, Russia has delivered eight Su-30SM2 jets to Belarus in different batches. The latest delivery in January 2026 was part of this plan. Spotters say the jets have red numbers like ’09 Red’ up to ’17 Red’, even though official photos blur these details.
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Belarus plans to grow its total Su-30 fleet to around 19 or 20 jets by early 2026. Right now, it already operates 16 jets, including both versions. It is still not clear if the older Su-30SM jets will be upgraded later.
Importance of these Jets for Belarus
Belarus has been trying to update its air force for many years. Before these new jets, it mostly used old Soviet-era aircraft like the MiG-29. Some Su-27 jets were also used but they were retired in 2012 because they were too expensive to operate. Belarus also bought Yak-130 training jets between 2015 and 2019. One of these crashed sadly, leaving 11 still flying today.
The Su-30SM2 is much stronger than older planes. It uses powerful engines that help it fly faster and longer. It can turn very sharply in the air and is hard to detect. The jet has a strong radar system and modern electronic warfare tools. It can carry many types of missiles and bombs for air and ground attacks.
