Sukhoi Family Expansion Discussion — Su-30MK & Su-34 Possibilities for SF2 (REPOST)

[Radar-Aviator]

Sukhoi Family Expansion Discussion — Su-30SM/MKI & Su-34 Possibilities for SF2

Hello everyone,

I’ve been thinking about how the Sukhoi lineup in SF2 has grown really well over the years, especially with community-made mods covering aircraft such as the Su-27, Su-33, Su-35, Su-37, Su-47, and even the Su-57.

Because of that, I feel there’s definitely room within the SF2 modding scene for properly developed versions of the:

•SU-30MK (Flanker-H family)

•SU-34

These aircraft are quite iconic in modern aviation and would fit extremely well into SF2 environments, especially modern-era campaigns and scenarios.

I think it would be really interesting to see a collaborative effort around these aircraft, especially considering how much potential they have for detailed avionics, loadout configurations, cockpit work, and modern combat scenarios within SF2.

I may also be able to contribute a base Su-30SM 3D model and related references shared by a former 3D modeller friend, and I have already asked for his permission regarding their possible use in a community project. Since the Su-30SM shares a common Flanker lineage, it could also potentially serve as a useful starting point for developing other Su-30 variants, such as the Su-30MKI and other variants.

I also wanted to note that I personally really admire the Su-30MKI, and that was honestly one of the main reasons why I wanted to bring up this topic in the first place. I’m quite passionate about the Flanker family, especially the Su-30MKI, and I’d be more than willing to provide useful information, references, and research support regarding these aircraft wherever possible.

Of course, projects like these would still require a lot of effort in areas such as:

3D modelling

Cockpit development

Flight models

Avionics

Animations

Texturing

Weapons integration

Optimisation for SF2

Still, I believe these aircraft deserve a place alongside the other Sukhoi mods already available in the community.

Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this idea, especially from people experienced with SF2 aircraft development or modern-era projects.

[My sincere apologies for such a controversial take in my previous topic]

Edited 21 hours ago by Radar-Aviator

[daddyairplanes]

nit pick 1: SF2 at its heart is a Vietnam combat flight sim. there is some early 4th generation capability stock (F-16A Netz, F-15A, F-14A) but anything past the mid 80s is modder work around of stock limits. the game, out of the box, isnt geaed for 21st century combat, and you'd need somebody with strong interest to tweek the avionics

nitpick 2: the modder base is wide and varied in interests (WW2 through near future). we also are working on our time, around our own schedules and projects. not saying it wont happen by any means, just saying you'll need a hard sell to get folks onboard

and an observation: the late Flanker models (to include the 34) seem cursed in this game. theres been several developments of them over the years, and they either turn out to be pirated, or start strong then disappear

as always, i would encourage you to poke around under the hood. outside of modelling, most of what you list is fairly easy to learn on your own. modelling(and the animations created in those models) require either 3DS Max 2009 (old and hard to get) or Blender 2.79 (old and hard to learn) to make a model that works in game

[Radar-Aviator]

@daddyairplanes
Thanks for the insight, genuinely appreciated.

I completely understand your points regarding SF2’s limitations and the amount of work required to push the engine into later-generation combat territory. I also understand the concerns surrounding previous late-Flanker projects, especially when some unfortunately ended up involving pirated assets or abandoned development.

My intention with this discussion was mainly to see whether there was still community interest in aircraft like the Su-30MK family and Su-34, rather than demanding that someone immediately make them.

I was also thinking that perhaps focusing on the earlier Su-30MK family (Especially the Su-30MKI, since her first flight was back in 2002) for now could make more sense within SF2’s environment, since those variants are closer to the 2000s era and may fit the game’s capabilities more naturally compared to much more modern implementations.

I’ll definitely continue learning more about the modding side myself as well. Even if I cannot contribute heavily on the coding/modelling side yet, I still hope I can at least help through research, references, testing, and information regarding the Flanker family — especially the Su-30MKI.

And thank you for the advice regarding the modelling tools, too. I genuinely respect the amount of effort SF2 modders put into keeping this community alive.