Minsk may purchase a squadron of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jets by 2020, Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Forces commander Major General Oleg Dvigalyov said.

"We plan to purchase a new generation multitask Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jets that have proven their high efficiency during the Syrian operation and have entered service in many countries," the Belarusian BelTA news agency quoted the commander as saying. Dvigalyov added that no less than a full squadron of the Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jets is planned to be purchased until 2020.

The Sukhoi Su-30SM is a fourth-generation, two-seat multitask fighter aircraft designed to destroy air, ground and naval targets. The jet is expected to replace the Sukhoi Su-27 frontline fighter.