A plane equipped with 3D thrust vectoring, like the Su-30MKM, has the ability to direct its thrust not only in the pitch and yaw axes (as with 2D thrust vectoring), but also in the roll axis. This additional control over the roll axis enables the aircraft to perform certain maneuvers that are not possible with 2D thrust vectoring alone. Here are a few examples:
Pugachev's Cobra Maneuver: The Pugachev's Cobra is an impressive aerobatic maneuver where the aircraft abruptly raises its nose to a high angle of attack, almost vertical, and then quickly returns to level flight. During this maneuver, the aircraft uses its thrust vectoring to pitch up the nose, allowing for a tight and controlled rotation.
Tailslide: In a tailslide, the aircraft climbs vertically until it loses all of its airspeed, and then uses its thrust vectoring to maintain control while sliding backward in a tail-down attitude. The ability to vector thrust in the roll axis allows for better control during this maneuver.
High Angle of Attack (AoA) Turns: By using 3D thrust vectoring, the aircraft can maintain control and maneuverability even at high angles of attack, enabling it to perform tight turns and execute complex maneuvers at low speeds.
Enhanced Post-Stall Maneuverability: 3D thrust vectoring enhances post-stall maneuverability, allowing the aircraft to recover from a stall more quickly and perform agile maneuvers even when operating in the post-stall regime.
These are just a few examples of the maneuvers that can be performed with 3D thrust vectoring. The additional control provided by the third dimension of thrust vectoring allows for more advanced aerobatics, improved maneuverability, and enhanced flight characteristics in certain scenarios.