Suhoj Su-27

Suhoj Su-27 (NATO naziv: "Flanker") je mlazni borbeni lovac koji se prvotno proizvodio u SSSR-u a
dizajnirala ga je tvrtka Suhoj. Razvijan je kako bi SSSR imao zrakoplov koji se mogao nositi s novim
američkim lovcima i presretačima (F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet)a to je trebao činiti
pomoću svog velikog dometa, jakog naoružanja i velike sposobnosti manevriranja.

Razvoj
PFI program

1969. USAF je odabrao McDonnell Douglasov F-15 kao pobjednika u natječaju za novi
lovački avion. Suočeni s prijetnjom koju im je taj novi zrakoplov predstavljao, sovjetske vlasti
su ubrzo izdale zahtjev za razvoj novog lovca koji bi mogao konkurirati američkoj prijetnji.
PFI projekt (Perspektivnyi Frontovi Istrebitel – Budući Frontalni Lovac) je primarno bio
dizajniran kao dalekometni presretač koji bi zamjenio zrakoplove poput Tu-128, Su-15 i Jak-
28P. Sekundarna uloga mu se odnosila na eskort dalekometnih jurišnika poput Suhoja Su-24,
ili upad u dubinu neprijateljskog teritorija kako bi napao neprijateljske zračne tankere i
AWACS zrakoplove. PFI zahtjevi su tražili okretan zrakoplov, maksimalne brzine od 1.450
km/h, borbenog radijusa 1.700 km (na velikoj visini) i 500 km (na maloj visini.

I Mikojan i Suhoj su počeli s radovima na projektu, a Jakovljev koji je također sudjelovao na

početku je kasnije odustao jer su se posvetili razvoju Jaka-41. Suhojev dizajnerski tim je
predvodio Yevgeny Ivanov uz pomoć svog zamjenika Olega Samolovicha. Uskoro je postalo
očito, kako se zahtjevi oko okretnosti i radijusa djelovanja zajedno ne mogu ispuniti te je na
intervenciju direkotora MiG-a, Artema Mikojana projekt podijeljen na dva dijela: Laki PFI i
Teški PFI. Jedan od Mikojanovih dizajnova je bio kompatabilan s zahtjevom za Lakim PFI-
om te će kasnije postati MiG-29, dok je Suhojev dizajn više odgovarao teškoj inačici PFI-a te
će postati novi zrakoplov oznake T10.

T10

T-10 prototip prilikom testiranja

T10 je bio poprilično velik zrakoplov, s velikim unutarnjim prostorom za nošenje goriva i
elektroničkih sustava. Prvotno je imao dva Saturn-Lyulka AL-21F-3 turbo-mlazna motora s
naknadnim izgaranjem koji su razvijali maksimalnih 109,9 kN potiska, a dva usisnika zraka
su se nalazila ispod trupa. Prvi T10 prototip oznake T10-1 je prvi put poletjelo 10. svibnja
1977. s pilotom Vladimirom Iljušinom (sin osnivača biroa Iljušin). Drugi prototip, T10-2 je
izgubljen 7. svibnja 1978. a pilot, Yevgeny Solovyev je poginuo prilikom pokušaja
katapultiranja. Ukupno su izrađena četiri prototipa u Suhojevoj radionici, dok je u državnoj
tvornici Komsomolsk izrađeno još pet zrakoplova u razdoblju od 1980. do 1982. Kako su
zapadne obavještajne službe sve više saznavale o novom zrakoplovu, zamijenjena je stara
oznaka RAM-K te je dobio službenu NATO oznaku Flanker-A. Prototipovi su varirali u
detaljima, tako su dva zrakoplova imala Lyulka-Saturn AL-31 motore, a dva su bila u izradi
kada je odlučeno da se zrakoplov redizajnira jer nije zadovoljavao zahtjeve.

T-10 prototip u muzeju u Moninu

T10S

Redizajnirana inačica je dobila oznaku T10S te je izrađeno oko deset prototipova. Neki su bili
sastavljeni iznova, dok su neki bili samo modificirani iz prijašnjih T10 prototipova. Većina je
na početku bila slična svojim prethodnicima, a kako je razvoj tekao, tako su na njih
ugrađivana nova riješenja i tehnologije. Razvoj prototipa je tekao dosta teško. Prvi T10S
prototip (T10S-1) je prvi put poletio 20. travnja 1981 s pilotom Vladimirom Iljušinom, no
zrakoplov je izgubljen zbog problema s sustavom goriva. Pilot se pritom sigurno katapultirao.
Drugi prototip, T10S-2 se raspao u letu 23. prosinca 1981 pri čemu je poginuo pilot
Alexander Komarov, a T10S-7 se također teško oštetio kada je pilot Nikolai Sadovnikov
pokušao rekonstruirati nesreću drugog prototipa. Unatoč velikim oštećenjima lijevog krila,
pilot je uspješno prizemljio zrakoplov. Kasnije je ustanovljeno da su uzrok druge i treće
nesreće bila zakrilca na napadnoj ivici krila. Nakon što su riješeni tehnički problemi, pojavili
su se problemi oko proizvodnje tako da je 1986. u službu ušao samo manji broj produkcijskih
zrakoplova oznake Su-27. Pritom je dobio NATO oznaku Flanker-B. Prvi proizvedeni
zrakoplovi su se često označavali i kao Su-27S. Dok su se riješavali problemi oko
proizvodnje, neki prototipovi su korišteni za obaranje rekorda. P-42 je nastao skidanjem sve
nepotrebne opreme s T10S-3A. Prilikom jednog leta, popeo se na visinu od 15.000 m za 70,33
s čime je za sedam sekundi srušio rekord koji je prije toga držao F-15.

Podvozje Su-27
Opis

Produkcijski Su-27S je u velikoj mjeri zadržao karakteristike i izgled prethodnih prototipova,

no izmjena je bilo a najuočljivija je bila ugradnja krila s oštrim a ne zaobljenim rubovima.
Osim toga: vertikalni stabilizatori su nagnuti unazad tako da su vrhovima bili iznad ispuha,
izmjenjeni nosni dio, veća zračna kočnica iza kokpita i ugrađen je 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov
GSh-30-1 top. Ispred pilotske kabine je ugrađen OEPS-27 infracrveni sustav za praćenje i
otkrivanje. U nosu se nalazio puls-doplerski Tikhomirov NIIP N001 radar koji je mogao
istovremeno pratiti samo jednu metu no imao je dobar domet i "look-down / shoot-down"
mogućnosti.

Infracrveni sustav za praćenje i otkrivanje (IRST) na Su-27UB

Ograničenja radara su značila da je Su-27S uglavnom ovisio o kontroli na tlu ili o AWACS
zrakoplovima da ga navode, primajući podatke preko radio veze. U kasnije proizvedenim Su-
27S, u repni produžetak je ugrađen SPO-15 (L-006) Beryoza ELINT sustav i 32 trostruka
izbacivača toplinskih mamaca. Uglavnom je bio izrađen od aluminijskih legura i u manjoj
mjeri od nehrđajućeg željeza i titanija. Zrakoplovom se upravljalo kroz fly-by-wire sustav.
Pilot je sjedio na Zvezda K-36DM sjedalu za katapultiranje, te je imao odličnu preglednost iz
svog kokpita. Avion su pokretala dva Saturn-Lyulka AL-31F motora s naknadnim izgaranjem,
maksimalnog potiska 122,8 kN.

Povijest korištenja

Novi zrakoplov je s misijama presretanja zapadnih zrakoplova iznad Barentsovog mora

započeo 1987. iz početka, držeći se na većoj udaljenosti, no Norveški F-16 piloti su ga uskoro
uspjeli fotografirati. U rujnu 1987. se zbio i incident kada se Su-27 previše približio
Norveškom P-3 Orionu te repom zahvatio njegov propeler; oba zrakoplova su se uspješno
prizemljila. Su-27S je formalno prezentiran zapadu na Pariškom zrakoplovnom sajmu 1989.
kada je pilot Viktor Pugačev tom prigodom izveo danas poznati "kobra" manevar. Iako kobra
manevar i nije imao neki poseban značaj u borbi, zapadni promatrači su bili iznenađeni
manevarskim sposobnostima Su-27. Kako je bio dizajniran kao dalekometni lovac/presretač
za sovjetsku protu-zračnu obranu, naoružanje je uglavnom činilo šest BVR raketa (za
dijelovanje izvan vizualnog kontakta) i dvije ili četiri rakete kratkog dometa za neposredni
dvoboj. Iako je imao dobar IRST sustav i radar dobrog dometa, njegova elektronika je
smatrana inferiornijom u odnosu na zapadne zrakoplove, a često se dovodila u pitanje i njena
pouzdanost.
Naoružanje Suhoja Su-27

Inačice
Prva generacija Su-27
Su-27UB

Su-27 je bio kompliciran zrakoplov koji je dosta zahtijevao od pilota, stoga je tijekom razvoja
T10 i T10S prototipa, Suhoj radio i na izradi dvosjeda za preobuku pilota. Zbog problema i
nesreća s prethodnim prototipovima, razvoj dvosjeda je odgođen sve do ulasaka operativnog
jednosjeda u proizvodnju. Prvi prototip dvosjed, T10U, je poletio tek u ožujku 1985. te je u
proizvodnju i službu (pod oznakom Su-27UB) ušao dvije godine kasnije; pritom mu je NATO
dodijelio oznaku Flanker-C. Osim prvih prototipova koji su izrađeni u Suhojevim pogonima u
Moskvi, serijska proizvodnja se odvijala u državnoj tvornici u Irkutsku. Su-27UB je imao
sjedala u tandemu ispod jednodijelnog poklopca kabine.

Prostor za drugo sjedalo je dobiveno produživanjem trupa, s blago povišenim vertikalnim

stabilizatorima kako bi nadomjestili aerodinamičke promjene. Drugo sjedalo i prateće izmjene
su povećale težinu zrakoplova za oko 1120 kg, no uz smanjenje unutarnjeg kapaciteta goriva i
nekih manjih izmjena, Su-27UB je bio dosta sličan jednosjedu te je bio i potpuno borbeno
operativan.

Su-27SK i Su-27UBK

Kineski J-11

Najkasnije proizvedeni jednosjedi Su-27S su korišteni kao osnova za izradu izvozne inačice,
Su-27SK. Iako je vanjštinom bio gotovo identičan Su-27S, izvozne inačice su imale lošiju
elektroniku; slabiji radar, protumjere i IFF sustav. Za potrebe vanjskog tržišta , izrađena je i
dvosjedna inačica, Su-27UBK. Kinezi su bili prvi strani korisnici. 1991. su potpisali ugovor
za nabavu 18 Su-27SK i 6 Su-27UBK čija je dostava počela 1992. Kinezi su planirali
iskoristiti veliki domet Su-27 za jurišne zadatke, stoga su na svojim letjelicama pojačali
podvozje i trup kako bi izdržali veće težine prilikom polijetanja. Kineski zrakoplovi su mogli
nositi bombe, rasprskavajuća oružja i nevođena raketna zrna, no radarski sustavi im nisu imali
mogućnost rada za borbu zrak-zemlja i nisu imali mogućnost nošenja pametnog naoružanja.
1995. kupili su još 16 Su-27SK i 6 Su-27UBK a 1996. su potpisali licencni ugovor kojim im
je dopušteno da samostalno naprave 200 Su-27SK zrakoplova. Ugovorom im je zabranjeno da
licencne zrakoplove, koji su dobili oznaku J-11, izvoze u druge zemlje. Prva dva kineski
izrađena zrakoplova su poletjela do prosinca 1998. Licenca proizvodnja nije uključivala Su-
27UBK stoga je Kina 1999. naručila još 28 dvosjeda za potrebe obuke.

Osim Kine, i Vijetnam je 1995. nabavio pet Su-27Sk i jedan Su-27UB, nakon čega je 1996.
uslijedila narudžba za još dva Su-27SK i četiri Su-27UBK.

Su-27K (Su-33)

Su-27K (Su-33)

Radovi na mornaričkoj inačici Su-27 su počeli gotovo istodobno kada i razvoj osnovnog
zrakoplova. T10S prototipovi su modificirani za potrebe mornaričkih testiranja, a prvi testovi
su se odvijali u kopnenim bazama koje su simulirale piste na nosačima zrakoplova.
Zrakoplovi su dobili male kanarde za bolje manevriranje prilikom slijetanja i podvozje s
produžetkom koji bi uhvatio žicu na stazi da uspori zrakoplov. Ovi modificirani zrakoplovi su
doveli do posebne serije prototipova oznake T10K. Osim prije navedenih dodataka, ovi
zrakoplovi su imali i produžetak za nadolijevanje goriva tijekom leta, no nisu imali
preklapajuža krila i snažnije podvozje koji je bio potreban za djelovanje s nosača zrakoplova.
Serijski proizvedeni Su-27K je imao to prijeko potrebno osnaženo podvozje i preklapajuća
krila koja su na taj način štedjela brodski prostor. Testiranja na nosaču zrakoplova Kuznjetsov
su obavljena u studenom 1989., a u rujnu 1991. Su-27K je i službeno ušao u službu na nosaču.
Do početka 90-ih, u službi je bilo 26 zrakoplova, a od toga su dva bila unaprijeđena prototipa.
Kako nakon pada SSSR-a nije postojala potreba za većim brojem mornaričkim zrakoplova i u
službi je bio samo jedan nosač zrakoplova, proizvodnja Su-27K je prestala. NATO je K
inačici dodijelio oznaku Flanker-D, dok ga Suhoj označava kao Su-33.

Druga generacija Su-27

Tehničke karakteristike

Osnovne karakteristike

 posada: 1 do 2
 dužina: 21,9 m
 raspon krila: 14,7 m
 površina krila: 62 m2
 visina: 5,93 m
 masa zrakoplova: 16.380 kg
 maksimalna masa uzlijetanja: 30.450 kg

Letne karakteristike

 najveća brzina: 2.500 km/h (2,35 Maha)

 dolet: 3.530 km
 brzina penjanja: 325 m/s
 najveća visina leta: 18.500 m
 omjer potisak/težina: 1,09
 specifično opterećenje krila: 371 kg/m2
 motor: 2× Saturn/Lyulka AL-31F turbofen motora

Su-27 "Flanker"

Opći podaci
Tip Lovac
Proizvođač Suhoj
Probni let 20. svibnja 1977.
Uveden u uporabu Prosinac 1984.
Status Aktivan
SSSR
Prvotni korisnik
Rusija, Kina i Ukrajina
Broj primjeraka 680
35 mil.$
Pojedinačna cijena
Variants
Soviet era

Initial T-10 prototype

Left side scheme of a Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker B, first production series

 T10 ("Flanker-A"): Initial prototype configuration.

 T10S: Improved prototype configuration, more similar to production spec.
 P-42: Special version built to beat climb time records. The aircraft had all armament, radar
and paint removed, which reduced weight to 14,100 kg. It also had improved engines. Similar
to the US F-15 Streak Eagle project.
 Su-27 Pre-production series built in small numbers with AL-31 engine
 Su-27S (Su-27 / "Flanker-B"): Initial production single-seater with improved AL-31F engine.
The "T10P"
 Su-27P (Su-27 / "Flanker-B"): Standard version but without air-to-ground weapons control
system and wiring and assigned to Soviet Air Defence Forces units. Often designated Su-27
without -P.[51]
 Su-27UB ("Flanker-C"): Initial production two-seat operational conversion trainer.
 Su-27SK: Export Su-27S single-seater. Exported to China in 1992-1996 and developed into
Shenyang J-11.
 Su-27UBK: Export Su-27UB two-seater.
Russian fighter Su-27K (later renamed to Su-33) on the deck of Admiral Kuznetsov

 Su-27K (Su-33 / "Flanker-D"): Carrier-based single-seater with folding wings, high-lift

devices, and arresting gear, built in small numbers. They followed the "T10K" prototypes and
demonstrators.
 Su-27M (Su-35/Su-37, Flanker-E/F): Improved demonstrators for an advanced single-seat
multi-role Su-27S derivative. These also included a two-seat "Su-35UB" demonstrator.
 Su-27PU (Su-30): Two-seat version of the Su-27P interceptor, designed to support with
tactical data other single-seat Su-27P, MiG-31 and other interceptor aircraft in PVO service.
Later prototypes renamed Su-30 by Russia, and modified into a multi-role fighter mainly for
export market, moving away from the original purpose of the aircraft.
 Su-32 (Su-27IB): Two-seat dedicated long-range strike variant with side-by-side seating in
"platypus" nose. Prototype of Su-32FN and Su-34 'Fullback'.

Post-Soviet era

 Su-27PD: Single-seat demonstrator with improvements such as inflight refuelling probe.

 Su-30M / Su-30MK: Next-generation multi-role two-seater. A few Su-30Ms were built for
Russian evaluation in the mid-1990s, though little came of the effort. The Su-30MK export
variant was embodied as a series of two demonstrators of different levels of capability.
Versions include Su-30MKA for Algeria, Su-30MKI for India, Su-30MKK for the People's
Republic of China, and Su-30MKM for Malaysia.
 Shenyang J-11: Chinese version of Su-27SK.
 Su-27SM (Flanker-B Mod. 1): Mid-life upgraded Russian Su-27S, featuring technology
evaluated in the Su-27M demonstrators.
 Su-27SKM: Single-seat multi-role fighter for export. It is a derivative of the Su-27SK but
includes upgrades such as advanced cockpit, more sophisticated self-defense electronic
countermeasures (ECM) and an in-flight refuelling system. [52]
 Su-27UBM: Comparable upgraded Su-27UB two-seater.
 Su-27SM2: 4+ gen block upgrade for Russian Su-27, featuring some technology of the Su-
35BM; it includes Irbis-E radar, and upgraded engines and avionics.
 Su-27SM3: The same as the Su-27SM but is built new rather than a mid-life upgrade. [53]
 Su-27KUB: Essentially an Su-27K carrier-based twin-seater with a side-by-side cockpit, for use
as a naval carrier trainer or multi-role aircraft.
 Su-35BM/Su-35S: Also named the "Last Flanker" is latest development from Sukhoi Flanker
family. It features improved thrust vectoring AL-41F1S engine, newer avionics and new radar.
 Su-27UB1M – Ukrainian modernized version of the Su-27UB.
 Su-27UP1M – Ukrainian modernized version of the Su-27UP.
 Su-27S1M – Ukrainian modernized version of the Su-27S.
 Su-27P1M – Ukrainian modernized version of the Su-27P.
The Sukhoi Su-27 (Russian: Сухой Су-27; NATO reporting name: Flanker; nicknamed
"Sushka" in USSR) is a twin-engine supermaneuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi. It
was intended as a direct competitor for the large United States fourth-generation fighters such
as the Grumman F-14 Tomcat and F-15 Eagle, with 3,530-kilometre (1,910 nmi) range, heavy
aircraft ordnance, sophisticated avionics and high maneuverability. The Su-27 was designed
for air superiority missions, and subsequent variants are able to perform almost all aerial
warfare operations. It was designed with the Mikoyan MiG-29 as its complement.

The Su-27 entered service with the Soviet Air Forces in 1985. The primary role was long
range air defence against American SAC B-1B and B-52G/H bombers, protecting the Soviet
coast from aircraft carriers and flying long range fighter escort for Soviet heavy bombers such
as the Tu-95 "Bear", Tu-22M "Backfire" and Tu-160 "Blackjack".[1]

There are several related developments of the Su-27 design. The Su-30 is a two-seat, dual-role
fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions. The Su-33
'Flanker-D' is a naval fleet defense interceptor for use on aircraft carriers. Further versions
include the side-by-side two-seat Su-34 'Fullback' strike/fighter-bomber variant, and the Su-
35 'Flanker-E' improved air superiority and multi-role fighter. The Shenyang J-11 is a Chinese
licence-built version of the Su-27.

Development

In 1969, the Soviet Union learned of the U.S. Air Force's "F-X" program, which resulted in
the F-15 Eagle. The Soviet leadership soon realized that the new American fighter would
represent a serious technological advantage over existing Soviet fighters. What was needed
was a better-balanced fighter with both good agility and sophisticated systems. In response,
the Soviet General Staff issued a requirement for a Perspektivnyy Frontovoy Istrebitel (PFI,
literally "Prospective Frontline Fighter", roughly "Advanced Frontline Fighter").[2]
Specifications were extremely ambitious, calling for long range, good short-field performance
(including the ability to use austere runways), excellent agility, Mach 2+ speed, and heavy
armament. The aerodynamic design for the new aircraft was largely carried out by TsAGI in
collaboration with the Sukhoi design bureau.[2]

When the specification proved too challenging and costly for a single aircraft in the number
needed, the PFI specification was split into two: the LPFI (Lyogkyi PFI, Lightweight PFI) and
the TPFI (Tyazholyi PFI, Heavy PFI). The LPFI program resulted in the Mikoyan MiG-29, a
relatively short-range tactical fighter, while the TPFI program was assigned to Sukhoi OKB,
which eventually produced the Su-27 and its various derivatives.

Soviet Su-27 in-flight

The Sukhoi design, which was altered progressively to reflect Soviet awareness of the F-15's
specifications, emerged as the T-10 (Sukhoi's 10th design), which first flew on 20 May 1977.
The aircraft had a large wing, clipped, with two separate podded engines and a twin tail. The
‘tunnel’ between the two engines, as on the F-14 Tomcat, acts both as an additional lifting
surface and hides armament from radar.

Air Force

The T-10 was spotted by Western observers and assigned the NATO reporting name 'Flanker-
A'. The development of the T-10 was marked by considerable problems, leading to a fatal
crash of the second prototype, the T-10-2 on 7 July 1978,[3] due to shortcomings in the FBW
control system.[4] Extensive redesigns followed (T-10-3 through T-10-15) and a revised
version of the T-10-7, now designated the T-10S, made its first flight on 20 April 1981. It also
crashed due to control problems and was replaced by T-10-12 which became T-10S-2. This
one also crashed on 23 December 1981 during a high-speed test, killing the pilot.[5][6]
Eventually the T-10-15 demonstrator, T-10S-3, evolved into the definitive Su-27
configuration.[7]

The T-10S-3 was modified and officially designated the P-42, setting a number of world
records for time-to-height, beating those set in 1975 by a similarly modified F-15 called "The
Streak Eagle".[8] The P-42 "Streak Flanker" was stripped of all armament, radar and
operational equipment. The fin tips, tail-boom and the wingtip launch rails were also
removed. The composite radome was replaced by a lighter metal version. The aircraft was
stripped of paint, polished and all drag-producing gaps and joints were sealed. The engines
were modified to deliver an increase in thrust of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), resulting in a thrust-to-
weight ratio of almost 2:1 (for comparison with standard example see Specifications).[9][10]

The production Su-27 (sometimes Su-27S, NATO designation 'Flanker-B') began to enter
VVS operational service in 1985, although manufacturing difficulties kept it from appearing
in strength until 1990.[11] The Su-27 served with both the V-PVO and Frontal Aviation.
Operational conversion of units to the type occurred using the Su-27UB (Russian for
"Uchebno Boevoy" - "Combat Trainer", NATO designation 'Flanker-C') twin-seat trainer,
with the pilots seated in tandem.[12]

When the naval Flanker trainer was being conceived the Soviet Air Force was evaluating a
replacement for the Su-24 "Fencer" strike aircraft, and it became evident to Soviet planners at
the time that a replacement for the Su-24 would need to be capable of surviving engagements
with the new American F-15 and F-16. The Sukhoi bureau concentrated on adaptations of the
standard Su-27UB tandem seat trainer. However the Soviet Air Force favoured the crew
station (side-by-side seating) approach used in the Su-24 as it worked better for the high
workload and potentially long endurance strike roles. Therefore, the conceptual naval side-by-
side seated trainer was used as the basis for development of the Su-27IB (Russian for
"Istrebityel Bombardirovshchik" - "Fighter Bomber") as an Su-24 replacement in 1983. The
first production airframe was flown in early 1994 and renamed the Su-34 (NATO reporting
name 'Fullback').[13]

Navy

Development of a version for the Soviet Navy called the Su-27K (Russian for "Korabyelny" -
"Shipborne", NATO designation 'Flanker-D') commenced not long after the development of
the main land based type. Some of the T10 demonstrators were modified to test features of
navalized variants for carrier operations. These modified demonstrators led to specific
prototypes for the Soviet Navy, designated "T10K" (Korabyelny). The T10Ks had canards, an
arresting hook and carrier landing avionics as well as a retractable inflight re-fueling probe.
They did not have the landing gear required for carrier landings or folding wings. The first
T10K flew in August 1987 flown by the famous Soviet test pilot Viktor Pugachev (who first
demonstrated the cobra manoeuvre using an Su-27 in 1989), performing test take-offs from a
land-based ski-jump carrier deck on the Black Sea coast at Saky in the Ukrainian SSR. The
aircraft was lost in an accident in 1988.

At the time the naval Flanker was being developed the Soviets were building their first
generation of aircraft carriers and had no experience with steam catapults and did not want to
delay the introduction of the carriers. Thus it was decided to use a take-off method that did
not require catapults by building up full thrust against a blast deflector until the aircraft
sheared restraints holding it down to the deck. The fighter would then accelerate up the deck
onto a ski jump and become airborne.[14]

The production Su-27K featured the required strengthened landing gear with a two-wheel
nose gear assembly, folding stabilators and wings, outer ailerons that extended further with
inner double slotted flaps and enlarged leading-edge slats for low-speed carrier approaches,
modified LERX (Leading Edge Root eXtension) with canards, a modified ejection seat angle,
upgraded FBW, upgraded hydraulics, an arresting hook and retractable in-flight refuelling
probe with a pair of deployable floodlights in the nose to illuminate the tanker at night. The
Su-27K began carrier trials in November 1989, again with Pugachev at the controls, on board
the first Soviet aircraft carrier, called "Tbilisi" at the time and formal carrier operations
commenced in September 1991.[15][16]

Development of the naval trainer, called the Su-27KUB (Russian for "Korabyelny Uchebno-
Boyevoy" - "Shipborne Trainer-Combat"), began in 1989. The aim was to produce an
airframe with dual roles for the Navy and Air Force suitable for a range of other missions
such as reconnaissance, aerial refuelling, maritime strike and jamming. This concept then
evolved into the Su-27IB (Su-34 "Fullback") for the Soviet Air Force. The naval trainer had a
revised forward fuselage to accommodate a side-by-side cockpit seating arrangement with
crew access via a ladder in the nose-wheel under carriage and enlarged canards, stabilisers,
fins and rudders. The wings had extra ordnance hard-points and the fold position was also
moved further outboard. The inlets were fixed and did not feature FOD suppression hardware.
The central fuselage was strengthened to accommodate 45 tonnes (99,000 pounds) maximum
gross weight and internal volume was increased by 30%. This first prototype, the T-10V-1,
flew in April 1990 conducting aerial refuelling trials and simulated carrier landing approaches
on the Tbilisi. The second prototype, the T-10V-2 was built in 1993 and had enlarged internal
fuel tanks, enlarged spine, lengthened tail and tandem dual wheel main undercarriage.[13]

Export and post-Soviet development

In 1991, the production facilities at Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Irkutsk developed export

variants of the Su-27: the Su-27SK single seat fighter and Su-27UBK twin-seat trainer, (the K
in both variants is Russian for "Kommercheskiy" - literally "Commercial")[17] which have
been exported to China, Vietnam, Ethiopia and Indonesia.[18]
After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Russia, the successor state, started development of
advanced variants of the Su-27 including the Su-30, Su-33, Su-34, Su-35, and Su-37.

Since 1998 the export Su-27SK has been produced as the Shenyang J-11 in China under
licence. The first licensed-production plane, assembled in Shenyang from Russian supplied
kits, was flight tested on 16 December 1998. These licence-built versions, which numbered
100, were designated J-11A. The next model, the J-11B made extensive use of Chinese
developed systems within the Su-27SK airframe.[19]

Starting in 2004, the Russian Air Force began a major update of the original Soviet Su-27
('Flanker-B') fleet. The upgraded variants were designated Su-27SM (Russian for "Seriyniy
Modernizovanniy" - literally "Serial Modernized"). This included upgrades in air-to-air
capability with the RVV-AE missile with an active radar homing head. The modernized Su-
27SM fighters belong to the 4+ generation. The strike capability was enhanced with the
addition of the Kh-29T/TE/L and Kh-31P/Kh-31A ASM and KAB-500KR/KAB-1500KR
smart bombs. The avionics were also upgraded.[20]

The Su-30 is a two-seat multi-role version developed from the Su-27UBK and was designed
for export and evolved into two main variants. The export variant for China, the SU-30MKK
('Flanker-G') which first flew in 1999. The other variant developed as the export version for
India, the Su-30MKI ('Flanker-H') was delivered in 2002 and has at least five other
configurations.

The Su-33 is the Russian Navy version of the Soviet Su-27K which was re-designated by the
Sukhoi Design Bureau after 1991. (Both have the NATO designation 'Flanker-D')

The Su-34 is the Russian derivative of the Soviet-era Su-27IB, which evolved from the Soviet
Navy Su-27KUB operational conversion trainer. It was previously referred to as the Su-32MF.

The newest and most advanced version of the Su-27 is the Su-35S ("Serial"). The Su-35 was
previously referred to as the Su-27M, Su-27SM2, and Su-35BM.[21]

The Su-37 is an advanced technology demonstrator derived from Su-35 prototypes, featuring
thrust vectoring nozzles made of titanium rather than steel and an updated airframe containing
a high proportion of carbon-fibre and Al-Li alloy.[22] Only two examples were built and in
2002 one crashed, effectively ending the program. The Su-37 improvements did however
make it into new Flanker variants such as the Su-35S and the Su-30MKI.[23]

Design

The Su-27's basic design is aerodynamically similar to the MiG-29, but it is substantially
larger. The swept wing blends into the fuselage at the leading edge extensions and is
essentially a cropped delta (the delta wing with tips cropped for missile rails or ECM pods).
The Su-27 is also an example of a tailed delta wing configuration, retaining conventional
horizontal tailplanes, though it is not a true delta.

The Su-27 had the Soviet Union's first operational fly-by-wire control system, based on the
Sukhoi OKB's experience with the T-4 bomber project. Combined with relatively low wing
loading and powerful basic flight controls, it makes for an exceptionally agile aircraft,
controllable even at very low speeds and high angle of attack. In airshows the aircraft has
demonstrated its maneuverability with a Cobra (Pugachev’s Cobra) or dynamic deceleration –
briefly sustained level flight at a 120° angle of attack.

Su-27 carrying R-27 missiles

The naval version of the 'Flanker', the Su-27K (or Su-33), incorporates canards for additional
lift, reducing takeoff distances. These canards have also been incorporated in some Su-30s,
the Su-35, and the Su-37.

The Su-27 is equipped with a Phazotron N001 Myech coherent Pulse-Doppler radar with
track while scan and look-down/shoot-down capability. The fighter also has an OLS-27
infrared search and track (IRST) system in the nose just forward of the cockpit with an 80–
100 km range.[24]

The Su-27 is armed with a single 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 cannon in the
starboard wingroot, and has up to 10 hardpoints for missiles and other weapons. Its standard
missile armament for air-to-air combat is a mixture of R-73 (AA-11 Archer) and R-27 (AA-
10 'Alamo') missiles, the latter including extended range and infrared homing models.

General characteristics

 Crew: 1
 Length: 21.9 m (72 ft)
 Wingspan: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)
 Height: 5.92 m (19 ft 6 in)
 Wing area: 62 m² (667 ft²)
 Empty weight: 16,380 kg (36,100 lb)
 Loaded weight: 23,430 kg (51,650 lb) with 56% internal fuel
 Max. takeoff weight: 30,450 kg (67,100 lb)
 Fuel capacity: 9,400 kg (20,724 lb) internal[106]
 Powerplant: 2 × Saturn AL-31F turbofans
o Dry thrust: 75.22 kN (16,910 lbf) each
o Thrust with afterburner: 122.6 kN (27,560 lbf) each

Performance

 Maximum speed:
o At altitude: Mach 2.35 (2,500 km/h, 1,550 mph)
o At sea level: Mach 1.13 (1,400 km/h, 870 mph[103])
 Range:
 o At altitude: 3,530 km (2,193 mi; 1,906 nmi)
o At sea level: 1,340 km (800 mi; 720 nmi)
 Service ceiling: 19,000 m (62,523 ft)
 Rate of climb: 300 m/s[107] (59,000 ft/min)
 Wing loading:
o With 56% fuel: 377.9 kg/m² (77.3 lb/ft²)
o With full fuel: 444.61 kg/m² (10,550.75 lb/ft²)
 Thrust/weight: 1.07 with 56% internal fuel; 0.91 with full fuel
 Maximum g-load: +9 g

Armament

 Guns: 1 × 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-301 autocannon with 150 rounds

 Hardpoints: 10 external pylons[102][106] with a capacity of up to 4,430 kg (9,770 lb)[102]
[106]
 and provisions to carry combinations of:
o Rockets:
 S-8KOM/BM/OM
 S-13T/OF
 S-25OFM-PU
o Missiles:
 6 × R-27R/ER/T/ET/P/EP air-to-air missiles
 2 × R-73E AAMs
o Bombs:
 RBK-250 cluster bomb
 RBK-500 cluster bomb

Avionics

 Phazotron Zhuk-MSE radar

 Phazotron Zhuk-MSFE radar
 OEPS-27 electro-optical targeting system