Sukhoi Su-27

The Sukhoi Su-27, also known as “Flanker” by NATO, is a twin-engine, air superiority fighter developed by Sukhoi for the Soviet Air Force. First flown in 1977 and introduced in 1985, the Su-27 was designed to counter U.S. fourth-generation fighters like the F-15 Eagle. Known for its exceptional maneuverability, long range, and advanced avionics, the Su-27 has served as the basis for numerous derivatives, including the Su-30, Su-33, and Su-35.

Fact Sheet

Specifications

Avionics & Armament

Notable Features

• Exceptional maneuverability for dogfighting superiority.
• Long range for extended missions.
• Advanced avionics for superior situational awareness.
• Proven combat record in multiple conflicts.
• Served as the basis for numerous advanced derivatives.

The Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name: Flanker) is an iconic Soviet-origin, twin-engine, supermaneuverable fighter aircraft. Designed by Sukhoi in the 1970s, it was conceived as a direct competitor to the American fourth-generation fighters like the F-15 Eagle and F-14 Tomcat. With its emphasis on long range, heavy armament, and exceptional maneuverability, the Su-27 quickly became a symbol of Soviet air power and laid the groundwork for a highly successful family of derivatives.

Genesis of the Flanker

Development of the Su-27 began in 1969 with the Soviet Union’s requirement for a “Perspective Frontline Fighter” (PFI) to counter the latest Western designs. Sukhoi’s T-10 prototype, which first flew on May 20, 1977, eventually led to the production Su-27. It officially entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1985.

The Su-27 was designed with an “integral aerodynamic concept,” where the fuselage and wings seamlessly blend, generating lift across the entire airframe. This, combined with powerful engines and a sophisticated fly-by-wire system, gave it extraordinary agility.

Key Features and Design Philosophy

The Su-27 was built for air superiority, with a strong emphasis on speed, range, and dogfighting prowess:

• Twin-Engine Power: It is powered by two Saturn/Lyulka AL-31F turbofan engines, each producing approximately 122.6 kN (27,560 lbf) of thrust with afterburner. This gives the Su-27 an impressive thrust-to-weight ratio (often exceeding 1:1, meaning it can climb vertically without losing speed), contributing to its superb acceleration and climb performance.
• Supermaneuverability: While not inherently equipped with thrust vectoring in its original production variants (that came with later derivatives like the Su-30MKI and Su-35), the Su-27’s refined aerodynamics, powerful engines, and advanced fly-by-wire system allowed it to perform maneuvers previously impossible for conventional aircraft, such as the famous “Pugachev’s Cobra” (a dynamic deceleration maneuver that involves pitching up the nose to a very high angle of attack without significant altitude gain). This extreme agility was intended to give it an advantage in close-in combat.
• Long Range: With a large internal fuel capacity (9,400 kg / 20,724 lb), the Su-27 boasted an impressive combat range of up to 3,530 kilometers (1,910 nautical miles), allowing it to patrol vast areas or conduct deep escort missions.
• Powerful Radar: The baseline Su-27 was equipped with the N001 “Mech” (Slot Back) pulse-Doppler radar. While a mechanically scanned array, it offered look-down/shoot-down capabilities and could track multiple targets. Its range was reported to be up to 240 km (150 miles) for search and 185 km (115 miles) for tracking.
• Infrared Search and Track (IRST) System: Positioned in a distinctive ball-shaped fairing in front of the cockpit, the OLS-27 IRST allowed the Su-27 to passively detect and track targets based on their heat signatures, without emitting any radar signals. This made it a formidable “silent hunter.”
• Heavy Armament: The Su-27 has 10 hardpoints for carrying a substantial weapons load of up to 8,000 kg (17,600 lbs). Its standard air-to-air missile load includes:
  • R-27 (AA-10 Alamo): Medium-range, semi-active radar-guided and infrared-guided variants.
  • R-73 (AA-11 Archer): Highly agile, short-range infrared-guided missile with helmet-mounted sight cueing.
  • It also features an internal 30mm GSh-30-1 cannon in the starboard wing root with 150 rounds.
• Robust Structure: Built to withstand high G-forces (+9g), making it highly resilient in demanding combat maneuvers.

Variants and Derivatives

The Su-27’s successful design led to a vast family of derivatives and specialized variants:

• Su-27S (Flanker-B): The initial single-seat production air superiority fighter.
• Su-27P: An interceptor variant for air defense (PVO), typically lacking air-to-ground capability.
• Su-27UB (Flanker-C): A tandem two-seat combat-capable trainer.
• Su-27SK: An export version of the single-seat Su-27, often with some simplified avionics but retaining impressive capabilities.
• Su-27K (later Su-33 Flanker-D): A navalized, carrier-based variant with canards, folding wings, and an arrestor hook.
• Su-30 (Flanker-C/G/H): A two-seat, multi-role fighter derived from the Su-27UB, focused on long-range interdiction and air-to-air missions. This family has numerous sub-variants for various export customers (e.g., Su-30MKI for India, Su-30MKM for Malaysia, Su-30MKK for China, Su-30SM for Russia).
• Su-34 (Fullback): A dedicated two-seat, side-by-side tactical bomber/strike aircraft.
• Su-35 (Flanker-E): A highly modernized single-seat 4++ generation multi-role fighter with thrust-vectoring engines, advanced avionics (including PESA radar), and significantly enhanced capabilities.
• J-11: China’s license-built (and later reverse-engineered) version of the Su-27SK, with indigenous avionics and weapons.

Operational History and Combat Record

The Su-27 has been a workhorse for the Russian (and former Soviet) Air Force and numerous export customers:

• Cold War Encounters: Famously involved in “Barents Sea Pestering” incidents, where Su-27s conducted aggressive intercepts of NATO reconnaissance aircraft, sometimes even performing “बरेट्स Sea Pestering” where a Su-27 famously bumped a Norwegian P-3 Orion.
• Ethiopian-Eritrean War (1998-2000): Ethiopian Su-27s reportedly achieved several air-to-air kills against Eritrean MiG-29s, demonstrating the Flanker’s combat effectiveness.
• Abkhaz-Georgian Civil War (1992-1994): Russian Su-27s were involved.
• Angolan Civil War (2000-2002): Angolan Su-27s saw limited action.
• South Ossetia War (2008): Russian Su-27s were deployed.
• Ukraine War (2022-Present): Both Russian and Ukrainian Su-27s have been actively involved in the ongoing conflict. While Russian forces use upgraded variants like the Su-27SM/SM3, Ukrainian Su-27s (mostly older Soviet-era models) have been critical for air defense and retaining some level of air superiority. Both sides have suffered losses.

Operators

The Su-27 and its direct variants are operated by a significant number of countries worldwide:

• Russia: Russian Aerospace Forces and Naval Aviation (including Su-33).
• Ukraine: Inherited a large fleet from the Soviet Union.
• China (as J-11): A major operator of the license-built/reverse-engineered J-11.
• Belarus
• Kazakhstan
• Uzbekistan
• Vietnam
• Angola
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Indonesia
• Mongolia

The Su-27 also serves as the foundation for the famous Russian Knights (Russkiye Vityazi) aerobatic display team, showcasing its exceptional maneuverability to audiences worldwide.

The Sukhoi Su-27 is a legendary fighter that left an indelible mark on military aviation history. Its combination of raw power, agility, and robust design made it one of the most capable air superiority fighters of its generation, and its influence continues to be seen in the numerous advanced derivatives that serve air forces around the globe today.