(Sukhoi) Su-27, 30, 33, 34, 35 @·AIRCRAFTUBE

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Sukhoi Su-27, 30, 33, 34, 35

The Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name: Flanker) is a twin-engine supermanoeuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi. It was intended as a direct competitor for the large United States fourth generation fighters, with 3,530-kilometre (1,910 nmi) range, heavy armament, sophisticated avionics and high manoeuvrability. The Su-27 most often flies air superiority missions, but is able to perform almost all combat operations. Complementing the smaller MiG-29, the Su-27's closest US counterpart is the F-15 Eagle.

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 navy fleet defence interceptor for use on aircraft carriers. Further versions include the side-by-side 2-seat Su-34 ‘Fullback’ strike variant and the Su-35 ‘Flanker-E’ improved air defence fighter.

Background

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 realised 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"). 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.

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.

Design phase

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 delta wing design), which first flew on 20 May 1977. The aircraft had a large delta 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.

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 on 7 May 1978. Extensive redesigns followed, and a heavily revised version, the T-10S, made its first flight on 20 April 1981.

The production Su-27 (sometimes Su-27S, NATO designation 'Flanker-B') began to enter VVS operational service around 1984, although manufacturing difficulties kept it from appearing in strength until 1986. The Su-27 served with both the V-PVO and Frontal Aviation.

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, developed based on Sukhoi OKB’s experience in the Sukhoi 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 angles of attack. In airshows the aircraft has demonstrated its manoeuvrability with a Cobra (Pugachev’s Cobra) or dynamic deceleration – briefly sustained level flight at a 120° angle of attack.

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

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 Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer), Vympel R-27 (AA-10 'Alamo') weapons, the latter including extended range and IR guided models.

Radar and sensors

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 a 80–100 km range.

Operational history

Russia

The Su-27 has seen limited action since it first entered service.

In the morning of 13 September 1987, a fully armed Soviet Su-27, Red 36, intercepted a Norwegian Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft while flying over the Barents Sea. The Soviet fighter jet performed different close passes, colliding with the reconnaissance aircraft on the third pass. The Su-27 disengaged and both aircraft landed safely at their bases.

These aircraft were used by the Russian Air Force during the 1992–1993 war in Abkhazia against Georgian forces. One fighter, piloted by Major pilot Vaclav Alexandrowich Shipko (Вацлав Александрович Шипко) was reported shot down by an S-75M Dvina on 19 March 1993 while intercepting Georgian Su-25's performing Close Air Support.

In the 2008 South Ossetia War, Russia used Su-27s to gain airspace control over Tskhinvali, the capital city of South Ossetia.

On 7 February 2013, two Su-27s briefly entered Japanese airspace off Rishiri Island near Hokkaido, flying south over the Sea of Japan before turning back to the north. Four Mitsubishi F-2 fighters were scrambled to visually confirm the Russian planes, warning them by radio to leave their airspace. A photo taken by a JASDF pilot of one of the two Su-27s was released by the Japan Ministry of Defense. Russia denied the incursion, saying the jets were making routine flights near the disputed Kuril Islands.

Russia plans to replace the Su-27 along with the Mikoyan MiG-29 eventually by the Sukhoi PAK FA stealth fifth-generation multi-role twin-engine fighter.

Ethiopia

Ethiopian Su-27s reportedly shot down two Eritrean MiG-29s and damaged another one in February 1999 and destroyed another two in May 2000. The Su-27s were also used in CAP (Combat Air Patrol) missions, suppression of air defense, and providing escort for fighters on bombing and reconnaissance missions. In the War in Somalia (2006-present), the EtAF used their Su-27s to deadly effect, bombing Islamist garrisons and patrolling the airspace. The Su-27 has replaced the aging Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 as Ethiopia's main air superiority fighter.

Angola

The Su-27 entered Angolan service in mid-2000 during the Angolan Civil War. It is reported that one Su-27 in the process of landing, was shot down by SA-14 MANPADs fired by UNITA forces on 19 November 2000.

Indonesia

Four Indonesian Flanker type fighters including Su-27s participated for the first time in the annual Pitch Black exercise in Australia on 27 July 2012. Arriving at Darwin, Australia the Indonesian fighters two Su-27s and two Su-30s were escorted by two Australian No. 77 Squadron F/A-18 Hornets. Exercise Pitch Black is a major multi-national biennial exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force, involving Offensive Counter Air and Offensive Air Support missions being flown at training ranges across the Northern Territory. Exercise Pitch Black 12 was to take place from 27 July through 17 August 2012, and involve 2,200 personnel and up to 94 aircraft from Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand and the United States. Operations will be commanded from Darwin and Tyndal AFB in the US.

Variants

Soviet-era

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Su-27UB ("Flanker-C"): Initial production two-seat operational conversion trainer.
  • Su-27SK: Export Su-27 single-seater.
  • Su-27UBK: Export Su-27UB two-seater.
  • 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-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-27PU (Su-30): Two-seat limited production machine with improvements such as inflight refuelling probe, fighter direction avionics, new flight control system, and so on.
  • 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.
  • J-11: Version of Su-27 built under licence in China.
  • 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.
  • Su-27UBM: Comparable upgraded Su-27UB two-seater.
  • Su-27SM2: 4.5-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 in contrast is newly-built rather than a mid-life upgrade.
  • 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 dubbed the "Last Flanker" is latest development from Sukhoi Flanker family. It features newer avionics and new radar.

Operators

Around 680 Su-27s were manufactured by the Soviet Union and Russia. This total includes only Su-27s and not later derivative aircraft.

Angola : People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola had 7 Su-27s in service as of January 2013. Three were bought from Belarus in 1998.

People's Republic of China : People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) had a fleet of 59 Su-27 fighters, consisting of 33 Su-27SKs and 26 Su-27UBKs as of January 2013. The Flankers were produced under three separate contracts by the Russian KnAAPO and IAPO plants. Delivery of the aircraft began in February 1991 and finished by September 2009. The first contract was for 18 Su-27SK and 6 Su-27UBK aircraft. The deal, known as '906 Project' within China, saw the Su-27 exported to a foreign country for the first time. In February 1991, an Su-27 performed a flight demonstration at Beijing's Nanyuan Airport. The official induction to service with the PLAAF occurred shortly thereafter. Chinese Su-27 pilots described its performance as "outstanding" in all aspects and flight envelopes. Differences over the payment method delayed the signing of the second, identical contract. For the first batch, 70% of the payment had been made in barter transactions with light industrial goods and food. Russian Federation argued that future transactions should be made in US dollars. In May 1995, Chinese Central Military Commission Vice Chairman, Liu Huaqing visited Russia and agreed to the term, on a condition that the production line of Su-27 be imported. The contract was signed the same year. Delivery of the final aircraft from the second batch, occurred in July 1996. In preparation for the expanding Su-27 fleet, the PLAAF sought to augment its trainer fleet. On December 3, 1999, a third contract was signed, this time for 28 Su-27UBKs. All 76 of the aircraft featured strengthened airframe and landing gear - result of the PLAAF demands that the fighter has a "usable" air-ground capability. As a result, the aircraft are capable of employing most of the conventional Air-to-Ground ordnance produced by Russia. Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) increased to 33,000 kg (72,750 lb). As is common for Russian export fighters, the active jamming device was downgraded- Su-27's L005 ECM pod was replaced with the L203/L204 pod. Furthermore, there were slight avionics differences between the batches. The first batch had N001E radar, while the later aircraft had N001P radar, capable of engaging two targets at the same time. Additionally, ground radar and navigational systems were upgraded. Of some note is that none of the aircraft are capable of deploying the R-77 "Adder" missile due to a downgraded fire control system.

At the 2009 Farnborough Airshow, Alexander Fomin- Deputy Director of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Co-operation, confirmed the existence of an all-encompasing contract and an on-going licensed production of the Su-27 variant by the Chinese. The aircraft are being produced as the Shenyang J-11.

Eritrea : Eritrean Air Force received about ~8 Su-27SK/27UBs in 2003. Had 9 Su-27s in service as of January 2013.

Ethiopia : The Ethiopian Air Force had 12 Su-27s, including 8 Su-27SKs in use as of January 2013.

Indonesia : Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia: Angkatan Udara) had 5 Su-27SK fighters in service as of January 2013.

Kazakhstan : The Military of Kazakhstan operates 30 Su-27s as of December 2010. It had another 12 on order.

Russia : Russian Air Force has 355 Su-27 aircraft, including 225 Su-27s, 74 Su-27SMs, 4 Su-27SM3s, and 52 Su-27UBs in service as of January 2013. A modernisation program began in 2004. The Russian Air Force received 12 Su-27SM3 aircraft in December 2011.

Ukraine : The Ukrainian Air Force had a fleet of 70 Su-27s. It has 50 Su-27s in inventory as of January 2013.

Uzbekistan : The Military of Uzbekistan has 34 Su-27s in use as of January 2013.

Vietnam : Vietnam People's Air Force has 9 Su-27SKs and 3 Su-27UBKs in use as of January 2013.

United States : Two Su-27s were delivered to the United States in 1995. Two more were bought from Ukraine in 2009 by a private company to use for warbird exhibition.

Former operators

Belarus : Belarusian Air Force received 23-28 Su-27s from the former Soviet Union. They had 22 in service as of December 2010. Belarus had 17 Su-27P and 4 Su-27UBM1 aircraft remaining when they were retired in December 2012.

Soviet Union : Soviet Air Force and Soviet Anti-Air Defence

Private ownership : According to the FAA there are 2 privately owned Su-27s in the U.S.

Two Su-27s from the Ukrainian Air Force were demilitarised and sold to Pride Aircraft of Rockford, Illinois, USA. Pride Aircraft modified some of the aircraft to their own desires by remarking all cockpit controls in English and replacing much of the Russian avionics suite with Garmin, Bendix/King, and Collins avionics. The aircraft were both sold to private owners for approximately $5 million each.

The Dutch private training support company ECA Program placed an order with Belarus for 15 unarmed Su-27s (with an option on 18 more) for use in dissimilar air combat training. Deliveries are to be completed by the end of 2012.

See Sukhoi Su-30, Sukhoi Su-33, Sukhoi Su-34, and Sukhoi Su-35 for operators of Su-27 derivatives.

Notable accidents

  • 9 September 1990: a Soviet Su-27 crashed at the Salgareda airshow in 1990 due to pulling a loop at too low an altitude. The pilot, Rimas A.A. Stankevičius and a spectator were killed.
  • 12 December 1995: two Su-27s and an Su-27UB of the Russian flight demonstration team Russian Knights were lost, crashing into foggy, hilly terrain outside of Cam Ranh, Vietnam, killing 4 team pilots. The team of six Su-27s and an Ilyushin Il-76 support aircraft were en route home from an airshow in Malaysia, with a stop at Cam Ranh for fuel, led by the Il-76 and flying echelon right and left to it. After being vectored for approach, the lead Il-76 took a wrong course too close to terrain, which the three right-echelon Su-27s impacted. The remaining aircraft landed safely at Cam Ranh. Cause of accident was controlled flight into terrain; contributing factors were pilot error, mountainous terrain and poor weather.
  • December 1998: An Ethiopian Su-27 crashed during a night-flying exercise, killing a pilot.
  • 6 January 1999: An Ethiopian Air Force Su-27, piloted by a Russian pilot, crashed during test flights. The pilot ejected safely.
  • 27 July 2002: A Ukrainian Su-27 crashed while performing an aerobatics presentation. It crashed into the crowd and an Il-76 on static display, killing 85 spectators. Both pilots ejected and suffered only minor injuries.
  • 15 September 2005: A Russian Air Force Su-27P crashed in Lithuania after it strayed out of its air corridor while it was flying from St. Petersburg to Russia's Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad due to a mechanical failure. The Su-27 was armed with at least 4 air-to-air missiles. The pilot ejected and was taken in Lithuanian custody. The incident led to an international debate between Lithuania, Russia and NATO.
  • 29 July 2008: an Su-27UB crashed on a training flight in Primorye Territory, Russia. 1 pilot was killed but the other survived.
  • 16 August 2009: While practising for an airshow, two Su-27s of the Russian Knights collided in mid-air during a test flight 5 km from Zhukovsky Airfield, south-east of Moscow, killing the Knights' leader, Igor Tkachenko. One of the jets crashed into a house and started a fire.[45] The pilots were training for the 2009 MAKS Airshow. A probe into the crash has been launched; it is thought the accident may have been caused by a "flying skill error", according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
  • 30 August 2009: A Belarus Air Force Su-27UBM crashed at the 2009 Radom Air Show in Poland. The Su-27 crashed after exiting a loop, possibly due to an engine failure from a bird strike. Both pilots died after opting to stay with the aircraft to steer it away from spectators.
  • 6 April 2011: A Russian Air Force Su-27SM crashed during a training drill near the city of Vladivostok in Russia's Far East. The pilot ejected unhurt.
  • 28 June 2012: A Russian Air Force Su-27UB crashed in Karelia, Russia. Both pilots ejected unhurt.
  • 31 March 2013: A Chinese PLA Air Force Su-27UBK crashed in Shangdong, China. Both pilots died.

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This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Soukhoï Su-27 Flanker of Wikipedia ( authors )

Specifications (Su-27S)

  • Crew: 1.
  • Length: 21.9 m (72 ft).
  • Height: 5.92 m (19 ft 6 in).
  • Wingspan: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in).
  • Wing area: 62 m² (667 ft²).
  • Wing loading: 371 kg/m² (76 lb/ft²).
  • Empty weight: 16,380 kg (36,100 lb).
  • Loaded weight: 23,430 kg (51,650 lb).
  • Max. takeoff weight: 30,450 kg (67,100 lb).
  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.35 (2,500 km/h, 1,550 mph) at altitude.
  • Range: 3,530 km (2,070 mi) at altitude; (1,340 km / 800 mi at sea level).
  • Service ceiling: 19,000 m (62,523 ft).
  • Rate of climb: 300 m/s[58] (54,000 ft/min).
  • Powerplant: Two Saturn/Lyulka AL-31F turbofans.
  • Dry thrust: 7,670 kgf (75.22 kN, 16,910 lbf) each.
  • Thrust with afterburner: 12,500 kgf (122.6 kN, 27,560 lbf) each.
  • Thrust/weight: 1.07.
  • Armament :
    • One 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon with 150 rounds.
    • 8,000 kg (17,600 lb) on 10 external pylons.
    • Up to six medium-range AA missiles R-27, two short-range heat-seeking AA missiles R-73.
    • 30 mm GSH-30 Cannon, 150 rounds.
    • Six Medium-Range R-27R, R-27ER, R-27T, R-27ET.
    • Four Short-Range R-73E...

— — — = = — — —

This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Soukhoï Su-27 Flanker of Wikipedia ( authors )
Sukhoi Su-27, 30, 33, 34, 35 "Flanker" : Your comments on this subject
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    General

    Fluid website

    This site automatically fits the dimensions of your screen, whether you are on a desktop computer, a tablet or a smartphone.

    Bilingual website

    You can change the language by clicking on the flag in the upper left or via "Options" in the central menu. Of course, the videos remain in the language in which they were posted ...

    Browser compatibility

    The site is not optimized, or even designed to run on older browsers or those deliberately deviating from standards. You will most probably encounter display issues with Internet Explorer. In this case, it is strongly recommended installing a modern (and free!) browser that's respecting the standards, like Firefox, Opera, Chrome or Safari.

    Cookies and Javascript

    This site uses cookies and JavaScript to function properly. Please ensure that your browser is configured accordingly. Neither of these technologies, or other means shall in no case be used on the Site for the retention or disclosure of personal information about its Visitors. See the "Legal" page for more on this subject.

    Website layout

    Left menus

    Because of the lack of space on smartphones and small tablets, these menus are hidden. Everything is nevertheless accessible via the main menu option, located between the video and photo sections. This menu is placed there for compatibility reasons with some browsers, which play the videos over the menus.

    "Search" and "Latest" :
    The link "In Titles" restricts the search to the titles of different forms. Use this option if you are looking for a plane, a constructor, a pilot or a particular event that could have been treated as a subject.

    The link "In Stories" will bring you to a search in all texts (the "Story" tab) and will take more time. The search term will appear highlighted in green when opening the corresponding story.

    Would you believe, "Timeline" will show all subjects in chronological order.

    "Random" will reload the entire page with a new random topic.

    The bottom section keeps you abreast of the latest five entries. New topics are added regularly. Don't hesitate to come visit us often : add bookmark.

    Blogs and Comments central section

    Under the photos section comes the comments tabs window :

    You can enter general comments in your own language via one of the two buttons on the left (BLOG EN and BLOG FR). Note that these buttons are accessible regardless of the language to allow some participation in the other language.

    All comments are subject to moderation and will be published only if they comply with the basic rules of decorum, while remaining relevant to the purpose of this site.

    The third tab allows you to enter comments on the shown topic and is bilingual. Personal anecdotes, supplements and other information questions will take place here.

    The "Story" tab shows the explanatory texts. They are most often taken from Wikipedia, a site where we participate regularly.

    The "Data" tab is reserved for list of features and specifications.

    Right menus

    On a smartphone, the lack of space is growing and this menu is moved to the bottom of the page to give priority to videos and pictures.

    The top right icons are links to videos posted by third parties (on their own responsabilities) or by ourselves. The link below these icons will take you to the channel of the one who posted the video. Feel free to suggest other videos if you think they are of some interest (Use the BLOG button or the "Contact" link).