Su-27 (fighter)

A Soviet-designed fighter, from the Sukhoi Design Bureau, the Su-27 (NATO designation FLANKER) both has a visual similarity, and a comparable role as a high-end air superiority aircraft, to the U.S. F-15 Eagle. It has exceptionally good flight performance, although less advanced avionics than comparable Western versions. The basic model cannot either be air refueled, or accept long-range conformal fuel tanks, limiting its range; these limitations were corrected in later variants.

Within its own series, the Su-27K has the unusual property of being an originally land-based fighter adapted to carrier operations; the Su-33 Flanker-D is an even more evolved carrier version.

As with the F-15, the original role was purely air superiority, but a multirole version capable of ground attack evolved, the Su-30 (fighter), comparable to the F-15E Strike Eagle. Su-30 aircraft were bought by Malaysia and Indonesia, while the Su-30MKI is co-produced by India.

General characteristics

The basic Su-27 characteristics, according to the Federation of American Scientiss, include:

• Length 69 ft (21 m)
• Span 47 ft, 6 in (14.5 m)
• Armament
  • One 30 mm GSh-301cannon
  • up to 6,000 kg payload of missiles and bombs including
    • Vympel R-27 (missile) (NATO AA-10 ALAMO)
    • Vympel R-73 (missile) (NATO AA-11 ARCHER)
    • FAB-100
• In-Flight Refueling No
• Internal Fuel 6350 kg
• Drop Tanks Drop tank with 1600kg for 126nm range
• Payload 6000kg
• Sensors FLASH DANCE (radar), IRST and TV sensors, radar warning receiver, Balistic bombsight
• Maximum speed Mach 2.35
• Maximum weight 30,000 kg
• Ceiling 15240-18,000 m
• Range
  • 1,500 km combat radius [typical]
  • 1,800 km cruise radius
  • 4,000 km maximum range
• Engines Two 12,550 kg thrust Lyulka AL-31F