Su-27 Flanker Front-Line Fighter Aircraft, Russia
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Key Data
The Su-27 (Nato designation Flanker) is the front-line fighter
aircraft designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and manufactured by
Irkut Corporation. The export version is the Su-27SK.The aircraft
is equipped to operate autonomously in combat over hostile
territory, in escort of deep-penetration strike aircraft and in the
suppression of enemy airfields. The aircraft provides general air
defence in cooperation with ground and airborne control stations. A
naval variant with folding wings, the Su-33, exists.Su-27 Flanker
developmentSu-27 entered production in 1982 and is in service with
Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Uzbekistan and
Vietnam, and is built under license in China as the F-11. A
variant, the Su-30MK, has been sold to India with licensed local
production."The Su-27 (Nato designation Flanker) is a front-line
fighter aircraft."50 aircraft were ordered from Irkut and the first
entered service with the Indian Air Force in September 2002. The
last was delivered in December 2004.The first of up to 140 aircraft
indigenously built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was delivered
in November 2004. China ordered 76 two-seat Su-30MKK and 24
Su-30MK2 naval fighters. Deliveries were completed in August 2004.
Indonesia ordered two Su-27SK and two Su-30MK aircraft which were
delivered in September 2003.In May 2006, the Su-27 was selected by
the Mexican Navy. Ten aircraft are required, eight single-seat and
two Su-27UB two-seat trainers.In August 2007, Indonesia ordered a
further three Su-27SKM and three Su-30MK2 aircraft.The latest
version is the Su-27SM, an upgrade for the Russian Air Force which
has strengthened fuselage for extra weapons payload, improved N001
radar, glass cockpit with three-colour multi-function displays and
improved avionics. The first was delivered in December 2003.Su-27
designThe Su-27 is a highly integrated twin-finned aircraft. The
airframe is constructed of titanium and high-strength aluminium
alloys. The engine nacelles are fitted with trouser fairings to
provide a continuous streamlined profile between the nacelles and
the tail beams. The fins and horizontal tail consoles are attached
to tail beams.The central beam section between the engine nacelles
consists of the equipment compartment, fuel tank and the brake
parachute container. The fuselage head is of semi-monocoque
construction and includes the cockpit, radar compartments and the
avionics bay.WeaponsThe aircraft is equipped with a 30mm GSh-301
gun with 150 rounds of ammunition and a range of missiles, rockets
and bombs mounted externally on ten hardpoints.The aircraft's
infrared search and track system, laser rangefinder, radar and
helmet-mounted target designator provide detection, tracking and
attack capability."The Su-27 is equipped with a 30mm GSh-301 gun
with 150 rounds of ammunition and a range of missiles."The range of
air-to-air missiles carried by the Su-27 aircraft includes: R-27R1
(Nato designation AA-10A Alamo-A), all-aspect medium-range missile
with semi-active radar homing and R-27T1 (AA-10B Alamo-B) with
infrared homing and a range from 500m to 60km; and R-73E (AA-11
Archer) all-aspect, close-combat air-to-air missile with infrared
homing and a range from 300m to 20km.Ordnance for air-to-ground
missions include: 100kg, 250kg and 500kg freefall and retarded
aerial bombs; 500kg incendiary devices; 25kg and 500kg RBK cluster
bombs; and C-8, C-13 and C-25 unguided aerial
missiles.CountermeasuresThe Su-27 is equipped with a new electronic
countermeasures suite for individual aircraft, and for mutual and
group protection in the forward and rear hemispheres.The
countermeasures system includes a pilot illumination radar warning
receiver, chaff and infrared decoy dispensers, and an active
multi-mode jammer located in the wingtip pods.SensorsThe Su-27 is
equipped with a Phazotron N001 Zhuk coherent pulse Doppler radar
with track-while-scan and look-down / shoot-down capability.The
range of the radar against 3m targets is over 100km in the forward
hemisphere and 40km in the rear hemisphere. The radar has the
capacity to search, detect and track up to ten targets with
automatic threat assessment and proritisation.The aircraft has an
OEPS-27 electro-optic system, which includes an infrared
search-and-track (IRST) sensor collimated with a laser rangefinder.
The range of the electro-optical system is 40-100km, depending on
the aspect angle presented by the target.CommunicationsThe radio
communications suite provides: voice and data; VHF/UHF radio
communications between aircraft and ground control stations within
sight range; voice radio communication with ground control stations
and between aircraft up to a range of 1,500km; an encrypted data
link for combat information exchange between aircraft; and command
guidance from ground control stations using automatic interception
mode."The latest version is the Su-27SM, an upgrade for the Russian
Air Force."SystemsThe Su-27 is equipped with an electro-optical
fire-control system, supplied by the Urals Optical and Mechanical
Plant (YOM3), and a Geofizika FLIR (forward-looking infrared) pod.
Leninetz of St Petersburg supplies the radar systems and TsNIRTI
the electronic countermeasures suite.EnginesThe Su-27SK is powered
by two AL-31F turbofan engines, designed by the Lyulka Engine
Design Bureau (NPO Saturn). Each engine has two air intakes: a
primary wedge intake and a louvred auxiliary air intake.The
twin-shaft, turbo-fan engine has after-turbine flow mixing, a
common afterburner, an all-mode variable area jet exhaust nozzle,
an independent start and a main electronic control, and a reserve
hydromechanical engine mode control system. The high-temperature
sections of the engines are made of titanium alloy.An Su-27 fitted
with AL-41F1 engines being developed by NPO Saturn took its first
flight in March 2004. The uprated engine provides a thrust of 145kN
(33,000lb).