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Su-27 Flanker
For years, Western leadership and Western Fighter Pilots came
to fear a long succession of superior Soviet jet fighters called
MiGs. NATO had designated these planes with names that the Soviets
loved to hate. The MiG21 'Fishbed', the MiG23 'Flogger', and the
MiG29 'Fulcrum' were among the many NATO designations of Soviet
MiGs. However, as the times changed and as the world moved into
the climatic stages of the Cold War, another succession of superior
jet fighters was introduced to the Western Nations by the soviets.
These jet fighters became known as the Sukhoi or 'Su' jet fighters.
By far, the most powerful Sukhoi jet fighter ever to be born was
the Su-27, which NATO gladly designated as the Flanker. The Su-27's
operational characteristics meets, if not surpasses, those of
its American analogue - the F15 'Eagle'. The Su-27 certainly earned
its spot within the fighter units of the Air Defense (Russian
designation PVO) and Air Force of the Soviet Union (Russian designation
VVS) as a prized long-range fighter interceptor. It's mere existence
had replaced the Soviet Tu128 'Fiddler', the Su15 'Flagon', and
the Yak28 'Firebar' in PVO service. Despite its lineage, the roots
of the Su-27 traces back to a humble beginning.
In 1969, the Sukhoi OKB (Russian designation for Design Bureau)
won a governmental contract to design a long-range interceptor
that would be superior to Western jet fighters and would replace
several Soviet fighters already in service. The design of the
first prototype of the Su-27 (designated the "T101")
was dictated by the growing importance of low-level penetration
tactics. Thus, the T101 had to be capable of look-down/shoot-down
intercepts of enemy aircraft and low flying cruise missiles and
to be capable of destroying targets at very long ranges. On May
20, 1977, the T101 (piloted by Vladimir Ilyushin) completed a
successful test flight in Zhukovsky. However, it was soon discovered
that the maximum flight range and maneuverability of the new aircraft
did not surpass those of the best foreign equivalents. There were
also problems with drag, flutter, engine performance and fuel
consumption. The aircraft was unstable and unaerodynamic- depending
heavily on its fly-by-wire control system. The second prototype,
the T102 had even crashed, killing its pilot. After the failures,
the design bureau substantially modified the aircraft. In 1981,
an entirely new aircraft called the T10S had taken shape and had
flown on a test flight on April 20. This prototype became known
as the Su-27. This new aircraft exerted itself as a truly outstanding
jet fighter having no equals in maneuverability, flight range
and combat effectiveness.
The airframe of this strong aircraft is constructed of advanced
lightweight aluminum lithium alloys. Its airframe is light, despite
its strength and size. The wing is designed using an ogival shape
and wingroot extension. The wing has a 42 degrees leading edge
sweep with full span leading edge slats and trailing edge flaperons.
The flaperons combine the functions of conventional flaps and
ailerons and move in unison as flaps to provide lift and drag.
They move out of unison to function as ailerons.
The engines of the Su-27 are two AL31F turbojet engines designed
by A.M. Lyul'la, the MMZ Saturn General Designer. These engines
are deemed highly economical and is rated at 12500 kg static thrust
in afterburner and at 7600 kg in military power. In afterburner
mode, the engines eats about 1.92 kg of fuel per kg of thrust
per hour. In military power mode, the engines eats about 0.75
kg of fuel per kg of thrust per hour. In cruise mode, the engines
eat about 0.67 kg of fuel per kg of thrust per hour. The AL31F
engine has been proven to be reliable, robust, and maintainable.
When tested in severely disturbed airflow, and in extreme conditions,
the engine performed effectively. That is why maneuvers like the
tail-slide and the Cobra are possible.
When the aircraft is in flight, the pilot has many options
at his fingertips. He won't enter into any fatal spins or pull
too many G's because of the highly sophisticated quadruplex fly-by-wire
remote control system (designated EDSU by Russians) with built-in
angle of attack and G limiters. The pilot has a sophisticated
weapons control system using a RLPK27 coherent pulse-Doppler jam
proof radar with track while scan and look-down shoot-down capabilities.
The radar detection range is 240 km, and it can simultaneously
track up to 10 targets at 185 km away. The pilot can simultaneously
fire missiles at two targets. In case of radar failure, the pilot
is backed up by a 36sh electro-optical system designed by Geophysica
NPO. The electro-optical system contains a laser range finder
(which has a range of 8km) and Infrared Search and Track system
(which as a range of 50km). The electro-optical system can be
attached to the pilot's helmet mounted target designator to allow
the pilot to target by moving his head.
In case of emergencies, the pilot can eject confidently and
safely from the aircraft's Zvezda K36DM zero zero ejection seat.
The pilot can eject safely on this seat at speeds of zero to Mach
2, and at altitudes from 0 to 25000 m.
In 1982, the Su-27 went into production at Komsomolsk-upon-Amur,
and the aircraft went into service for the Air Defense and Air
Force in 1985.
However, by 1989 the Soviet empire found itself collapsing,
a grim reminder to us that even the strongest may not last forever.
As for the strong Su-27s, their future became uncertain after
the break-up of the USSR. Some of these aircraft were quickly
sold and transferred to countries like China, Ukraine, Byelorussia,
and Georgia.
In 1991, China purchased 24 Su-27s for $35,000,000 a piece.
No doubt that in the future, the Chinese Air Force will consist
of mainly Su-27s. However, for China to be able to use these planes
effectively, they must acquire aircraft carriers and greatly improve
its transport aviation and methods.
In 1996, during the China-Taiwan conflict, China deployed four
Su-27s (assembled in the lower Fujian Province) to the strait
of Formosa. China used these aircraft to compliment the Air Force
(which consists of mostly MiG21s) fire power of the area.
Specifications | ||
| Country of Origin | CIS (formerly USSR) | |
| Similar Aircraft |
| |
| Crew | one | |
| Role | ||
| Length | 69 ft (21 m) | |
| Span | 47 ft, 6 in (14.5 m) | |
| Armament | up to 6,000 kg payload of missiles and bombs including | |
| 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, RWR, Balistic bombsight | |
| Maximum speed | Mach 2.35 | |
| Maximum weight | 30,000 kg | |
| Ceiling | 15240-18,000 m | |
| Range |
1000nm Cruise range 4,000 km maximum | |
| PROPULSION | Two 12,550 kg thrust Lyulka AL-31F | |
| User Countries | ||
For more Technical Data on the Flanker...click HERE
