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Su-37 Super Flanker
The Su-27 has embraced in its design the latest achievements of EDB designers
and scientists of defense research institutes.
���Today, after a lapse of many years, one can see the results of
this grand project, which may be the most challenging in the history of combat
aviation. They have materialized in the whole Su family, which now comprises the
Su-27UB, Su-30, Su-33, Su-32FN, Su-35, and, finally, the Su-37 aircraft.
���The new multirole all-weather superagile fighter Su-37
(registration number 711) with thrust vector control (TVC) represents a logical
step forward in the steady implementation by the Sukhoi EDB of a development
program of fourth and fifth generation of tactical aircraft from the basic Su-27
fighter for the Russian Air Force. As announced by General Designer Mikhail
Simonov, the new fighter is related to "the fourth with two pluses"
generation. This is the latest, although far from the last, Sukhoi's
development.
���Drawing on previous research and new progressive technologies,
the EDB has produced, jointly with engine, systems, avionics and armament
designers, a fighter which is likely to stay in service until 2015 - 2020.
���Alexander Kotelkin, Director General of the Rosvoorouzhenie
State Corporation, repeatedly declared at the latest international arms
exhibitions that due to a large volume of export deliveries of the Su-27s and
their derivatives, Sukhoi will rank among the world's top three leading
exporters of fighters in the next decade.
���The seriousness of this statement was confirmed by the first
flight of the Su-37 prototype on April 2, 1996, with test pilot Yevgeny Frolov,
Hero of Russia, at the controls. This was followed five months later by a
demonstration flight of this aircraft at the prestigious Farnborough '96 air
show, where it amazed the spectators with its maneuverability.
���Introducing the new machine, Mikhail Simonov emphasized that,
unlike the American X-31, this was no experimental specimen, but rather a
prototype of the series production aircraft. It has a standard configuration of
the Su-35 multirole fighter, can carry up to 14 air-to-air missiles and up to
8,000 kg of ordnance.
���The following features clearly set this aircraft apart from
the others:
���- capability to deliver a preemptive strike at any air target,
including hard-to-detect ones;
���- exceptionally high performance;
���- phenomenal agility; - multichannel redundancy and
algorithmic protection of all information and aiming systems;
���- ground target attack standoff range capability;
���- terrain following and ground obstacle avoidance capability;
���- automated group actions during attacks at air and ground
targets;
���- ability to counteract enemy ECM and optronic means;
���- automation of all phases of flight and combat employment.
���The Su-37's powerplant comprises two experimental TVC
turbofans, type AL-31FU. The engine was developed by the Lulka-Saturn company
team, led by General Designer Victor Chepkin, and is a derivative of the
twin-shaft AL-31F turbofan installed on the Su-27. It has a modular design,
which allows for replacement of its nozzle, afterburner, mixer, low-pressure
(LP) turbine and compressor, and gearbox as part of its post-warranty servicing.
One can also repair or replace the blades of the first stage of the LP
compressor and all stages of the HP compressor. The axis-symmetric swivelling
nozzle is secured to the annular swivel and can be moved in the pitch plane with
the aid of two pairs of hydraulic jacks.
���Depending on a maneuver to be performed, the nozzles can be
deflected both synchronously and differentially. The biggest problem with the
implementation of the TVC nozzle concept, that has still not be resolved by the
Americans, was to provide the nozzle reversal joint with a seal strong enough to
prevent outblast of the gases with a temperature of almost 2,000 oC and pressure
of 5 to 7 kgf/cm2.
���The AL-31F and AL-31FU engines are fully interchangeable; in
other words, all the derivatives of the Su-27 and the base aircraft may be
powered by the AL-31FU engine. As well as powering the Su-37 fighter, the
AL-31FU engine will be first installed on the Su-30MK multirole two-seater
fighter.
���The Su-37 uses the 'unstable integral triplane' layout, which,
in combination with the small specific load acting on the wing, high
power-to-weight ratio, integral electrical remote control system and powerplant
TVC feature, ensures the aircraft superagility, increased range of controlled
flight and improved takeoff and landing characteristics.
���The TVC feature incorporated into the aircraft flight control
loop makes it possible to minimize, when required, the flight speed and perform
aerobatics at speeds nearing zero without angle-of-attack limitations (hence
superagility).
���According to Mikhail Simonov, the aircraft has virtually no
angle-of-attack limitations. It can fly flatwise to the air stream, with its
tail forward, i. e., with 90 and even 180 deg angles of attack. It can locate
targets with its radars and attack them with its weapons from any position. This
feature is extremely important for both air combat and the evasion of enemy
missile attacks.
���The Su-37 multirole fighter is furnished with the full range
of onboard systems and equipment, and is a prototype of the series production
aircraft.
���Its avionics equipment comprises an onboard multifunction
jamproof forward-looking phased-array radar that can track up to 15 targets at a
time, provide target designation, launch and guide several air-to-air missiles
fitted with active, passive and IR homing heads, and an optronic fire control
and surveillance system. In addition, the onboard avionics equipment is used for
mapping, multichannel employment of guided weapons and low altitude flight with
avoidance of ground features.
���The information and control facilities in the pilot's cockpit
cover four wide liquid-crystal displays of tactical and flight-navigation data,
onboard system monitors and an operating conditions control panel. Information
from individual systems may be presented on any display selected by the pilot.
One more widescope indicator is installed on the windscreen.
���The side short-travel control stick of the aircraft, avionics
control handle and strain-gauging engine thrust controls, as well as tactical
situation, flight conditions and systems monitors enable the pilot to
effectively control the aircraft, systems and weapons.
���The Su-37 multifunction fighter can carry air-to-air and
air-to-surface weapons at its 12 hardpoints.
���For air combat, the aircraft is fitted with R-73E short-range
air-to-air IR homing missiles and RVV-AE air-to-air missiles with active radar
guidance.
���To attack ground and water-surface targets, the Su-37 can
carry IR and radar homing missiles.
���In the opinion of leading western experts, the Su-37 fighter
will stay unrivaled for many years to come and take a deserving position on the
world arms market.
Specifications | |
| Country of Origin | Russia |
| Builder | Sukhoi |
| Role | Multi-role fighter |
| Similar Aircraft | |
| Wing Span | 15.16 m / 49 ft 9 in |
| Length | 21.94 m / 72 ft |
| Height | 6.84 m / 22 ft 5 in |
| Weight | 40,565 lb empty / 74,956 lb max. take off |
| Engine | Two Lyulka AL-37FU vectored-thrust afterburning turbofans, 30,855 lb thrust each |
| Maximum speed | 2,440 km/h / 1,516 mph |
| Cruising speed | |
| Range | 3,500 km / 2,175 miles |
| Service Ceiling | 59,000 ft |
| Armament | One GSh-30-1 30mm cannon, plus up to 18,075 lb including R-73/R-77 AAMs, ASMs, bombs, rockets, drop tanks, and ECM pods carried on fourteen external points |
| Crew | 1 |
| Cost | |
| User Countries | under development for Russia |
Two Lyulka AL-37FU vectored-thrust afterburning turbofans
