The Su-27 "Flanker" series of aircraft is regarded by most airplane aficionados as the ultimate in Russian fighter design. The Su-27 first appeared in the middle of the 1980's, completely taking NATO and American warplanners by surprise, prompting them to start developing their next generation of super aircraft. The Su-27 was billed as an ultimate bomber escort but also a fighter and interceptor that could more that hold its own.

The Su-27 is a large aircraft, about twenty percent larger than its American counterpart - the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The system is powered by two massive Saturn / Lyulka powerplants with afterburn capability producing 27,557lbs of thrust each. Depending on the model (the Su-27 has spawned many variations of the base model), the Flanker can seat one crewman, two in tandem or two in a side-by-side configuration. With its large size and wing area, the system is afforded a large internal capacity dedicated to fuel. This negates the need for the aircraft to rely on external fuel tanks for extended service. The large wing area also assists in providing a good balance of drag and lift with further assistance provided by moveable foreplanes and canards.

Maneuverability is key with this large aircraft and technology is spared at no expense. Fly-by-fire systems allowed the initial design to be inherently unstable as the onboard computers assisted the pilot in keeping the plane aloft and in accomplishing the very acrobatic moves that the aircraft is capable of. The powerful Zhuk radar system offers the pilot excellent battlefield "vision" beyond visual range and can effectively field the large AA-10 Alamo air-to-air missiles which in themselves feature a 70 mile engagement range.



Country of Origin:Soviet Union
Manufacturer:Sukhoi - USSR
Initial Year of Service:1984
Production:680

Focus Model:Sukhoi Su-27 (Flanker)
Crew:1

Length:71.98ft (21.94m)
Width:48.23ft (14.70m)
Height:19.46ft (5.93m)
Weight (Empty):36,112lbs (16,380kg)
Weight (MTOW):72,753lbs (33,000kg)

Powerplant:2 x Saturn / Lyulka AL-31F turbofan engines with afterburn generating 27,557lbs of thrust.

Maximum Speed:1,553mph (2,500kmh; 1,350kts)
Maximum Range:2,287miles (3,680km)
Service Ceiling:59,091ft (18,011m; 11.2miles)
Rate-of-Climb:60,040 feet per minute (18,300m/min)

Hardpoints:10
Armament Suite:
STANDADRD:
1 x 30mm internal cannon