Chkalovsky ( IATA : CKL , ICAO : UUMU ) is a military air base near Shchyolkovo , Moscow Oblast , Russia. It is located 31 km northeast of Moscow .
70-483: The airport name is also given as Chkalovskoye . The facility should not be confused with Kaliningrad Chkalovsk or Omsk Chkalovsk airfields. In 1929, a decision was made to create a new flight test base of Soviet significance near Moscow. The largest runway of reinforced concrete slabs in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was built here. wind tunnels , hypobaric chambers , special scales for weighing aircraft,
140-519: A Phazotron N001 Myech coherent Pulse-Doppler radar with track while scan and look-down/shoot-down capability. The fighter also has an OLS-27 infrared search and track (IRST) system in the nose just forward of the cockpit with an 80–100 km (50–62 mi) range. The Su-27 is armed with a single 30 mm (1.18 in) Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 cannon in the starboard wingroot, and has up to 10 hardpoints for missiles and other weapons. Its standard missile armament for air-to-air combat
210-460: A thrust-to-weight ratio of almost 2:1 (for comparison with standard example see Specifications ). The production Su-27 (sometimes Su-27S , NATO designation 'Flanker-B') began to enter VVS operational service in 1985, although manufacturing difficulties kept it from appearing in strength until 1990. The Su-27 served with both the V-PVO and Frontal Aviation. Operational conversion of units to
280-443: A Tu-22 made a runway excursion while landing, destroying itself and a parked aircraft. The Tu-22 aircraft were transferred to Zyabrovka in 1992 as the unit re-equipped with Sukhoi Su-24 MR. High-resolution Google Earth imagery shows the base is still active, with Sukhoi Su-27 aircraft on the ramp, a transport aircraft, and some helicopters. Some Tu-22M (Backfire) appear to be stored. Historic Google Earth imagery shows that
350-652: A Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 was scrambled to intercept Russian fighter jets over Ukraine's airspace over the Black Sea on 3 March. With no aerial opposition and other aircraft available for ground attack duties, Ukrainian Su-27s played only a small role in the war in Donbas until 24 February 2022. Ukrainian Su-27s were recorded performing low fly passes and were reported flying top cover, combat air patrols and eventual escort or intercept of civil aviation traffic over Eastern Ukraine. Videos taken of low-flying Su-27s involved in
420-712: A fully armed Soviet Su-27, Red 36, intercepted a Norwegian Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft flying over the Barents Sea . The Soviet fighter performed different close passes, colliding with the reconnaissance aircraft on the third pass. The Su-27 disengaged and both aircraft landed safely at their bases. These aircraft were used by the Russian Air Force during the 1992–1993 war in Abkhazia against Georgian forces. One fighter, piloted by Major Vatslav Aleksandrovich Shipko (Вацлав Александрович Шипко)
490-573: A modified ejection seat angle, upgraded fly-by-wire, upgraded hydraulics, an arresting hook and retractable inflight refuelling probe with a pair of deployable floodlights in the nose to illuminate the tanker at night. The Su-27K began carrier trials in November 1989, again with Pugachev at the controls, onboard the first Soviet aircraft carrier, called Tbilisi at the time and formal carrier operations commenced in September 1991. Development of
560-662: A refueling vehicle were burned out by fire after a Russian attack on Ozerne Air Base in Zhytomyr District during the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine . The next day, another Su-27 was shot down in Kyiv by a Russian S-400 system and was recorded by residents on their cell phones and published on Twitter ; its pilot, Colonel Oleksandr Oksanchenko , was killed. A third Su-27 was reported lost by Ukrainian officials over Kropyvnytskyi , in central Ukraine; its pilot
630-424: A research plant and other scientific and testing facilities were also built. A little later, a launch slide was built here (the first prototype of a springboard take-off runway for aircraft carriers ), which was popularly called "Chkalovskaya". It was needed for the launch of heavy aircraft, primarily of the experimental ANT-25 (RD). In 1932-35, the state flight testing institute was relocated here from Khodynka ,
700-404: A revised forward fuselage to accommodate a side-by-side cockpit seating arrangement with crew access via a ladder in the nose-wheel undercarriage and enlarged canards, stabilisers, fins and rudders. The wings had extra ordnance hard-points and the fold position was also moved further outboard. The inlets were fixed and did not feature foreign object damage suppression hardware. The central fuselage
770-592: A revised version of the T-10-7, now designated the T-10S , made its first flight on 20 April 1981. It also crashed due to control problems and was replaced by T-10-12 which became T-10S-2 . This one also crashed on 23 December 1981 during a high-speed test, killing the pilot. Eventually the T-10-15 demonstrator, T-10S-3 , evolved into the definitive Su-27 configuration. The T-10S-3 was modified and officially designated
SECTION 10
#1732790524488840-546: Is a naval air base in Chkalovsk , Kaliningrad Oblast , Russia located 9 kilometers northwest of Kaliningrad . Most instances in Russian aviation literature of Chkalovsk or Chkalovskoye refer specifically to this large airfield. A significant Baltic naval base, it is Kaliningrad's largest airfield with four separate complexes for bomber and fighter parking. The base is home to the 689th Guards Fighter Regiment which uses
910-579: Is a mixture of R-73 (AA-11 Archer) and R-27 (AA-10 'Alamo') missiles, the latter including extended range and infrared homing models. The Soviet Air Force began receiving Su-27s in June 1985. The first frontline unit to receive the Su-27 was the 831st Fighter Aviation Regiment at Myrhorod Air Base , Ukrainian SSR, in November 1985. It officially entered service in August 1990. On 13 September 1987,
980-630: Is also an example of a tailed delta wing configuration, retaining conventional horizontal tailplanes . The Su-27 had the Soviet Union's first operational fly-by-wire control system, based on the Sukhoi OKB 's experience with the T-4 bomber project. Combined with relatively low wing loading and powerful basic flight controls, it makes for an exceptionally agile aircraft, controllable even at very low speeds and high angle of attack . In airshows
1050-548: The 4+ generation . The strike capability was enhanced with the addition of the Kh-29T/TE/L and Kh-31P/Kh-31A ASM and KAB-500KR/KAB-1500KR smart bombs. The avionics were also upgraded. The Russian Air Force is currently receiving aircraft modernized to the SM3 standard. The aircraft’s efficiency to hit air and ground targets has increased 2 and 3 times than in the basic Su-27 variant. Su-27SM3 has two additional stations under
1120-630: The California Air National Guard . Both pilots died in the crash, that happened about 5:00 p.m. local time in the Khmelnytskyi province of western Ukraine. On 15 December, an Su-27 crashed on final approach about 2 km (1 mi) from Ozerne Air Base in Zhytomyr Oblast , after performing a training flight. Major Fomenko Alexander Vasilyevich was killed. On 29 May 2020, Ukrainian Su-27s took part in
1190-643: The Eritrean-Ethiopian War in February 1999 and destroyed another two in May 2000. The Su-27s were also used in combat air patrol (CAP) missions, suppression of air defense, and providing escort for fighters on bombing and reconnaissance missions. The Ethiopian Air Force (ETAF) used their Su-27s to deadly effect in Somalia during late 2000s and 2010s, bombing Islamist garrisons and patrolling
1260-631: The P-42 , setting a number of world records for time-to-height , beating those set in 1975 by a similarly modified F-15 called "The Streak Eagle". The P-42 "Streak Flanker" was stripped of all armament, radar and operational equipment. The fin tips, tail-boom and the wingtip launch rails were also removed. The composite radome was replaced by a lighter metal version. The aircraft was stripped of paint, polished and all drag-producing gaps and joints were sealed. The engines were modified to deliver an increase in thrust of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), resulting in
1330-569: The Red Army . Chkalovsk began receiving Tupolev Tu-22 (Blinder) aircraft around 1963 and by 1967 had 30 aircraft. It was one of nine major operating locations for the Tupolev Tu-22 Blinders. Tupolev Tu-16 (Badger) aircraft also operated from Chkalovsk frequently during the 1960s. On December 24, 1964, a Tu-22R jumped its wheel chocks during a ground run and hit three parked aircraft; all were written off. In August 1966,
1400-545: The Sea of Japan before turning back to the north. Four Mitsubishi F-2 fighters were scrambled to visually confirm the Russian planes, warning them by radio to leave their airspace. A photo taken by a JASDF pilot of one of the two Su-27s was released by the Japan Ministry of Defense . Russia denied the incursion, saying the jets were making routine flights near the disputed Kuril Islands . Russia plans to replace
1470-588: The Soviet space program and Russian Federal Space Agency . It is also a major transport base, with the 8th Special Purpose Aviation Division (since 2009–10, the 6991st Air Base) operating the Antonov An-12 , Antonov An-72 , Tupolev Tu-154 , Ilyushin Il-76 , and Il-86VKP . Chkalovsky received USSR's first Il-76K for cosmonaut training on 23 July 1977. On 27 March 1968, while on a routine training flight from
SECTION 20
#17327905244881540-564: The Su-27IB (Russian for Istrebityel Bombardirovshchik - "fighter bomber") as an Su-24 replacement in 1983. The first production airframe was flown in early 1994 and renamed the Su-34 (NATO reporting name 'Fullback'). Development of a version for the Soviet Navy designated Su-27K (from Korabyelny - "shipborne", NATO designation 'Flanker-D') commenced not long after the development of
1610-655: The Sukhoi Su-27 P/UP (ASCC: Flanker) as part of the 132nd Composite Aviation Division as part of the Baltic Fleet . The construction of a military airbase began in 1935, the German Luftwaffe started to operate the ″Fliegerhorst Prowehren″ in 1936. In 1943 a concrete runway was built. Following World War II the area was annexed by the Soviet Union and the airbase was taken over by
1680-661: The Ukrainian military intelligence claimed that they had raided Chkalovsky Air Base. According to them, the raid damaged or destroyed an An-148 , an Ilyushin Il-20 , and a Mil Mi-28 helicopter. This Russian military article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about an airport in Russia is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Kaliningrad Chkalovsk Kaliningrad Chkalovsk (also Chkalovskoye , Tchalov , or Prowehren )
1750-430: The 1990s. Scramble reports that 689th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (see ru:689-й гвардейский истребительный авиационный полк , Su-27s) & 288 OVP based at Nivenskoye moved to Chkalovsk during August 2002. In August 2022, Russia’s Defense Ministry said three MiG-31 fighters fitted for Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles arrived at the base as part of “additional measures of strategic deterrence”. Russia said
1820-537: The Bomber Task Force in Europe with B-1B bombers for the first time in the Black Sea region. On 4 September 2020, three B-52 bombers from the 5th Bomb Wing , Minot Air Force Base , North Dakota , conducted vital integration training with Ukrainian MiG-29s and Su-27s inside Ukraine’s airspace. The Su-27 was used by both sides in the Russian invasion of Ukraine . On 24 February 2022, a Ukrainian Su-27 and
1890-928: The Central Airfield. A reorganisation in December 1960 saw most testing arrangements moved to Akhtubinsk in Astrakhan Oblast . After the German Operation Barbarossa invasion began in 1941, three fighter aviation regiments (401, 402, 403), two dive bomber regiments (410, 411), two heavy bomber regiments (420, 421), an assault regiment (430), a reconnaissance squadron, as well as three airfield service battalions (760,761,762) were formed at Chkalovsky. The base provides air support for Star City , Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center , and other elements of
1960-463: The Chinese negotiator insisted on purchasing the Su-27, the most sophisticated fighter Soviets had at the time. The sales were approved in December 1990, with three fighters delivered to China before the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. Russia completed the contract and allowed China to manufacture the Su-27 domestically, where the aircraft is designated as J-11. The earliest batch of Su-27s
2030-704: The J-11B made extensive use of Chinese developed systems within the Su-27SK airframe. Starting in 2004, the Russian Air Force began a major update of the original Soviet Su-27 ('Flanker-B') fleet. The upgraded variants were designated Su-27SM (Russian for " S eriyniy M odernizovanniy" - literally " S erial M odernized"). This included upgrades in air-to-air capability with the R-77 missile with an active radar homing head. The modernized Su-27SM fighters belong to
2100-726: The PLAAF occurred shortly thereafter. China found some of the aircraft delivered were Su-27UBs that had been built in 1989 for the Soviet Union but never delivered. Russia delivered 2 more Su-27UBKs to China as a compensation. Differences in the payment method delayed the signing of the second, identical contract. For the first batch, 70% of the payment had been made in barter transactions with light industrial goods and food. The Russian Federation argued that future transactions should be made in US dollars . In May 1995, Chinese Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Liu Huaqing visited Russia and agreed to
2170-474: The Soviet General Staff issued a requirement for a Perspektivnyy Frontovoy Istrebitel ( PFI , literally "Prospective Frontline Fighter", roughly "Advanced Frontline Fighter"). Specifications were extremely ambitious, calling for long-range, good short-field performance (including the ability to use austere runways), excellent agility, Mach 2+ speed, and heavy armament. The aerodynamic design for
Chkalovsky (air base) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2240-738: The Su-27 and the Mikoyan MiG-29 eventually with the Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation multi-role twin-engine fighter. A squadron of Su-27SM3s was deployed to Syria in November 2015 as part of the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War . A Russian Su-27 crashed over the Black Sea on 25 March 2020, in mysterious circumstances. The pilot was not found, after a large-scale rescue effort hampered by inclement weather involving four helicopters, 11 civilian and military vessels, and several drones. The plane's last location
2310-532: The Su-27 to NATO standards in 2012, which involved a minor overhaul of the radar, navigation and communication equipment. Aircraft with this modification are designated Su-27P1M and Su-27UB1M. The Ministry of Defence accepted the project on 5 August 2014, and the first two aircraft were officially handed over to the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade in October 2015. In 2014 during the Annexation of Crimea,
2380-566: The TPFI program was assigned to Sukhoi OKB, which eventually produced the Su-27 and its various derivatives. The Sukhoi design, which was altered progressively to reflect Soviet awareness of the F-15's specifications, emerged as the T-10 (Sukhoi's 10th design), which first flew on 20 May 1977. The aircraft had a large wing, clipped, with two separate podded engines and a twin tail . The 'tunnel' between
2450-578: The Ukrainian Air Force began to have difficulty obtaining spare parts from Sukhoi. Only 19 Su-27s were serviceable at the time of the Russian annexation of Crimea and subsequent War in Donbas in 2014. Following the Russian invasion , Ukraine increased its military budget , allowing stored Su-27s to be returned to service. The Zaporizhzhya Aircraft Repair Plant "MiGremont" [ uk ] in Zaporizhzhia began modernizing
2520-427: The aircraft featured strengthened airframe and landing gear – the result of the PLAAF demands air-ground capability. As a result, the aircraft is capable of employing most of the conventional air-to-ground ordnance produced by Russia. Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) increased to 33,000 kg (73,000 lb). As is common for Russian export fighters, the active jamming device was downgraded; Su-27's L005 ECM pod
2590-570: The aircraft has demonstrated its maneuverability with a Cobra maneuver – or dynamic deceleration – briefly sustained level flight at a 120° angle of attack. The naval version of the 'Flanker', the Su-27K (or Su-33), incorporates canards for additional lift , reducing takeoff distances. These canards have also been incorporated in some Su-30s, the Su-35, and the Su-37. The Su-27 is equipped with
2660-445: The aircraft would be on 24/7 alert. The missiles were not fitted when they flew in, indicating these were transported separately. This Russian military article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Sukhoi Su-27 The Sukhoi Su-27 ( Russian : Сухой Су-27 ; NATO reporting name : Flanker ) is a Soviet -origin twin-engine supersonic supermaneuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi . It
2730-595: The airspace violation incoming from Sudan. The Su-27 entered Angolan service in mid-2000 during the Angolan Civil War . It is reported that one Su-27 in the process of landing, was shot down by 9K34 Strela-3 MANPADs fired by UNITA forces on 19 November 2000. Four Indonesian Flanker-type fighters including Su-27s participated for the first time in the biennial Exercise Pitch Black exercise in Australia on 27 July 2012. Arriving at Darwin , Australia ,
2800-581: The airspace. The Su-27 has replaced the aging Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 , which was the main air superiority fighter of the ETAF between 1977 and 1999. Ethiopian government used its Su-27s for bombing targets during the Tigray War . Ethiopian Su-27s were depicted armed with OFAB-250 unguided bombs and over the skies of Mekelle . On 25 August 2022, Ethiopian authorities claimed an An-26 was intercepted and then shot down by an ETAF Su-27, scrambled to investigate
2870-474: The base, Yuri Gagarin and flight instructor Vladimir Seryogin died when their MiG-15UTI crashed near the town of Kirzhach . The bodies of Gagarin and Seryogin were cremated and their ashes interred in the walls of the Kremlin . Wrapped in secrecy, the cause of the crash that killed Gagarin is uncertain and became the subject of several theories, including several conspiracy theories. On 18 September 2023,
Chkalovsky (air base) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2940-439: The collapse of the Soviet Union. Lack of funds in addition to the Su-27's high maintenance requirements led to a shortage of spare parts and inadequate servicing with approximately 34 in service as of 2019. Years of underfunding meant that the air force has not received a new Su-27 since 1991. Between 2007 and 2017, as many as 65 combat jets were sold abroad, including nine Su-27s. In 2009, amid declining relations with Russia ,
3010-478: The demand, on the condition that the production line of the Su-27 be imported. The contract was signed the same year. Delivery of the final aircraft from the second batch, which consisted of 16 Su-27SKs and 8 Su-27UBKs, occurred in July 1996. In preparation for the expanding Su-27 fleet, the PLAAF sought to augment its trainer fleet. On 3 December 1999, a third contract was signed, this time for 28 Su-27UBKs. All 76 of
3080-886: The export version for India, the Su-30MKI ('Flanker-H') was delivered in 2002 and has at least five other configurations. The Su-33 is the Russian Navy version of the Soviet Su-27K which was redesignated by the Sukhoi Design Bureau after 1991. Both have the NATO designation 'Flanker-D'. The Su-34 is the Russian derivative of the Soviet-era Su-27IB , which evolved from the Soviet Navy Su-27KUB operational conversion trainer. It
3150-705: The famous Soviet test pilot Viktor Pugachev (who first demonstrated the Cobra maneuver using an Su-27 in 1989), performing test takeoffs from a land-based ski-jump carrier deck on the Black Sea coast at Saky in the Ukrainian SSR . The aircraft was lost in an accident in 1988. At the time the naval Flanker was being developed the Soviets were building their first generation of aircraft carriers and had no experience with steam catapults and did not want to delay
3220-657: The introduction of the carriers. Thus it was decided to use a takeoff method that did not require catapults by building up full thrust against a blast deflector until the aircraft sheared restraints holding it down to the deck. The fighter would then accelerate up the deck onto a ski jump and become airborne. The production Su-27K featured the required strengthened landing gear with a two-wheel nose gear assembly, folding stabilators and wings, outer ailerons that extended further with inner double slotted flaps and enlarged leading-edge slats for low-speed carrier approaches, modified leading edge root extension (LERX) with canards,
3290-483: The last batch of 28 Su-27UBKs. At the 2009 Farnborough Airshow , Alexander Fomin- Deputy Director of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Co-operation confirmed the existence of an all-encompassing contract and ongoing licensed production of Su-27 variants by China. The aircraft was being produced as the Shenyang J-11. Ethiopian Su-27s shot down two Eritrean MiG-29s and damaged another one during
3360-537: The main land-based type. Some of the T-10 demonstrators were modified to test features of navalized variants for carrier operations. These modified demonstrators led to specific prototypes for the Soviet Navy, designated " T-10K ". The T-10Ks had canards , an arresting hook and carrier landing avionics as well as a retractable inflight refueling probe. They did not have the landing gear required for carrier landings or folding wings. The first T-10K flew in August 1987 flown by
3430-651: The naval trainer, called the Su-27KUB (from Korabyelny Uchebno-Boyevoy - "shipborne trainer-combat"), began in 1989. The aim was to produce an airframe with dual roles for the Navy and Air Force suitable for a range of other missions such as reconnaissance, aerial refuelling, maritime strike, and jamming. This concept then evolved into the Su-27IB ( Su-34 "Fullback" ) for the Soviet Air Force. The naval trainer had
3500-420: The new American F-15 and F-16. The Sukhoi bureau concentrated on adaptations of the standard Su-27UB tandem-seat trainer. However, the Soviet Air Force favoured the crew station (side-by-side seating) approach used in the Su-24 as it worked better for the high workload and potentially long endurance strike roles. Therefore, the conceptual naval side-by-side seated trainer was used as the basis for development of
3570-436: The new aircraft was largely carried out by TsAGI in collaboration with the Sukhoi design bureau. When the specification proved too challenging and costly for a single aircraft in the number needed, the PFI specification was split into two: the LPFI ( Lyogkyi PFI , Lightweight PFI) and the TPFI ( Tyazholyi PFI , Heavy PFI). The LPFI program resulted in the Mikoyan MiG-29 , a relatively short-range tactical fighter, while
SECTION 50
#17327905244883640-419: The operation revealed they were armed with R-27 and R-73 air-to-air missiles . There were two fatal crashes involving Ukrainian Su-27s in 2018. On 16 October, a Ukrainian Su-27UB1M flown by Colonel Ivan Petrenko crashed during the Ukraine- USAF exercise "Clear Sky 2018" based at Starokostiantyniv Air Base . The second seat was occupied by Lieutenant Colonel Seth Nehring, a pilot of the 144th Fighter Wing of
3710-400: The production facilities at Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant and Irkutsk developed export variants of the Su-27: the Su-27SK single seat fighter and Su-27UBK twin-seat trainer, (the K in both variants is Russian for " K ommercheskiy" - literally "Commercial") which have been exported to China , Vietnam , Ethiopia and Indonesia . After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Russia ,
3780-416: The program. The Su-37 improvements did however make it into new Flanker variants such as the Su-35S and the Su-30MKI . The Su-27's basic design is aerodynamically similar to the MiG-29 , but it is substantially larger. The wings are attached to the center of the fuselage at the leading edge extensions , featuring a semi-delta design, with the tips cropped for missile rails or ECM pods. The fighter
3850-417: The runway, all taxiways and aprons of Chkalovsk air base were fully renovated and the area of aprons also extensively enlarged during 2013–2014. Chkalovsk was home to 846 OMSHAP ( 846th Independent Naval Aviation Regiment ) flying 44 Sukhoi Su-17 aircraft in 1992; and 15 ODRAP ( 15th Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment ) flying 30 Tu-22 aircraft from 1966 to 1982 and 12 Su-24 aircraft by
3920-451: The successor state, started development of advanced variants of the Su-27 including the Su-30 , Su-33 , Su-34, Su-35 , and Su-37 . Since 1998 the export Su-27SK has been produced as the Shenyang J-11 in China under licence. The first licensed-production plane, assembled in Shenyang from Russian supplied kits, was flight tested on 16 December 1998. These licence-built versions, which numbered 100, were designated J-11A. The next model,
3990-419: The two Su-27s and two Sukhoi Su-30s were escorted by two Australian F/A-18 Hornets of No. 77 Squadron , Royal Australian Air Force . Exercise Pitch Black 12 was conducted from 27 July through 17 August 2012, and involved 2,200 personnel and up to 94 aircraft from Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand and the United States. The Ukrainian Air Force inherited about 66-70 Su-27 aircraft after
4060-470: The two engines, as on the F-14 Tomcat , acts both as an additional lifting surface and hides armament from radar. The T-10 was spotted by Western observers and assigned the NATO reporting name 'Flanker-A'. The development of the T-10 was marked by considerable problems, leading to a fatal crash of the second prototype, the T-10-2 on 7 July 1978, due to shortcomings in the fly-by-wire control system. Extensive redesigns followed (T-10-3 through T-10-15) and
4130-457: The type occurred using the Su-27UB (Russian for Uchebno Boevoy - "combat trainer", NATO designation 'Flanker-C') twin-seat trainer, with the pilots seated in tandem. When the naval Flanker trainer was being conceived the Soviet Air Force was evaluating a replacement for the Su-24 "Fencer" strike aircraft, and it became evident to Soviet planners at the time that a replacement for the Su-24 would need to be capable of surviving engagements with
4200-461: The wing and a much stronger airframe. The aircraft is equipped with new onboard radio-electronic systems and a wider range of applicable air weapons. The aircraft’s cockpit has multifunctional displays. The Su-30 is a two-seat multi-role version developed from the Su-27UBK and was designed for export and evolved into two main variants. The export variant for China, the SU-30MKK ('Flanker-G') which first flew in 1999. The other variant developed as
4270-474: Was created, called the Su-37 . The Shenyang J-11 is a Chinese license-built version of the Su-27. In 1969, the Soviet Union learned of the U.S. Air Force 's "F-X" program, which resulted in the F-15 Eagle . The Soviet leadership soon realized that the new American fighter would represent a serious technological advantage over existing Soviet fighters. "What was needed was a better-balanced fighter with both good agility and sophisticated systems." In response,
SECTION 60
#17327905244884340-456: Was designed with the Mikoyan MiG-29 as its complement. The Su-27 entered service with the Soviet Air Forces in 1985. The primary role was long range air defence against American SAC Rockwell B-1B Lancer and Boeing B-52G and H Stratofortress bombers, protecting the Soviet coast from aircraft carriers and flying long range fighter escort for Soviet heavy bombers such as the Tupolev Tu-95 , Tupolev Tu-22M and Tupolev Tu-160 . The Su-27
4410-440: Was developed into a family of aircraft; these include the Su-30 , a two-seat, dual-role fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions, and the Su-33 , a naval fleet defense interceptor for use from aircraft carriers . Further versions include the side-by-side two-seat Su-34 strike/fighter-bomber variant, and the Su-35 improved air superiority and multi-role fighter. A thrust-vectoring version
4480-420: Was intended as a direct competitor for the large US fourth-generation jet fighters such as the Grumman F-14 Tomcat and McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle , with 3,530-kilometre (1,910 nmi) range, heavy aircraft ordnance , sophisticated avionics and high maneuverability. The Su-27 was designed for air superiority missions, and subsequent variants are able to perform almost all aerial warfare operations. It
4550-526: Was previously referred to as the Su-32MF . The newest and most advanced version of the Su-27 is the Su-35S (" S erial"). The Su-35 was previously referred to as the Su-27M , Su-27SM2 , and Su-35BM . The Su-37 is an advanced technology demonstrator derived from Su-35 prototypes, featuring thrust vectoring nozzles made of titanium rather than steel and an updated airframe containing a high proportion of carbon-fibre and Al-Li alloy . Only two examples were built and in 2002 one crashed, effectively ending
4620-421: Was replaced with the L203/L204 pod. Furthermore, there were slight avionics differences between the batches. The first batch had N001E radar, while the later aircraft had N001P radar, capable of engaging two targets at the same time. Additionally, ground radar and navigational systems were upgraded. The aircraft are not capable of deploying the R-77 "Adder" missile due to a downgraded fire control system, except for
4690-425: Was reported shot down in friendly fire by an S-75M Dvina on 19 March 1993 while intercepting Georgian Su-25s performing close air support. The pilot was killed. In the 2008 South Ossetia War , Russia used Su-27s to gain airspace control over Tskhinvali , the capital city of South Ossetia. On 7 February 2013, two Su-27s briefly entered Japanese airspace off Rishiri Island near Hokkaido , flying south over
4760-425: Was some 50 kilometers from the city of Feodosia . China was the first foreign operator of Su-27 and the only country to acquire the fighter before the fall of the Soviet Union . The deal, known as the '906 Project' in China, marked a leap in Chinese aviation capability in the 1990s. Discussion of the aircraft purchase began in 1988 when the Soviet Union offered China fourth-generation fighters like MiG-29. However,
4830-559: Was stationed at the Wuhu Air Base in the early 1990s. In the next two decades, 78 Flankers were delivered under three separate contracts by the Russian KnAAPO and IAPO plants. Delivery of the aircraft began in February 1991 and finished by September 2009. The first contract was for 20 Su-27SK and 4 Su-27UBK aircraft. In February 1991, a Su-27 performed a flight demonstration at Beijing 's Nanyuan Airport . Chinese Su-27 pilots described its performance as "outstanding" in all aspects and flight envelopes . The official induction to service with
4900-443: Was strengthened to accommodate 45 tonnes (99,000 pounds) maximum gross weight and internal volume was increased by 30%. This first prototype, the T-10V-1, flew in April 1990 conducting aerial refuelling trials and simulated carrier landing approaches on the Tbilisi. The second prototype, the T-10V-2 was built in 1993 and had enlarged internal fuel tanks, enlarged spine, lengthened tail and tandem dual wheel main undercarriage. In 1991,
#487512