page_title: Sukhoi Su-33
section_title: Soviet Union and Russia
hierarchical_section_title: Sukhoi Su-33 / Operational history / Soviet Union and Russia
caption_attribution_description: Russian fighter Su-27K (later designated Su-33) on a deck of Admiral Kuznetsov Original description: Russian naval flight officers show a SU-27 Flanker fighter to U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to the Ticonderoga Class Cruiser USS SAN JACINTO (CG 56), on the flight deck of the Russian aircraft carrier ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV (CV 063) February 23, 1996. ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV recently conducted official naval training exercises with USS SAN JACINTO while both ships operated in the central Mediterranean 23 and 24 February 1996. USS SAN JACINTO is part of the battle group assigned to the aircraft carrier USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73).
context_page_description: The Sukhoi Su-33 is an all-weather carrier-based twin-engine air superiority fighter designed by Sukhoi and manufactured by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association, derived from the Su-27 and initially known as the Su-27K. Compared with the Su-27, the Su-33 has a strengthened undercarriage and structure, folding wings and stabilators, all for carrier operations. The Su-33 has canards and its wings are larger than the Su-27 for increased lift. The Su-33 has upgraded engines and a twin nose wheel, and is air refuelable.
  First used in operations in 1995 aboard the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the fighter officially entered service in August 1998, by which time the designation "Su-33" was used. Following the break-up of the Soviet Union and the subsequent downsizing of the Russian Navy, only 24 aircraft were produced. Attempted sales to China and India fell through. With plans to retire the Su-33 once they reach the end of their service life, the Russian Navy ordered the MiG-29K as a replacement in 2009.
context_section_description: With the break-up of the Soviet Union, the Russian Navy was dramatically downsized, with many shipbuilding programmes stopped. If the Varyag, Oryol and Ulyanovsk had been commissioned, a total of 72 production airframes would have been built; the early-airborne warning and MiG-29K would also have proceeded, instead of being abandoned. Only 24 examples were built at the time Varyag was sold to China.
  The Su-27K was introduced in the mid-1990s and from December 1995 to March 1996, Admiral Kuznetsov set sail in the Mediterranean Sea, carrying two Su-25UTGs, nine Ka-27s, and 13 Su-27Ks. The aircraft officially entered service on 31 August 1998 under new designation "Su-33". The 279th independent Shipborne Assault Aviation Regiment based at Severomorsk-3 air base became the first unit operating the variant.
  In 2009, it was announced the Russian Navy will procure 24 MiG-29Ks to replace its fleet of about 19 Su-33s in service, with deliveries to be completed by 2015. However, in 2015, Chief of the Naval Aviation General Major Igor Kozhin, announced that a second fighter regiment would be formed to augment the current force, with the MiG-29Ks to be used by the new unit. The existing Su-33s were to be refurbished for further use. In September 2016, at least six Su-33s were upgraded with the SVP-24 targeting system as the aircraft were preparing for their combat deployment to Syria.
  In 2017, the United Engine Corporation announced it has resumed the production of upgraded AL-31F series 3 engines for Su-33 fighters. The first batch of engines was delivered to the customer the same year.
caption: A Su-33 onboard Admiral Kuznetsov in 1996. U.S. Navy sailors from USS San Jacinto are visiting the carrier.[29]
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