Sukhoi Su - 27 Flanker The Sukhoi Su - 27 ( Cy - 27 in Cyrillic alphabet ) ( Code NATO : Flanker ) Is a Russian ( previously Soviet ) long - range air superiority and interception fighter . His story began in the late 1960 . Under the influence of intelligence information on the most modern Soviet fighters ( Mig - 21 and Mig - 23 ) , Americans began to develop a new generation of aircraft . This competition , there were two light jets ( F - 16 and F - 18 ) And a heavy interceptor ( F - 15 Eagle ) . In response to the Americans , the Soviets in 1969 , Created the program called PFI ( Perspektivnyi Frontovoi Istrebitel ) , which resulted in the design of Yakovlev Yak - 45 , of Mig - 29 and Sukhoi Su - 27 . The domain of the Russians in advanced materials , such as titanium and knowledge of the system Fly - by - wire were fundamental to the development of the Su - 27 , which made its first flight in May 20 of 1977 . At the Institute of Flight Test in Zhukovski . There is a naval version of this jet - Su - 27K Naval Flanker , Also known as Su - 33 Sea Flanker , With folding wings and can operate from aircraft carrier . Description . The Su - 27 was designed by Sukhoi OKB as a heavy fighter for the Soviet Air Force ( " Voenno - Vozdushmiy Sily " - VVS ) and National ( Homeland ) Air Defense Forces ( " Protivo - Vozdushnoi Oborony " - PVO ) to regain air superiority over the F - 15 Eagle operated by the US Air Force . In fact , the requirements were based on the performance of the F - 15 adding ten percent . The Sukhoi design fulfilled the requirements and beyond . The Su - 27 is often proclaimed the best and most successful Russian fighter of the Cold War era . After the end of the Cold War and USSR , the Sukhoi OKB ( often in cooperation with the KnAAPO plant ) developed various advanced variants aimed at prospective foreign customers . The aircraft were marketed at international air shows , putting up superb aerobatic displays . The aircraft performance both on paper as in aerobatic displays has stunned many enthusiasts and experts alike all over the world . Also , the Flanker has proven its air superiority in combat during several African wars . The Su - 27 and its derivatives are today some of the most popular fighters to be discussed by both aviation enthusiasts and experts . Designs . The main feature for the success of the Su - 27 design is its aerodynamic configuration , known as ' integrated aerodynamic concept ' by its designers . This configuration is one with extremely blended wing and fuselage . The low - aspect ratio trapezoidal midwing is fitted with large leading - edge root extensions ( LERX ) and blending into the fuselage creating a single lifting body . The aircraft has a near - zero static stability and thus require a fly - by - wire system . The SDU - 10 pitch - only fly - by - wire system controls the pitch of the aircraft to ensure stability and controllability for the pilot , increase aerodynamic performance , limit overload and angle of attack when needed and decrease the airframe aerodynamic load . Two AL - 31F afterburning turbofans are placed in separate , widely spaced engine nacelles that are mounted under the lifting body . The air intakes are fitted with variable ramps . The Su - 27 has twin vertical fins fitted on the outer sides of the fuselage and twin central fins underneath . The airbrake is placed in the center of the midsection of the aircraft behind the cockpit . The tricycle landing gear of Su - 27 and Su - 27UB has a single wheel on each strut . The nose wheel is fitted with a mudguard to protect against foreign object damage ( FOD ) . Systems & Avionics . The basic Su - 27 is fitted with the SUV - 27 fire control system , which incorporates the RLPK - 27 radar sighting system , OEPS - 27 electro - optical sighting system , SEI - 31 integrated indication system , IFF interrogator and built - in test system . The fire control system in integrated with the PNK - 10 flight navigation system , radio command link , IFF system , data transmission equipment and EW self - defence system . The RLPK - 27 system and is controlled by the Ts - 100 digital computer and includes the N001 pulse - Doppler lookdown - capable radar with a range of 80 – 100 km in the front hemisphere and 30 – 40 km in the rear hemispehere for a fighter - sized target . It can simultaneously track up to ten aerial targets in track - while - scan mode and provide interception of the top priority target . The OEPS - 27 electro - optical sighting system consist of the OLS - 27 infrared / laser search - and - track system ( IRST ) and the Shchel - 3UM helmet - mounted target designator and is controlled by the Ts - 100 digital computer . The OLS - 27 sensor is placed forward of the cockpit canopy in the centre . The system acquires and tracks aerial targets by their thermal signatures . The helmet - mounted sight and the laser range finder of the IRST can also be used to visually acquire and determine coordinates of air and surface targets . The SEI - 31 integrated indication system provides flight , navigation and sighting data on the ILS - 31 head - up display ( HUD ) and CRT . The EW self - defence systems provides warning to the crew when illuminated by enemy radar and employs both passive and active countermeasures . The aircraft is equipped with the SPO - 15 Beryoza RWR and APP - 50 IR decoy dispenser . Chaff dispensers are placed in the tail section between the engine nozels . In addition , the aircraft can carry the Sorbtsiya active ECM pods on its wingtips . Cockpit . The cockpit is fitted with the K - 36DM Series 2 ejection seat . The seat - back is being inclined at an angle of 17 degrees . In the two - seat Su - 27UB version , the seats are placed in tandem with the rear - seat being elevated to ensure good forward vision . The basic Su - 27 cockpit layout consist of analogue instruments , HUD and CRT display to display data from radar and electro - optical sight ( IRST ) . On both sides of the HUD control panel , there are sensors for the helmet - mounted target designator system . On the right side below the CRT display the RWR indicator is placed . Weapons . The Su - 27 is fitted with one GSh - 301 automatic single - barrel 30mm cannon fitted inside the starboard wing LERX . It can be armed with up to 150 high explosive incendiary or armour piercing tracer rounds . The basic Su - 27 ' s primary armament consists up to six R - 27R / ER semi - active radar homer or R - 27T / ET heatseeking homer medium range air - to - air missiles , as well as four R - 73 IR agile all - aspect short range air - to - air missile . The basic Su - 27 has only a limited air - to - surface capability consisting of only unguided bombs and rockets . Upgrading the Russian Air Force SU - 27 Fleet . The Russian Air Force received its first batch of upgraded Su - 27s in 2006 . The air force seems to have settled for the mid - life upgrade offered by KnAAPO based on the Su - 30MK2 , which brings the aircraft up to Su - 27SM standard . The Su - 27SM is equipped with an upgraded fire control system including the improved N001V radar with phased array antenna , which offers improved performance and air - to - surface mode . The new system enables the use of the RVV - AE ( R - 77 ) medium range air - to - air missile and a wide selection of guided air - to - surface bombs and missiles . Another heavily updated feature is the cockpit , which is upgraded with three MFD , new HUD , satellite receiver and new communications set . The aircraft ' s self - defense suite has also been upgraded . The Russian Air Force plans to upgrade its entire fleet to Su - 27SM standard , but the exact number of aircraft involved remains unclear . The Su - 27SM is based on earlier proposed upgrades for the Su - 27SK export version . The Su - 27SMK as it is designated has seen two attempts , with at the basis a different radar system ( N001M and N001VEP respectively ) . China was seen as the premier customer for an upgrade package . However China opted to expand its Flanker fleet with multi - role Su - 30MKK and Su - 30MKK2 instead of upgrading its Su - 27SK and J - 11 single - seaters . Instead China planned an indigenous upgrade for its J - 11s . Other clients also preferred two - seat Su - 30MK / MK2 . From 2002 onwards , Sukhoi and KnAAPO developed a new deeply modernized single - seat Su - 27 derivative known as Su - 27BM . Designated Su - 35 , it will be offered for new export orders , replacing the previously offered Su - 35 , which was based on the Su - 27M and offered in the 1990s . Based on the Su - 35 ( Su - 27BM ) , the Su - 27SM2 upgrade is on offer to the Russian Air Force for the second phase of its Su - 27 mid - life upgrade program . The Su - 27SM2 upgrade will give Russia ' s existing Su - 27s a similar avionics and weapons suite as offered on the Su - 35 ( Su - 27BM ) . The Russian Air Force has expressed interest in the Su - 35 , but it remains to be seen whether this will include new air frames or be limited to the Su - 27SM2 upgrade . Upgraded Su - 27 Flankers for the Russian Air Force are also planned to be fitted with upgraded engines . Both MMPP Salyut and NPO Saturn have developed modernized and more powerful AL - 31F variants . In December 2006 , the MMPP Salyut ' s AL - 31F - M1 turbofan passed state acceptance tests for use on the Su - 27SM . The AL - 31F - M1 produces 132 . 4 kN ( 29 , 765 lb ) of thrust in an additional mode , 9 . 8 kN ( 2 , 203 lb ) more than the standard AL - 31F turbofan . It will be followed by the AL - 31F - M2 and the even more powerful AL - 31F - M3 with 147 . 1 kN ( 33 , 069 lb ) of thrust is also under development to compete for the first stage of the PAK - FA program , Russia ' s future fifth generation fighter . Rival NPO Saturn meanwhile developed the " izdelye " 117S , another AL - 31F derivative based on the AL - 41F which produces 142 . 2 kN maximum thrust . Co - funded by Sukhoi and UMPO , the 117S will enter series production both at Saturn and UMPO to power the Su - 35 export fighters . On February 19 , 2008 , the first Su - 35 prototype made its maiden flight powered by two 117S . NPO Saturn is also competing to power the PAK - FA with a further modified 117S . Pending a decision on the powerplant selection for the ' first stage ' of the PAK - FA program , it remains to be seen which of the options will power the Su - 27SM / SM2 upgrades . The two - seat aircraft will most likely be upgraded to Su - 27UBM . Although IAPO offered such an upgrade demonstrated on the Su - 30KN , it remains unclear whether the Russian Air Force has opted for this upgrade or plans to have KnAAPO update the two - seaters under a similar program as the Su - 27SM / SM2 .