Sukhoi Su-27 Series

Download or read book Sukhoi Su-27 Series written by Theodore Gianna and published by . This book was released on 2023-09-20 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sukhoi Su-27 production began in 1982. The Su-27 project, however, started in 1969, when the United States declared intentions to construct a new fighter, the F-15 Eagle. The Soviet government wasted no time developing a response to counterbalance the latest American aircraft. The project was named the 'Promising Frontline Fighter Project'. Sukhoi was chosen as the project's winner, and the new frontline fighter was named the Su-27.After the Su-27 entered service with the Russian Air Force (VVS), the sky was the limit for Sukhoi and its family of fighters. The company churned out outstanding variants of the Su-27 series. The first variant is the Su-30 two-seat all-weather, air-to-air, and air interdiction missions multirole fighter. The Su-30, which evolved from the Su-27UB two-seat combat trainer, features updated avionics and can conduct ground attack missions. The following aircraft is the two-seat Su-32 fighter bomber. It was designed for round-the-clock, all-weather engagement of ground and surface targets at considerable distances from home bases. It also has precision-guided weapons to attack enemy aircraft in an intense counter-fire and ECM environment. The subsequent aircraft is the Su-33 all-weather carrier-based twin-engine air superiority fighter, designed primarily for use on the Russian 'Admiral Kuznetsov' heavy aviation cruiser. Next is the superb Su-34 multifunctional supersonic fighter bomber which is equipped with the 'Kinzhal' hypersonic missile system. Then comes the granddaddy of the series, the Su-35S 4++ generation multirole super-maneuverable fighter, arguably the most visually striking fighter aircraft on the market today, and is an exceedingly lethal adversary in a combat situation. It possesses extreme super maneuverability and is exceptionally agile and quick. It could also strike targets on the ground. Lastly, there was the Su-37, the most maneuverable variant due to the 'Thrust Vector Control' (TVC) system, which allowed the aircraft to evade a stall scenario during low-speed situations when the control surfaces became ineffective. Using TVC, the aircraft could be controlled in these conditions by relying on engine thrust as opposed to airflow. The Su-37 project was terminated, and only one Su-37 was produced. Nonetheless, the Su-35s today continue to utilize TVC technology.