The Su-27 is a twin-engine, single-seat, supersonic multi-role military aircraft by Sukhoi of Russia, formerly of the Soviet Union. The fourth-generation aircraft was conceived in the 1970s as a counter to emerging capabilities of American aircraft that included the F-15, the F-16, and the F-14. Designers outlined that the platform needed to be highly maneuverable, have long range capability, be able to fly at speeds greater than Mach 2.0, and be able to carry large amounts of a variety of weapons. It furthermore needed to incorporate advanced flight controls, radar and targeting systems, avionics, and countermeasures. Sukhoi succeeded in creating a jet that met all requirements.
The jet took its first flight on May 20, 1977 and entered service on June 22, 1985. It was initially postured as a long-range interceptor against potential inbound American bombers and naval threats, and has since proven highly capable in a number of mission types, including air superiority, strike, interdiction, armed reconnaissance, close air support, light bombing, and attack. The design has proven to be highly adaptable, and a number of iterations have been created over the years, including two-place and naval versions. Its NATO reporting name is “Flanker.”
The Su-27 measures 71 feet, 10 inches in length, stands 19 feet, 5 inches in height, and features a swept cropped delta wing with a span of 48 feet, 3 inches. Its empennage consists of all-moving horizontal tailplanes and twin vertical stabilizers with rudders. The Su-27 has a retractable tricycle undercarriage.
The jet is powered by two Saturn AL-31F afterburning turbofan engines that each produce up to 17,000 pounds of thrust in military power and up to 27,600 pounds when augmented by afterburner. The Su-27 has a range of 2,200 miles, a service ceiling of 62,000 feet above sea level, and it climbs at 59,000 feet per minute. It has a top speed of 1,600 miles per hour, or Mach 2.35.
The Su-27 is known as one of the most agile aircraft in the world. It can handle up to 9g maneuvers and its advanced fly-by-wire flight control system allows aviators to perform a variety of maneuvers, including the renowned “Cobra.” The Su-27 grants one of the greatest cockpit experiences of any aircraft ever produced.
