SU-27SK (SU-30MK, SU-33) FLANKER FRONT LINE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT,
RUSSIA
The Su-27 (NATO designation Flanker) is the front line fighter
aircraft designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and manufactured by
Irkut Corporation. The export version is the Su-27SK. The aircraft
is equipped to operate autonomously in combat over hostile
territory, in escort of deep-penetration strike aircraft and in the
suppression of enemy airfields. The aircraft provides general air
defence in cooperation with ground and airborne control stations. A
naval variant with folding wings, the Su-33, exists.
Su-27 entered production in 1982 and is in service with Russia,
Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Vietnam, and is built under
license in China as the F-11. A variant, the Su-30MK, has been sold
to India with licensed local production. 50 aircraft were ordered
from Irkut and the first entered service with the Indian Air Force
in September 2002. The last was delivered in December 2004. The
first of up to 140 aircraft indigenously built by Hindustan
Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was delivered in November 2004. China ordered
76 two-seat Su-30MKK and 24 Su-30MK2 naval fighters. Deliveries
were completed in August 2004. Indonesia ordered two Su-27SK and
two Su-30MK aircraft, which were delivered in September 2003, and
has plans to order eight more.
The latest version is the Su-27SM, an upgrade for the Russian Air
Force which has strengthened fuselage for extra weapons payload,
improved N001 radar, glass cockpit with three-colour multi-function
displays and improved avionics. The first was delivered in December
2003.
DESIGN
The Su-27SK is a highly integrated twin-finned aircraft. The
airframe is constructed of titanium and high-strength aluminium
alloys. The engine nacelles are fitted with trouser fairings to
provide a continuous streamlined profile between the nacelles and
the tail beams. The fins and horizontal tail consoles are attached
to tail beams. The central beam section between the engine nacelles
consists of the equipment compartment, fuel tank and the brake
parachute container. The fuselage head is of semi-monocoque
construction and includes the cockpit, radar compartments and the
avionics bay.
WEAPONS
The aircraft is equipped with a 30mm GSh-301 gun with 150 rounds of
ammunition and a range of missiles, rockets and bombs mounted
externally on ten hardpoints.
The aircraft's infrared search and track system, laser rangefinder,
radar, and helmet-mounted target designator provide detection,
tracking and attack capability.
The range of air-to-air missiles carried by the Su-27K aircraft
includes: R-27R1 (NATO designation AA-10A Alamo-A), all-aspect
medium-range missile with semi-active radar homing and R-27T1
(AA-10B Alamo-B) with infrared homing and a range from 0.5 to 60km;
and R-73E (AA-11 Archer) all-aspect, close-combat air-to-air
missile with infrared homing and a range from 0.3 to 20km.
Ordnance for air-to-ground missions include: 100, 250 and 500kg
freefall and retarded aerial bombs; 500kg incendiary devices; 25
and 500kg RBK cluster bombs; and C-8, C-13 and C-25 unguided aerial
missiles.
COUNTERMEASURES
The Su-27SK is equipped with a new electronic countermeasures suite
for individual aircraft, and for mutual and group protection in the
forward and rear hemispheres. The countermeasures system includes a
pilot illumination radar warning receiver, chaff and infrared decoy
dispensers, and an active multi-mode jammer located in the wingtip
pods.
SENSORS
The Su-27SK is equipped with a Phazotron N001 Zhuk coherent pulse
Doppler radar with track-while-scan and look-down/shoot-down
capability. The range of the radar against 3-square-metre targets
is over 100km in the forward hemisphere and 40km in the rear
hemisphere. The radar has the capacity to search, detect and track
up to ten targets with automatic threat assessment and
proritisation.
The aircraft has an OEPS-27 electro-optic system, which includes an
infrared search-and-track (IRST) sensor collimated with a laser
rangefinder. The range of the electro-optical system is 40-100km,
depending on the aspect angle presented by the target.
COMMUNICATIONS
The radio communications suite provides: voice and data; VHF/UHF
radio communications between aircraft and ground control stations
within sight range; voice radio communication with ground control
stations and between aircraft up to a range of 1,500km; an
encrypted data link for combat information exchange between
aircraft; and command guidance from ground control stations using
automatic interception mode.
SYSTEMS
The Su-34 is equipped with an electro-optical fire-control system,
supplied by the Urals Optical and Mechanical Plant (YOM3), and a
Geofizika FLIR (forward-looking infrared) pod. Leninetz of St
Petersburg supplies the radar systems and TsNIRTI the electronic
countermeasures suite.
ENGINES
The Su-27SK is powered by two AL-31F turbofan engines, designed by
the Lyulka Engine Design Bureau (NPO Saturn). Each engine has two
air intakes: a primary wedge intake and a louvred auxiliary air
intake. The twin-shaft, turbo-fan engine has after-turbine flow
mixing, a common afterburner, an all-mode variable area jet exhaust
nozzle, an independent start and a main electronic control, and a
reserve hydromechanical engine mode control system. The
high-temperature sections of the engines are made of titanium
alloy.
An Su-27 fitted with AL-41F1 engines being developed by NPO Saturn
took its first flight in March 2004. The uprated engine provides a
thrust of 145kN (33,000lb).
