@g.hartmann33: Su-27 Soviet Air Force This was one of the most ambitious aviation projects of the late Soviet Union, a response to the American F-15 Eagle Work began in the late 1960s, and the first flight of the experimental T-10 took place in 1977, however the initial design proved to be insufficiently successful, and the aircraft had to be significantly redesigned, resulting in the T-10S variant, which became the production Su-27 Why the Su-27 was created: The main objective was to achieve air superiority at long ranges The Soviet leadership wanted a fighter that -was not inferior to the F-15 -outperformed it in manoeuvrability -had long range to cover the vast territory of the USSR -could effectively engage bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, and NATO fighters When it entered service: Serial production began in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in 1981–1982 Aircraft began entering operational units in 1982, and full operational capability was reached around 1985, interestingly the Su-27 was only officially adopted by the USSR on 23 August 1990, after major test issues had been resolved What made it special?: -The Su-27 became one of the most manoeuvrable fighters of its generation, it was on this aircraft that the famous Pugachev’s Cobra was first widely demonstrated, becoming a symbol of the Soviet aerodynamic school -Large fuel capacity Unlike many earlier Soviet fighters, the Su-27 had a large internal fuel capacity, allowing long-range patrols without external tanks -Powerful radar The N001 “Mech” radar enabled detection and tracking of targets at long distances and the use of medium-range R-27 missiles, which was highly advanced for the early 1980s Soviet modifications before 1991: -Su-27S the main operational fighter of the Air Force -Su-27P a version for the Soviet Air Defence Forces, focused on intercepting airborne targets -Su-27UB a two-seat training and combat variant -Su-27K a carrier-based version for future aircraft carriers (later known as the Su-33) -Su-27PU a long-range two-seat escort fighter, which later evolved into the Su-30 Su-27 in the USSR by 1991: By the time of the collapse of the USSR, the aircraft was only beginning to become the country’s primary heavy fighter. About 600 serial Su-27 family aircraft had been built, many of which ended up after 1991 in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan Interesting facts: 1: The first prototype almost failed the program Early prototypes had serious stability and control issues. At one point, the project could have been cancelled, but it was saved by a major redesign 2: The Su-27 became one of the first Soviet aircraft with a fly-by-wire system The electronic flight control system helped compensate for aerodynamic instability and enabled computer-assisted control, which was very advanced for the USSR at the time 3: The aircraft was designed around a “future pilot operator” concept The cockpit and controls were designed to reduce pilot workload, following the “one pilot one fight” philosophy, without a navigator or weapons officer 4: A significant portion of structural components was made of titanium, which was expensive and technologically difficult for the USSR, but necessary for strength under high g-loads 5: The aircraft was designed for extremely harsh operating conditions It was intended to operate from rough forward airfields with poor infrastructure and minimal maintenance support 6: The K-36D ejection seat was considered one of the best in the world, allowing pilot survival even at very low altitudes and high speeds 7: The Su-27 was conceived as a “long-range guardian of the USSR” Its main philosophy was not frontline escort, but control of vast airspace over the country, including Arctic and Far Eastern regions 8: Until 1991, the aircraft was rarely shown abroad The Su-27 remained highly classified, and its global fame only began after airshow demonstrations in the late 1980s #su27 #вкс #квваул #airforce #aviationlovers

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Wednesday 24 June 2026 14:01:04 GMT