The Su-27’s Legacy for the Russian Air Force
The Su-27’s legacy for Russian military aviation cannot be understated.
The Sukhoi Su-27’s story begins in the late 1960s, when the Soviet Union became aware of the threat posed by America’s burgeoning force of fourth-generation warplanes. The Mikoyan MiG-29 was already in development as a lighter, short-range interceptor, but the Soviet Air Force sought a heavier, long-range aircraft capable of dominating the skies in both air-to-air combat and deep-strike missions.
Thus, the Sukhoi Design Bureau, under the leadership of chief designer Mikhail Simonov, was tasked with the ambitious Su-27 development program.
The History of the Su-27
Drawing inspiration from earlier Soviet aircraft but incorporating significant advancements, the Su-27’s first prototype, the T-10, took flight in 1977. Its initial tests revealed serious shortcomings in performance and stability, leading to a major redesign. The revised T-10S configuration, which became the basis for the production Su-27, debuted in 1981.
After extensive testing and refinements, the aircraft officially entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1985. It achieved full operational capability in 1990, due to the complexity of its systems and the political upheavals of post-Soviet Russia.
The Su-27’s Design
The Su-27’s airframe features a blended wing-body configuration with large, swept-back wings and twin vertical stabilizers, giving it exceptional lift and stability at both high and low speeds. This aerodynamic excellence allows the Su-27 to perform maneuvers, such as the “Cobra,” a famous aerobatic display where the aircraft briefly pitches its nose up to near-vertical angles without stalling—a testament to its supermaneuverability.
Powering the Su-27 are two Saturn AL-31F turbofan engines, each producing over 27,500 pounds of thrust with afterburners. These engines give the Flanker a top speed exceeding Mach 2.35 (around 1,550 miles per hour) and a combat radius of 930 miles.
This plane is meant to be a long-range killer. The Su-27’s fly-by-wire control system, advanced for its time, enhances its agility while compensating for the inherent instability that enables such dynamic maneuvers.
As for the Su-27’s avionics suite, it was, as per the era in which it was designed, an analog-heavy system that included a powerful pulse-Doppler radar (the N001 Myech). That radar was capable of tracking multiple targets at long-range.
The armaments package on the Su-27 included a 30mm GSh-30-1 cannon, and the plane can carry an impressive array of air-to-air missiles, like the R-27 and the highly agile R-73, enhancing its beyond-visual-range (BVR) capacity as well as its ability to stay engaged in close-in dogfights with NATO warplanes.
The Flanker’s Mission
The Cold War put an end to the Su-27’s original mission of hunting and killing American F-15 fourth-generation warplanes before they could ever fight each other. After the Soviet Union collapsed, its Su-27 fleet was split among multiple new states that emerged in its wake—with most of the Su-27s split between Russia and Ukraine.
The Su-27 saw its first combat deployment during the First Chechen War (1994-1996), where the Russian Air Force used it primarily for air patrols and limited ground-attack roles. Its true combat potential, however, was demonstrated in later conflicts. During the 1999 Eritrean-Ethiopian War, Ethiopian Su-27s reportedly shot down several Eritrean MiG-29s, showcasing the aircraft’s edge in air-to-air engagements.
In modern times, the Su-27 and its derivatives have been deployed by Russia in conflicts, like the Syrian Civil War, where they provided air cover and conducted precision strikes. The aircraft’s adaptability has kept it relevant, even as newer jets like the Su-35 and Su-57 have emerged.
The Su-27’s Legacy
What’s more, the Su-27 has served as a template for other warplanes, such as the naval variant Su-30, Su-33, and the aforementioned Su-35. Beyond Russia, the Su-27 has been exported to developing nations including China (where it evolved into the J-11 series), India, Vietnam, and several African states. Its widespread use underscores its reputation as a reliable and potent platform.
The Su-27 remains one of the most important modern Russian warplanes, given its longevity along with its influence over so many other platforms and its widespread use across the world. However, its performance on both sides of the Ukraine War has been a mixed one. Indeed, because of its age, the way the war is progressing in Ukraine, and lack of adequate training, the Su-27 has underperformed.
Still, the Su-27’s legacy for Russian military aviation cannot be understated. For that reason alone, it should command a degree of respect because of the high impact this system has had.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / vallaa.