Russian manufacturer Sukhoi designed its T-10 prototype beginning in the 1970’s The Flanker first debuted in the West at the 1989 Paris Air Show, four years after entering service with the Soviet Air Force.

Specs & Capabilities

Since the Flanker was in part designed to engage American B-52 and B-1 bombers, the platform has a killer range. In terms of armaments, the Su-27 can carry up to 10 missiles or a combination of missiles and bombs in addition to its 30mm cannon.

The range of air-to-air missiles the platform can carry includes the R-27R, a medium-range missile with semi-active radar homing and the R-73E close-combat, air-to-air missile with infrared homing.

The Flanker is also equipped with a range of sophisticated sensors and countermeasures, including a pilot illumination radar warning receiver and an advanced electronic countermeasures suite for individual aircraft.

Two Al-31F turbofan engines power each Flanker, designed by the Lyukla Engine Design Bureau. Able to fly at speeds reaching Mach-2.35 (times the speed of sound), the Su-27 is quite the powerhouse. The Flanker possesses a variety of features that lower its radar signature, making it harder for enemy aircraft to detect. This includes a rounded noise, dual-engine integration and nearly horizontal wing-body structure.

How Advanced is the Su-27 Platform?

Over the years, several new Flanker variants have been introduced to service. Prior to the collapse of the USSR, export variants of the Su-27 were developed for client states including China and Vietnam. By the 1990’s, Russian engineers had enhanced the platform’s air-to-air capability with the introduction of the R-77 missile and new avionics. This sophisticated Su-27M variant was later re-designated as the Su-35.

Russia’s Su-27 is considered to be one of the best fourth-generation fighters across the globe. With its great range and weapons-carrying capabilities, the Flanker is well equipped to go up against fourth-generation American airframes like the Eagle.

However, it is truly no match for the fifth-gen F-22 Raptor or F-35 Lightning II platforms.