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Sukhoi Su-27SK Flanker fighter aicraft
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The Sukhoi Su-27SK is the export version of the basic variant of Su-27. Formally, the development program of the Su-27SK fighter, a version of the Su-27 aircraft, was launched in 1969, though the conceptual studies and work substantiating its higher performance at Air Force research institutes and in industry date back to a much earlier period. Since then 30 years have elapsed and it would be interesting now to rate the machine from the viewpoint of the present-day standards, analyze the prospects for ideas which originated in the late 1960s and realized in the creation of the baseline aircraft and its version, the Su-27SK. The Su-27SK is intended to gain air superiority and deliver air attacks against ground targets by unguided weapons. These fighter aircraft is built around an integrated conventional aerodynamic configuration, which makes it possible to achieve high aerodynamic lift and efficiency of air combat. At subsonic speeds the Su-27SK is statically unstable in the longitudinal-control channel, which decreases trim losses. The required stability and controllability characteristics are assured by a quadruple-redundant remote control system. |
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The airframe of the Su-27SK fighter is rated at a maximum operational overload of +9g, which is dose to the value of the pilot's physiological g-tolerance, and is unlikely to be exceeded in the nearest future. The airframe structure makes extensive use of titanium alloys and strengthened grades of steel. The relative mass of the structure is an indication of the structural cleanness of any aircraft and is equal to about 0.29 for the Su-27SK, which is on a par with the best world standards.
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The avionics of the Su-27SK comprises an airborne radar, optronic fire control system, flight-navigation complex, ECM and communications facilities allowing the aircraft to perform its missions both during the day and at night, in all weathers and in the face of enemy ECM background. The Russian fighter's avionics of Su-27SK offers an equal and, in some cases, better performance than similar European new-generation fighters.
The surveillance/aiming equipment, which is part of the weapon control system, assures radar-aided automatic all-aspect detection and tracking of up to ten aerial targets in free airspace at ranges of up to 120 km and against the earth background. The optronic aiming system, comprising infrared radar and a laser rangefinder, features a high- altitude effective range comparable with that of the airborne radar. The airborne radar operates in conjunction with the optronic aiming system which markedly improves target detection probability and target tracking reliability, especially in the ECM environment. The head-up display and the helmet-mounted target designator provide virtually instant inputs into the missile homing heads. The electronic and optronic countermeasures equipment makes it possible to detect a radiating source and determine its coordinates, classify the threat type and select the right countermeasures to jam the direction, range and speed channels and fire infrared and chaff decoys. The integrated navigation and communications systems, forming part of the avionics equipment, allow the Sukhoi Su-27SK to be navigated in all phases of its flight and landing approach in both automatic and director modes and provide radio communications with the ground control stations and other aircraft at distances of up to 1,500 km. The communications equipment is used for exchange of coded information during air combat as well as command guidance from the ground for intercepting air targets. |
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The powerplant of Sukhoi Su-27SK comprises two AL-31F double-flow turbojet engines developing a maximum reheat thrust of 12,500 kgf. The engine's specific thrust is 10% higher than that of its American counterpart, the F-100-PW-100. The AL-31F is the world's only series-produced engine for combat aircraft with the active control of the gap between the blades and casing of the turbine; this characteristic markedly increases the efficiency of the latter and fuel efficiency of the engine.
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The high effectiveness of the Su-27SK is largely due to its advanced weapon control system (WCS) assuring automatic all-aspect detection and tracking of air targets in a free space and against the earth background, engagement of the targets by its air-to-air missiles and gun fire from short and long distances, and destruction of ground targets by its unguided weapons. The Su-27SK weaponry is arranged at ten hardpoints and comprises:
- 30mm gun with 150 rds. - up to six R-27 air-to-air missiles with semiactive radar and infrared homing heads; - up to six R-73E short-range missiles. - unguided missiles: S-8KOM, S-8OM, S-8BM S-13T, S-13OF S-25OFM-PU - RBK-500 cluster bomb The R-27E missile is a short-range weapon allowing highly accurate head-on and tail-on attacks against air targets in air combat from all directions. By its effectiveness which derives from the performance characteristics (maximum g- load, target designation angle, angular rate of air target autotracking, minimum launching range for a maneuverable target), the missile outperforms the world's best analogs. The R-27E missile can attack all types of air targets from short and long distances and in all weathers, from all directions and against the earth background, with the enemy using his ECM and maneuver capabilities. The missile intercepts air targets flying at speeds up to 3,500 km/h and altitudes ranging from 0.02 to 27 km. It is equipped with an inertial radio-updated navigation system and semi-active radar or infrared homing heads. A significant advantage of the Su-27SK armament complex is that it can simultaneously carry the R-27E missiles fitted with different types of homing heads, which enhance the effectiveness of execution of combat missions in the enemy ECM environment. The SU-27SK can also carry aerial bombs of up to 500 kg, including concrete-piercing bombs, clusters, unguided airborne rockets. Such a complement of attack weapons has been accepted largely for gaining air supremacy, and among the several ways to achieve this would be pinning enemy aviation down to the ground (destroying airfield components, dropping mines on them, destroying aircraft and ground installations, disrupting communication and control). The Su-27SK fighter aircraft is equipped with the GSh- 301 built-in gun with an ammunition load of 150 rounds. |
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