Sukhoi SU-27 Specifications

Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft produced was the first time by the Soviet Union, and designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. The original plan was to manufacture these aircraft became the main rival of the United States fighter new generation, namely the F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F/A-18 Hornet. Understandably, when the development was going cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union.

General Characteristics:
Crew: One
Length: 21.9 m (72 ft)
Wingspan: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)
Leading edge sweep: 42 °)
Height: 5.93 m (19 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 62 m² (667 ft ²)
Empty weight: 16,380 kg (36,100 lb)
Loaded weight: 23,000 kg (50,690 lb)
Maximum takeoff weight: 33,000 kg (62,400 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Lyulka AL-31F turbofan, 122.8 kN (27,600 lbf) each

Performance:
Maximum speed: 2,500 km / h (1550 mph Mach 2:35)
Range: 1340 km at sea level, 3530 km at high altitude (800 mi at sea level, 2070 mi at high altitude)
Service ceiling: 18,500 m (60,700 ft)
Rate of climb: 325 m / s (64,000 ft / min)
Wing load: 371 kg / m² (76 lb / ft ² ‘)
Encouragement / weight: 1.085

Armament:
1 x cannon GSH-30-1 30 mm, 150 grain bullet
8000 kg (17,600 lb) on 10 external point
6 R-27, 4 R-73
Su-27SM can use R-77, replacing the R-27
Su-27IB can use anti-radiation missiles X-31, air-to-ground missiles X-29L / T, as well as bombs KAB-150 and UAB-500
AA-11 Archer / R-73
AA-10A/B/C/D/E Alamo-A/B/C/D/E / R-27R/T/RE/TE/AE
AS-16 Kickback SRAM / Kh-15 / C
Air bombs

Historical Development

Initially, in 1969, the Soviet Union was informed that the United States Air Force, has selected McDonnell Douglas to produce the design of experimental aircraft, which eventually became the F-15 Eagle. To confront the perceived threat, the Soviet Union began a program Perspektivnyi Frontovoy Istrebitel (PFI), which means advanced tactical fighter which was planned to produce aircraft that can compete with the United States design.

However, this aircraft development program was very complicated and expensive. So the program is divided into two, namely Tyazholyi Perspektivnyi Frontovoi Istrebitel (TPFI), which means advanced tactical fighter aircraft weight. And the second is Perspektivnyi Frontovoi Legkiy Istrebitel (LPFI), which means advanced tactical fighter lightly. This step is also similar to what the United States, where the United States started Lightweight Fighter program, which in turn produces the F-16. While the Sukhoi is a plane TPFI development.

Design

Basic aerodynamic design of the Su-27 is similar to the MiG-29, only larger. The plane is very large, so the material used is titanium by 30%, to reduce the weight. There is no composite materials are used. Basically, Sukhoi wing is delta-shaped, only the outer end of that cut to tip missile rails. However, delta-shaped aircraft is not pure, because they still maintain a conventional tail shape by using two vertical tail fins on the outer side of both engines, and assisted with 2 tail was folded down to help lateral stability.

Su-27 is the first operational flight of the Soviet Union that use the fly by wire flight control, was developed based on project experience OKB Sukhoi T-4 Sukhoi bombers. This system combined with my burden is relatively low and strong basic flight controls, it produces incredible agile aircraft, fixed easily controlled even at low speeds and darting through the high shrinkage attack.

Although the Su-27 fighter aircraft regarded as having amazing agility, the aircraft has not been widely used in actual battle. Use of this aircraft in battle worth noting are the Ethiopia-Eritrea War, where the planes Sukhoi Su-27A, Ethiopia used to protect bomber aircraft Mig-21 and Mig-23. In war, the planes Su-27 was successfully destroyed four Mig-29 Eritrea. One of the pilots who managed to shoot down the opponent is Aster Tolossa, who became the first African woman to win an air battle.