A long-range twin-engine air-superiority fighter developed as the Soviet response to a new generation of Western fighters.
Development
Sukhoi Su-27 was developed by Sukhoi Design Bureau in Soviet Union as a fighter. The family first flew in 1977 and entered service in 1985. Its recorded airframe configuration is fixed wing, with the family classified in the archive as core combat-aircraft scope.
Operational History
Operationally, Sukhoi Su-27 is represented primarily in the fighter role. The sourced variant records include service with Soviet Air Forces, Soviet Naval Aviation, Russian Aerospace Forces, Indian Air Force, and People’s Liberation Army Air Force among other operators. The current structured record does not attach a specific conflict authority to this family; operational context remains limited to sourced service and role data. Role tags attached to the family include air superiority.
Variants and Lineage
Major variants represented in the structured record include Su-27, Su-27UB, Su-27K / Su-33 prototype, Su-27M development / early Su-35, Su-27PU / Su-30 development, and Su-30MK, with additional variants retained in the family record.
Variants
| Designation | Type | Role | Recorded operators |
|---|---|---|---|
| J-15 production carrier fighter | Production | Strike Fighter | People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force |
| J-15 prototype | Prototype | Fighter | People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force |
| J-15D electronic-warfare fighter | Special Mission | Electronic Attack / SEAD | People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force |
| J-15T catapult-capable carrier fighter | Upgrade | Strike Fighter | People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force |
| Su-27 | Production | Fighter | Soviet Air Forces |
| Su-27K / Su-33 prototype | Prototype | Fighter | Soviet Naval Aviation |
| Su-27M development / early Su-35 | Prototype | Multirole Fighter | Soviet Air Forces |
| Su-27PU / Su-30 development | Prototype | Multirole Fighter | Soviet Air Forces |
| Su-27UB | Production | Fighter | Soviet Air Forces |
| Su-30MK | Export | Multirole Fighter | Russian Aerospace Forces |
| Su-30MKA | Export | Multirole Fighter | Algerian Air Force |
| Su-30MKI development | Prototype | Multirole Fighter | Indian Air Force |
| Su-30MKI production | Production | Multirole Fighter | Indian Air Force |
| Su-30MKK | Export | Multirole Fighter | People’s Liberation Army Air Force |
| Su-30MKM | Export | Multirole Fighter | Royal Malaysian Air Force |
| Su-30SM | Production | Multirole Fighter | Russian Aerospace Forces |
| Su-33 production | Production | Fighter | Russian Aerospace Forces |
| Su-35BM / T-10BM prototype | Prototype | Multirole Fighter | Russian Aerospace Forces |
| Su-35S early production | Production | Multirole Fighter | Russian Aerospace Forces |
| Su-35S production standard | Production | Multirole Fighter | Russian Aerospace Forces |
Representative specifications
Configuration-specific profiles are shown separately so values from different variants are not blended into one false “standard” aircraft.
Su-27 — C016 baseline technical profile
- Crew
- 1
Powerplant: 2 × Saturn AL-31F turbofans
Armament: 30 mm cannon with medium- and short-range air-to-air missiles; later variants added broader strike stores.
Sources and further reading
Structured references supporting this aircraft family, variants, specifications, and narrative sections.
- Navy fighter makes public debut — Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China · Tier 1
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1993-94 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1994-95 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1997-98 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1999-00 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2002-03 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2007-08 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2008-09 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2009-10 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2011-12 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2012-13 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2014-15 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995 — Osprey Aerospace · Tier 3