FAMOUS RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT: SUKHOI Su-27

Author(s): Y Gordon

This the latest title in the occasional Midland, ‘Famous Russian Aircraft' series which examines in great detail some of the most significant aircraft produced by the Soviets over the years. The previous books in the series were on the MiG-31 and the MiG-29. In the late 1960s the Soviet Union became aware that the US was developing a new generation of jet fighters which had an exceptional range, heavy armament and great agility in the air. These US aircraft, the F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F/A-18 Hornet, dominated US air power for some three decades. In the context of the Cold War, the Soviets could not be seen to be lagging behind the Americans and part of their response to these new US aircraft was the Sukhoi Su-27 ‘Flanker’, designed as a long-range air superiority aircraft and interceptor.

The development of the aircraft was, however, marked by considerable difficulties including a fatal crash, in 1978, that resulted in considerable revisions to the design. The first of the modified pre-production aircraft appeared in 1981 but it was not until 1984 that significant numbers of the Su-27 started to enter service. Eventually some 680 Su-27 were built for the Soviets, of which some 400 remain in service with the Russian Tactical Air Force today. Smaller numbers of Su-27s are also still in service with the air forces of former constituents of the USSR. Outside Russia, the Su-27 is also in service with the Chinese, where it was manufactured under license as the Shenyang J-11. Su-27s are also on the inventories of the air forces of Vietnam, Malaysia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Syria and Angola. In addition India and Iran have either ordered or plan to order the type.

In the latest volume in Midland Publishing’s ‘Famous Russian Aircraft’ series, that doyen of writers on Soviet/Russian aviation, Yefim Gordon, describes in depth the development, operational career, history and variants within the Su-27 family. The book will incorporate some 450 mono and colour illustrations and will portray some of the various camouflage schemes carried by the type in Soviet, Russian and other air forces over the past two decades.

Comprehensive in its coverage, Famous Russian Aircraft: Sukhoi Su-27 is likely to regarded as the single most importance reference work to this significant and successful aircraft design and will be of interest to aviation historians and modellers alike.