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Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary

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Forty years ago, T-10-1, the first prototype of the newest Soviet fourth-generation plane, took off in Moscow Region for the first time. Today, aircraft based on T-10 are the best-selling heavy fighters of the planet.

On May 20, 1977, Soviet test pilot Vladimir Ilyushin conducted the first flight on a new experimental fighting machine, the T-10-1. Seven years later, after undergoing the major redesign, the new fighter was launched as a Su-27 and became an ancestor of one of the most extensive aircraft families in the history of military aviation.

© Sputnik / Sergey Guneev / Go to the mediabankSukhoi Company, a major Russian aircraft manufacturer with headquarters in Moscow, designs both civilian and military aircraft. It was founded by Pavel Sukhoi in 1939 as the Sukhoi Design Bureau.

Photo: A SU-27 fighter during a demonstration flight.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
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Sukhoi Company, a major Russian aircraft manufacturer with headquarters in Moscow, designs both civilian and military aircraft. It was founded by Pavel Sukhoi in 1939 as the Sukhoi Design Bureau.

Photo: A SU-27 fighter during a demonstration flight.
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Mike1979 Russia / One of the first T-10 prototypes is located in the Air Force Museum in Moscow Region. Shortly after the tests of the new machine started, it became clear that its design solutions of the late 1960s were outdated, and the airframe must be completely redesigned.

Photo: A T-10 prototype at the Central Air Force Museum at Monino Airfield, 40 km east of Moscow, Russia.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
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One of the first T-10 prototypes is located in the Air Force Museum in Moscow Region. Shortly after the tests of the new machine started, it became clear that its design solutions of the late 1960s were outdated, and the airframe must be completely redesigned.

Photo: A T-10 prototype at the Central Air Force Museum at Monino Airfield, 40 km east of Moscow, Russia.
© Sputnik / Igor Zarembo / Go to the mediabankAs a result of the new design, planes with a new shape were put into initial production in 1984. Two modifications, Su-27Ps and Su-27Ss, had a difference in equipment. Unlike the Su-27S, the Su-27P didn’t have an air-to-ground weapons control system.

Photo: A Sukhoi Su-27P jet fighter displayed at a military aircraft exhibition at the Baltic Fleet's Chkalovsk military airfield outside Kaliningrad, Russia.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
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As a result of the new design, planes with a new shape were put into initial production in 1984. Two modifications, Su-27Ps and Su-27Ss, had a difference in equipment. Unlike the Su-27S, the Su-27P didn’t have an air-to-ground weapons control system.

Photo: A Sukhoi Su-27P jet fighter displayed at a military aircraft exhibition at the Baltic Fleet's Chkalovsk military airfield outside Kaliningrad, Russia.
© Sputnik / Ramil Sitdikov / Go to the mediabankA series production of a two-seat modification, the Su-27UB was launched in Irkutsk in 1986. Subsequently, this vehicle became an ancestor of the Su-30 branch.

Photo: Su-27 jets of the Russian Knights aerobatic team during the rehearsal ahead of the International Army Games 2015 at Alabino airbase outside Moscow.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
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A series production of a two-seat modification, the Su-27UB was launched in Irkutsk in 1986. Subsequently, this vehicle became an ancestor of the Su-30 branch.

Photo: Su-27 jets of the Russian Knights aerobatic team during the rehearsal ahead of the International Army Games 2015 at Alabino airbase outside Moscow.
© Sputnik / Press service of the Northern Fleet / Go to the mediabankIn the early 1980s, the Su-27 was chosen as the basis for a future carrier-based fighter aircraft of the Soviet Navy. Unfortunately, the collapse of the USSR buried the Soviet aircraft carrier program. However, its descendants, Su-33s, are currently included in the air group of the Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft carrier.

Photo: A Su-33 (foreground) and MiG-29K (background) fighters aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
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In the early 1980s, the Su-27 was chosen as the basis for a future carrier-based fighter aircraft of the Soviet Navy. Unfortunately, the collapse of the USSR buried the Soviet aircraft carrier program. However, its descendants, Su-33s, are currently included in the air group of the Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft carrier.

Photo: A Su-33 (foreground) and MiG-29K (background) fighters aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea.
© Sputnik / Rudolf Kucherov / Go to the mediabankThe development of the Su-27’s modernized version, designated as Su-27M, began in the mid-1980s. Before the Soviet Union dissolved, there was also a small batch of new aircraft with distinctive wings, Su-35, produced in 1990.

Photo: A Su-27M fighter in flight.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
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The development of the Su-27’s modernized version, designated as Su-27M, began in the mid-1980s. Before the Soviet Union dissolved, there was also a small batch of new aircraft with distinctive wings, Su-35, produced in 1990.

Photo: A Su-27M fighter in flight.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Ankov / Go to the mediabankIn the mid-2000s, the original Su-27 started to undergo modernization. First of all, the equipment was improved, allowing the aircraft to use air-to-surface precision-guided weapons.

Photo: A mid-life upgraded Russian Su-27S, Su-27SM fighter during the fighter aircraft drill of the Eastern Military District conducted at Tsentralnaya Uglovaya military airfield in Primorye Territory, Russia.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
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In the mid-2000s, the original Su-27 started to undergo modernization. First of all, the equipment was improved, allowing the aircraft to use air-to-surface precision-guided weapons.

Photo: A mid-life upgraded Russian Su-27S, Su-27SM fighter during the fighter aircraft drill of the Eastern Military District conducted at Tsentralnaya Uglovaya military airfield in Primorye Territory, Russia.
© Sputnik / Anton Denisov / Go to the mediabankDistinctive commercial success came to the Sukhoi aircraft family in the beginning of the 1990s, after a contract with China on the export of Su-27SKs. Several years later, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant created a Su-30MK, versions of which were exported (and are still supplied) to India, Malaysia and Algeria.

Photo: A two-seat multi-function fighter plane Su-30MK during a demonstration flight at the 8th International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2007 in Zhukovsky near Moscow.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
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Distinctive commercial success came to the Sukhoi aircraft family in the beginning of the 1990s, after a contract with China on the export of Su-27SKs. Several years later, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant created a Su-30MK, versions of which were exported (and are still supplied) to India, Malaysia and Algeria.

Photo: A two-seat multi-function fighter plane Su-30MK during a demonstration flight at the 8th International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2007 in Zhukovsky near Moscow.
© Sputnik / Dmitry Korobeinikov / Go to the mediabankA version of the Su-30 that features more simplified equipment and had a lower price was launched in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Such vehicles were exported to China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Uganda and Venezuela.

Photo: A Sukhoi Su-30M fighter displayed at the MAKS-2001 airshow.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
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A version of the Su-30 that features more simplified equipment and had a lower price was launched in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Such vehicles were exported to China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Uganda and Venezuela.

Photo: A Sukhoi Su-30M fighter displayed at the MAKS-2001 airshow.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Ankov / Go to the mediabankWith an increase in military spending at the end of the 2000s, Su-30s were purchased for the Russian Air Force.

Photo: A Sukhoi-30M2 jet during tactical flight drill at Tsentralnaya Uglovaya airfield in Primorye Territory, Russia.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
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With an increase in military spending at the end of the 2000s, Su-30s were purchased for the Russian Air Force.

Photo: A Sukhoi-30M2 jet during tactical flight drill at Tsentralnaya Uglovaya airfield in Primorye Territory, Russia.
© Sputnik / Dmitriy Vinogradov / Go to the mediabankFollowing the purchase of Su-30M2s, the Russian Air Force began to receive Irkutsk-made Su-30SMs with all required improvements, including engines with a thrust-vectoring module and new radars with a passive phased array.

Photo: Russian pilots prepare to board a SU-30 attack plane to take off from the Hmeimim aerodrome in Syria.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
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Following the purchase of Su-30M2s, the Russian Air Force began to receive Irkutsk-made Su-30SMs with all required improvements, including engines with a thrust-vectoring module and new radars with a passive phased array.

Photo: Russian pilots prepare to board a SU-30 attack plane to take off from the Hmeimim aerodrome in Syria.
© Sputnik / Artem Zhitenev / Go to the mediabankIn the 2000s, in addition to the modernization programs of combatant Su-27s, Su-35s’ big modernization was launched, resulting in new Su-35BMs. With little changes in its exterior (if compared to the original Su-27), the aircraft received a large number of new equipment, including 117S engines with increased thrust, a powerful multi-mode radar system N035 "Irbis" and new weapons.

Photo: A Su-35 fighter performing on the Air Force Day in Lipetsk, Russia.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
12/13
In the 2000s, in addition to the modernization programs of combatant Su-27s, Su-35s’ big modernization was launched, resulting in new Su-35BMs. With little changes in its exterior (if compared to the original Su-27), the aircraft received a large number of new equipment, including 117S engines with increased thrust, a powerful multi-mode radar system N035 "Irbis" and new weapons.

Photo: A Su-35 fighter performing on the Air Force Day in Lipetsk, Russia.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Ankov / Go to the mediabankA Su-35S can be seen as a “transition stage” plane between the fourth generation vehicles and the Sukhoi PAK FA that is currently undergoing tests. Su-35Ss are still produced both for the Russian Air Force and for export.

Photo: A Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E fighter after a tactical air force exercise in Russia's Primorye Territory.
Lord of the Skies: Sukhoi Su-27 Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary - Sputnik International
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A Su-35S can be seen as a “transition stage” plane between the fourth generation vehicles and the Sukhoi PAK FA that is currently undergoing tests. Su-35Ss are still produced both for the Russian Air Force and for export.

Photo: A Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E fighter after a tactical air force exercise in Russia's Primorye Territory.
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