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Su-33 Sukhoi
Su-33
ASCC codename: Flanker
Carrier-borne Multi-Role Fighter

DESCRIPTION:
The Sukhoi Su-33 is a navalized version of the company's Su-27 originally designed to operate from the Soviet Union's first class of large aircraft carriers. To meet the requirements of shipboard duty, the Su-33 features a strengthened airframe, corrosion resistance, arrestor gear, more powerful engines, and wing and tailplane folding mechanisms for storage aboard ship. The Su-33 is also the first member of the Su-27 family fitted with canards near the juncture of the wing and leading edge extension allowing better maneuverability while reducing the takeoff distance and landing speed.
The Su-27K, as the design was first known, was originally developed for the Soviet Navy alongside the MiG-29K. It was envisioned that both aircraft would be purchased for carrier operations. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union left the Russian Navy with only one Kuznetsov class carrier, and the decision was made to acquire just one aircraft type for carrier use. Although more expensive and larger, meaning fewer could be carried, the Navy chose the Su-27K over the competing MiG-29K. About 24 aircraft, now designated as the Su-33 by Sukhoi, were purchased. Unfortunately, budget cuts have forced the elimination of the aircraft carrier and these aircraft now operate from shore bases.
A further development of the basic airframe is the two-seat Su-27KUB (or Su-33UB) trainer that features the side-by-side seating arrangement of the Su-34 family.
Last modified 13 October 2007

HISTORY:

First Flight (Su-27K) May 1985
(Su-27KUB) 29 April 1999

Service Entry

1994

CREW: one: pilot

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root unknown

Wing Tip

unknown

DIMENSIONS:

Length 71.92 ft (21.94 m)

Wingspan 48.17 ft (14.70 m)

Height 19.42 ft (5.92 m)

Wing Area 666 ft² (62.0 m²)

Canard Area

unknown

WEIGHTS:

Empty 35,275 lb (16,000 kg)

Normal Takeoff 49,605 lb (22,500 kg)

Max Takeoff 70,545 lb (32,000 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: 20,725 lb (9,400 kg)
external: unknown

Max Payload

14,330 lb (6,500 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant two Saturn/ Lyul'ka AL-31F afterburning turbofans

Thrust 61,730 lb (274.6 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,430 mph (2,300 km/h) at 32,780 ft (10,000 m), Mach 2.17
at sea level: 870 mph (1,400 km/h), Mach 1.1
cruise speed: 870 mph (1,400 km/h) at 32,780 ft (10,000 m)

Initial Climb Rate 45,235 ft (13,800 m) / min

Service Ceiling 55,720 ft (17,000 m)

Range typical: 1,620 nm (3,000 km)
ferry: unknown

g-Limits +9

ARMAMENT:

Gun one 30-mm GSh-301 cannon (149 rds)

Stations ten external hardpoints and two wingtip rails

Air-to-Air Missile R-27/AA-10 Alamo, R-73/AA-11 Archer, R-77/AA-12

Air-to-Surface Missile Kh-25MP/AS-12 Kegler, Kh-31/AS-17 Krypton, Kh-41

Bomb various

Other rocket pods, ECM pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:

T-10K Prototype of the Su-27K

Su-27K 'Flanker-D' Official designation of the Su-33 used by the Russian Navy

Su-33 'Flanker-D' Production model with canards, strenthened structure, folding wings and tailplanes, arrester hook, uprated engine, corrosion protection, an in-flight refueling probe, and other modifications to make the aircraft suitable for carrier operations; approximately 24 built

Su-33UB or Su-27KUB Side-by-side two-seat combat-capable trainer similar to the Su-32 or Su-34 but retaining the more rounded nose of the Su-33

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: none

KNOWN OPERATORS: Russia, Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskoyo Flota (Russian Naval Aviation)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

Su-33

SOURCES:

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 868, Sukhoi Su-27 and derivatives.

Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 414, Sukhoi Su-27K/Su-33.

FAS Su-33 site

Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 268, Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker'.

Gunston, Bill, ed. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1995, p. 366, Su-27K.

Isby, David C. Jane's Fighter Combat in the Jet Age. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997, p. 181.

Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 224-225, Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker'.

Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery

Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 104, Sukhoi Su-33/35/37 Flanker.

Sky Corner Su-33 site

Spick, Mike. Brassey's Modern Fighters: The Ultimate Guide to In-Flight Tactics, Technology, Weapons, and Equipment. Washington, DC: Brassey's, 2000, p. 82-87, Sukhoi Su-27, -35 and -37 Flanker.

Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 93-94, Sukhoi Su-33 (service designation Su-27K) (NATO name Flanker-D).

Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 75-76, Sukhoi Su-33 (Su-27K) (NATO name Flanker-D).

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	Sukhoi Su-33 ASCC codename: Flanker Carrier-borne Multi-Role Fighter

DESCRIPTION: The Sukhoi Su-33 is a navalized version of the company's Su-27 originally designed to operate from the Soviet Union's first class of large aircraft carriers. To meet the requirements of shipboard duty, the Su-33 features a strengthened airframe, corrosion resistance, arrestor gear, more powerful engines, and wing and tailplane folding mechanisms for storage aboard ship. The Su-33 is also the first member of the Su-27 family fitted with canards near the juncture of the wing and leading edge extension allowing better maneuverability while reducing the takeoff distance and landing speed. The Su-27K, as the design was first known, was originally developed for the Soviet Navy alongside the MiG-29K. It was envisioned that both aircraft would be purchased for carrier operations. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union left the Russian Navy with only one Kuznetsov class carrier, and the decision was made to acquire just one aircraft type for carrier use. Although more expensive and larger, meaning fewer could be carried, the Navy chose the Su-27K over the competing MiG-29K. About 24 aircraft, now designated as the Su-33 by Sukhoi, were purchased. Unfortunately, budget cuts have forced the elimination of the aircraft carrier and these aircraft now operate from shore bases. A further development of the basic airframe is the two-seat Su-27KUB (or Su-33UB) trainer that features the side-by-side seating arrangement of the Su-34 family. Last modified 13 October 2007
HISTORY:
First Flight	(Su-27K) May 1985 (Su-27KUB) 29 April 1999
Service Entry	1994
CREW:	one: pilot
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown
Wing Tip	unknown
DIMENSIONS:
Length	71.92 ft (21.94 m)
Wingspan	48.17 ft (14.70 m)
Height	19.42 ft (5.92 m)
Wing Area	666 ft² (62.0 m²)
Canard Area	unknown
WEIGHTS:
Empty	35,275 lb (16,000 kg)
Normal Takeoff	49,605 lb (22,500 kg)
Max Takeoff	70,545 lb (32,000 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: 20,725 lb (9,400 kg) external: unknown
Max Payload	14,330 lb (6,500 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	two Saturn/ Lyul'ka AL-31F afterburning turbofans
Thrust	61,730 lb (274.6 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 1,430 mph (2,300 km/h) at 32,780 ft (10,000 m), Mach 2.17 at sea level: 870 mph (1,400 km/h), Mach 1.1 cruise speed: 870 mph (1,400 km/h) at 32,780 ft (10,000 m)
Initial Climb Rate	45,235 ft (13,800 m) / min
Service Ceiling	55,720 ft (17,000 m)
Range	typical: 1,620 nm (3,000 km) ferry: unknown
g-Limits	+9
ARMAMENT:
Gun	one 30-mm GSh-301 cannon (149 rds)
Stations	ten external hardpoints and two wingtip rails
Air-to-Air Missile	R-27/AA-10 Alamo, R-73/AA-11 Archer, R-77/AA-12
Air-to-Surface Missile	Kh-25MP/AS-12 Kegler, Kh-31/AS-17 Krypton, Kh-41
Bomb	various
Other	rocket pods, ECM pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
T-10K	Prototype of the Su-27K
Su-27K 'Flanker-D'	Official designation of the Su-33 used by the Russian Navy
Su-33 'Flanker-D'	Production model with canards, strenthened structure, folding wings and tailplanes, arrester hook, uprated engine, corrosion protection, an in-flight refueling probe, and other modifications to make the aircraft suitable for carrier operations; approximately 24 built
Su-33UB or Su-27KUB	Side-by-side two-seat combat-capable trainer similar to the Su-32 or Su-34 but retaining the more rounded nose of the Su-33
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	none
KNOWN OPERATORS:	Russia, Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskoyo Flota (Russian Naval Aviation)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 868, Sukhoi Su-27 and derivatives. Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 414, Sukhoi Su-27K/Su-33. FAS Su-33 site Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 268, Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker'. Gunston, Bill, ed. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1995, p. 366, Su-27K. Isby, David C. Jane's Fighter Combat in the Jet Age. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997, p. 181. Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 224-225, Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker'. Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 104, Sukhoi Su-33/35/37 Flanker. Sky Corner Su-33 site Spick, Mike. Brassey's Modern Fighters: The Ultimate Guide to In-Flight Tactics, Technology, Weapons, and Equipment. Washington, DC: Brassey's, 2000, p. 82-87, Sukhoi Su-27, -35 and -37 Flanker. Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 93-94, Sukhoi Su-33 (service designation Su-27K) (NATO name Flanker-D). Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 75-76, Sukhoi Su-33 (Su-27K) (NATO name Flanker-D).