Su-27SMs finished at Lipetsk

Forgot to post this in March:

Modernized Su-27s Reach Russian Air Force Units

In late February, the first five Su-27SMs, modernized Su-27 (T-10S) fighters, for the Russian Air Force were delivered to the 23rd Fighter Wing (IAP) at Tsentralnaya Uglovaya, near Vladivostok, after intensive tests of their new avionics and armaments at the 968th Research Instructional Air Wing (IISAP) at Lipetsk. The 23rd Fighter Wing belongs to 11th Air and Air Defense Force of the Russian Far East.

The KnAAPO factory at Komsomolsk on Amur, which conducted the modernization program, had reportedly taken 20 Su-27s from the Russian Air Force as of the end of 2003 for refit to the Su-27SM standard. The remaining aircraft of this batch are to be modernized and handed over to the Air Force before the end of 2004. The next batch of 20 Su-27s is due to arrive at Komsomolsk for modernization in 2005. Altogether, two air-force wings are expected to be operating with Su-27SMs by the end of 2005.

The Su-27SM was first flown in December 2002. The current modernization effort represents the first phase of a planned program (divided into so-called “small modernization” and “big modernization”) that is to enhance the aircraft’s combat capabilities at minimum development risk and cost. The second phase will enable the aircraft to serve until the Sukhoi T-50 is available in numbers, around 2015-2025. The stated aim of the modernization is not to match the F/A-22 point for point but to narrow the quality gap between Russian aircraft currently in service and fourth-generation fighters until the T-50 takes over.

The first phase of the modernization includes a glass cockpit, improved fire-control systems, and the ability to carry a greater variety of weapons. The Su-27SM will be able to perform not only air-to-air missions but also daytime air-to-ground and all-weather supression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and tactical air support for maritime operations (TASMO). The fire-control systems include a new radar (a slightly modified version of the N001M radar found on Chinese Su-27MKK2 aircraft), enabling the aircraft to perform ground- and sea-target detection. Air-to-air engagements are handled by the SUV-V system (a modified SUV-27 from the standard Su-27), while air-to-ground targeting is handled by the seperate SUV-P system with its own computer. The SUV-P is a modification of the SUV-30 unit used on the Su-30MKK. It enables precision bombing using a laser rangefinder and an inertial-navigation system for digital impact-point calculation. It also enables use of TV-guided weapons, such as Kh-29T missiles and KAB-500Kr and KAB-1500Kr bombs. The laser can illuminate targets for the Kh-29L missile, the only laser-guided weapon used by the Su-27SM. The SUV-P can also process radar for targeting purposes.

The aircraft is offered for export as the Su-27SK [sic], with options for replacing some Russian avionics with Western types, according to the customer?s choice.

– with Jerzy Gruszczynski

March 2004