The Return of the SU-27SMK

As I mentioned before, the new upgraded SU-27SM is basically a single seater SU-30MKK whose development is piggybacked with the SU-30MKK. It will have the SU-30MKK’s front cockpit. The Indonesian SU-27s will be SU-27SMs, and China is a clear target for this plane, both for upgrading older planes and for the production license. Instead of a direct SU-30MKK license, an SU-27SMK license—basically a single seater SU-30MKK—is probably more affordable for China in the long run.

Tigershark posted this in the CDF. Originally from Janes.

Show debut for upgraded Su-27

By Piotr Butowski, JDW Correspondent, Moscow

A newly upgraded multirole variant of the Su-27 air-superiority fighter will make its debut at the Paris air show being staged from 15-22 June.

Dubbed the Su-27SMK (Su-27SK modernised), the aircraft is the second platform to have been prepared under an agreement between Russia’s Sukhoi design bureau and the KnAAPO manufacturing plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. To serve as a demonstrator for potential export customers, the aircraft made its first flight from the KnAAPO site earlier this year.

The companies have already secured their first overseas customer for the upgraded platform: Indonesia signed a contract last April to procure two of the aircraft.

Sukhoi officials anticipate further business for the modernisation package from a number of current Su-27 operators, which include Belarus, China, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

The upgrade centres on the provision of a modernised radar and a new man-machine interface, both of which were developed as part of China’s Su-30MKK two-seat multirole fighter project. As a result, company officials say the majority of research and development work for the new project has already been paid for by Beijing. China’s acquisition of the Su-30MKK has also funded the manufacture of new components for the modernised Su-27, they report.

The Su-27SMK’s N001VEP radar allows the aircraft to use Russia’s R-77 (RVV-AE) medium-range radar-guided air-to-air missile against up to two targets simultaneously and can also conduct search, track and strike missions against surface threats.

The modernised aircraft is capable of carrying Kh-29T, Kh-59M, KAB-500r and KAB-1500Kr TV-guided air-to-surface missiles, Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles and Kh-31A and Kh-35U anti-ship missiles.

The upgraded Su-27SMK demonstrator has an air-to-surface strike capability – for example, through the carriage of Kh-29 and Kh-31 air-to-surface missiles, as pictured here. (Source: KnAAPO)