Sukhoi Su-27 / Su-30 / Su-33 / Su-34 / Su-35: Fabulous Flanker

Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Dmitriy

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 1910809187 ISBN 13: 9781910809181

Casa editrice: Crecy Pub, 2018

The Sukhoi Design Bureau was tasked in 1969 with developing a fourth-generation heavy fighter and thus began the story of the Su-27, known to the western world as the Flanker--an aircraft which turned out to be one of the most successful Soviet fighter designs.

This book tells the story of how the original project developed, how the final configuration of what was known as the T-10 was selected and why the brave decision to scrap the original project and rework it as the T-10S was taken, a decision that proved to be justified. The book covers the design and testing of the prototypes in both configurations, the production entry of the basic Su-27 single-seat fighter and the Su-27UB two-seat combat trainer together with the efforts of Sukhoi to keep them up to date with mid-life upgrades to Generation 4++' (Su-35S) level. The operational histories of Su-27 versions including the Su-30/Su-34/Su-35 are also described.

When the Soviet Navy decided to bolster its fleet with carriers optimized for conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft, Sukhoi responded by developing the Su-27K, which later entered service as the Su-33, Russia's first operational CTOL shipboard fighter. These naval variants are included in the book as is a chapter describing the story of how China purchased license manufacturing rights for the Su-27 and went on to develop its own versions with indigenous avionics and weapons, including the basic J-11 fighter and the J-15 Flying Shark--a clone of the Su-33.

The post-Soviet republics included, the Su-27/Su-30/Su-34/Su-35 family has seen service with nearly 20 nations, including places as far apart as Vietnam, Malaysia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Angola, India and Venezuela.

The book describes in depth the development and operational career of the Su-27 family, including mid-life upgrades and the latest variants, and features detailed fleet lists. Richly illustrated with color photographs, line drawings and color profiles of the various color schemes carried by the type, this is the definitive work on a truly outstanding aircraft.

Dalla seconda/terza di copertina:

The amazing ‘Pugachov Cobra’ maneuver witnessed with awe by many airshow watchers worldwide has been perhaps the most attention-grabbing aspect of the Flanker, but it only goes to illustrate the agility and capabilities of this series of Soviet/Russian fighters, which are fully examined in this volume.

Originating in 1960s design studies, the Flanker fourth-generation fighter was a long time in development with the now-familiar Su-27 production version not flying until 1981. It, together with its derivatives, has gone on to enjoy extended production and development in a far greater range of roles than was first envisaged. It has served with the Russian Air Force and Navy as a fighter and bomber and seen combat service, notably in Syria in the campaign against Islamic State.

It has also achieved notable export success worldwide, from Vietnam to Venezuela, with license production in India and in China, the latter going on to develop and produce their own versions.

Russian defense experts claim that the generation 4++ single-seat Sukhoi Su-35S, which is regarded as an interim type until the Sukhoi T-50 fifth-generation fighter enters service, can take on the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor in air combat.

As in the standard with this Famous Russian Aircraft series, this volume, mostly extensively updated and greatly expanded from an earlier 2007 edition, includes full development and service histories, production listings, attrition, details of different versions, equipment and technical details, all gleaned by these eminent Russian authors and is fully illustrated with around 1,750 photos, copious line drawings and color artwork, in short, the undisputed ‘go-to’ on the Flanker.

Dalla quarta di copertina:

Development of what was to become the world-renowned Su-27 began in the 1960s by the Soviet Union in response to the threat posed by the new fourth generation of American fighters with exceptional range, heavy armament and great agility, but the task was long and arduous with production only beginning in 1982.

By the mid 1980s Sukhoi started development of the Su-27M (Su-35) generation 4+ fighter but the demise of the Soviet Union prevented this from entering production. However, the Su-33 shipboard version fared better and continues to serve with the Russian Navy today.

In the late 1980s the Su-27UB combat trainer was developed into the Su-30 two-seat fighter and this led to the highly successful Su-30MK export version on the 1990s. More recently the single seat Su-35S generation 4++ has entered into service, as has the distinctive side-by-side two-seat Su-34 tactical bomber, which became operational with the Russian Air Force in 2011.

In all, the Su-27 and its derivatives have seen service with nearly 20 nations and it has seen combat service, notably in the recent Russian operations in Syria.

This is an extensively revised, much updated and considerably expanded edition of a 2007 title in this Famous Russian Aircraft series and as such describes in unprecedented and extensively-researched detail from original resources the development, variants and operational history of the entire Flanker family.

With around 1,750 photographs, about 180 line drawings and over 300 specially-commissioned color side views, this work will undoubtedly be the primary reference source on the Flanker family for historians, modelers and enthusiasts alike.