- Yes
- No
Sukhoi Su-27SM Flanker-J1: A new Standard for the Masterpiece
Hi and welcome to my 9th suggestion which is about the Su-27SM Flanker-J1 mid-life upgrade of the Su-27S Flanker-B suggested by @EpicBlitzkrieg87 
This suggestion was a bit more complex, due lack of information in European internet and confusing claimings by some sources. I will discribe both versions and give all needed information about them. The Su-27SM and especially the Su-27SM3 are in my eyes the best options for an russian equal to the american F-14B / D Tomcat (SM) and F-15C Eagle (SM3), as well as a better option compared to Su-30M2.
DISCLAIMER: This suggestions contains pictures of the Su-27SM, the Su-27SM3 has an seperate one HERE as both were refelcted together in the orginal suggestion. I will probebly switch the non-matching pictures in future.
First of all:
- This is a suggestion for an Aircraft we could see in game at some point in the Future , that doesn´t mean next Patch or somewhere in the near Future
- I don´t want to force Gaijin to rush Top-tier aviation in any way
- Feel free to share more Data and / or correct me if something is wrong
- Discuss respectfully, any aggressive kind or verbal abuse will be reported, the Forum rules also apply here
- FOX-3 on all aircraft in game (when added) could be balanced by limit them to a max. of 2 - 4x missiles and making them not such strong as in RL or DCS (my opinion)
Basic Background:
Since the Su-27 Flanker first entered service in the Soviet Air Force in 1985, the platform has undergone multiple upgrades to allow it to better contest air superiority against more modern adversaries. The Su-27 was initially designed to engage and outperform the American F-15 Eagle - with both fourth generation air superiority platforms forming the elite of the Warsaw Pact and NATO Air fleets. With new and more advanced air superiority fighters having been developed since them, including the 4++ generation F-15E and Su-35S, Su-30SM and the fifth generation F-22 and Su-57, Russia has focused heavily on upgrading the original Flanker design and integrating next generation technologies to allow it to better contest air superiority on the modern battlefield.
Overall:
The Su-27SM (Serial Modernization 1) is a mid-life upgrade of the already mass-produced Su-27S / P Flanker-B, as well as remaining Su-27SK, comparable to the F-16 and its “MLU” upgrade. The aim of this modernization was to bring the outdated Su-27s, which are still in the inventory of the Russian armed forces today, real multi-role capability and an overall service-life expandation. For this purpose, the old N001 radar was improved, through the use of the SUV-27ESh weapons control system and renamed to N001V, as well as N001VE for the export market. The new old radar enables the use of R-77 (“AA-12 Adder”), the Kh-31A / P anti-ship and anti-radiation missiles, ground mapping has been added as well, which makes it possible to detect ground targets .The cockpit has also been modernized. Two large MFDs and a smaller MFI, multi-function displays are now available to the pilot. The whole SM program increased the combat efficiency of the upgraded Flankers by 60%. First batch of Su-27SM were handed to the Russian Air Force in 2003.
Export:
The SM was not exported. However, there is the Su-27SKM, which is practical the Su-27SK but updated to higher standards. It received the N001VE (using SUV-27EP1), with that R-77, Kh-31A/P and ground-mapping. Pylons remained the same. Its prototype Su-27SKM ´gray 305´ was first shown in 2003.
Armament of Su-27SM
Spoiler
Guns: 1x GSh-30-1 (30 x 165mm, 150 rounds)
1500 – 1800 rpm
muzzle velocity of 870 m/s (1800m range)
AAM, up to ( 10 Pylons):
6 x R-27ER
2x R-27ET
6x R-73 RMD-1 / M
6 x R-77
Bombs / guided Bombs, up to:
4 x KAB 500Kr / L
1 x KAB-1500Kr / L
28x OFAB-250-270
32x FAB-100-120
Air-to-Ground Missiles, up to:
4 x Kh-29T / TE / L
4 x Kh-31A
4 x Kh-31P
2x Kh-59ME* / MK (*requires APK-9ME Datalink pod)
4x S-25L
Unguided Rockets (in total), up to:
80x S-8 (4 pods)
20x S-13 (4 pods)
4x S-25OFM (2x twin pod)
Radar:
The N001V is the upgraded version of the base N001 “Merch” radar used by the early Su-27 / 30 Family. It features Ground-Mapping, thank to the new SUV-27ESh weapon-constrol-system, Kh-31A / P anti-radation / -ship missile and R-77 FOX-3 missile. LD/SD capability was sightly improved and minor fixes / improvements were made. The N001VP used on the Su-27SM3 has updated FCS and is able to use the more advanted R-77-1 missile, as well as Kh-31AD / PD variants
Its also known as N001VE(P) in the export market and used by (afaik) Su-27SKM, J-11A, Su-30M2, Su-30MK2 and Su-30MKK.
Specifications and Internal:
Spoiler
Green: Su-27SM
Gray: Both
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 21.93 m
Wingspan: 14.70 m
Height: 6.36 m
Wing area: 62.4 m2
Empty weight: 16,870 kg (?)
Loaded weight: 23,700 kg (?)
Max. takeoff weight: 33,000 kg (?)
Powerplant: 2 × AL-31F
(static) Dry thrust: 74,5kN each
(static) Thrust with afterburner: 122,58kN each
Performance
Maximum speeds:
1450km/h at sea level
2284km/h at altitude
Operation celling: 18.500 m
Service ceiling: 17.750 m
Rate of climb: 300 - 330 m/s
Wing loading:
min. 264kg/m2
max. 491kg/m2
Thrust/weight (with afterburner):
empty: 1.52
loaded: 1.17
max. takeoff: 0.88
Maximum g-load: +9g / -3g
Countermessures:
APP-50A and APP 50MA give the Su-27SM / SM3 a total 98 Flares / Chaffs, or 196 Flares or Chaffs, of caliber 50mm
L005 ECM jammer pods (mounted on wing tips, wing tip pylons for R-73 cant be used while having the ECM pods)
Other:
OEPS-27M / OLS-30 (izdeliye 52Sh)
120° FOV
Azimuth: +/- 60°
Elevation: 60° / -15°
Big search field: 60° x 10°
Small search field: 20° x 5°
Close combat mode: 3° x 3° (vertical)
Detection Range: min. 90km rear-aspect and min. 30km all-aspect
Laser
Laser range: up to 8km
Rangefinder: 0.3 - 10km
SPO-15LM RWR
Helmet mounted sight
Thanks for your time, hope you liked it 
[Will add more if there are some (more) important / declassified things]
[PM or comment if a Link or Picture isn´t working]
Sources:
Links
Su-27SM/SM3 – Su-27 Flanker Family
SU-27 SM/SKM/UBM – Comparison – BVR – Dogfight
https://www.avsim.su/forum/topic/131514-су-27см/
Su-27 fighter family variants - Military and Aviation - ED Forums
«Тихомировские» радары / Взлёт 2007 08-09
Engine al 31f working blade TVD. Fnpts "mmpp "salyut"
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2019/01/14/sukhoi-su-27-flanker-1977/
Su-27 family cockpits – Su-27 Flanker Family
https://www.ruaviation.com/news/2011/12/23/699/
О визуальных различиях истребителей семейства Су-27 | Пикабу
IN-DEPTH: Russia's declining Su-27/30 Flanker fleet
Су-34 с 2011 г. могут оснащаться двигателями АЛ-31ФМ1 // АвиаПорт.Новости
https://topwar.ru/151881-vks-rf-poluchili-tri-modernizirovannyh-istrebitelja-su-27sm3.html
Books (sorted by priority):
-Sukhoi Su-27 - Yefim Gordon - Midland Publishing 2007
-Su-27 The History of the Fighter - Andrei Fomin - Publishing 2004
-Sukhoi Su-27SM(3) / SKM: Multifunctional Strike Fighter From Amur - Hugh Karkins - Publishing 2016
-Sukhoi Su-30MKK / MK2 / M2: Russo-Kitayshiy Striker From Amur - Hugh Harkins - Publishing 2015
-Sukhoi Su-30 Super-Manoeuvrable Family: Su-30MKI / MKM / MKI (A) / SM - Hugh Harkins - Publishing 2016
-Soviel Cold War Fighters - Alexander Mladenov - Publishing 2015
Other:
AL-31F Technical Manual (Declassified)
PDF Document (Russian, used for Radar and OEPS / IRST)
PDF Document - The Military Balance 2021
PDF Document - Russian and Chinese Combat Air Trends
