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Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker-D: The Russian Navy Flanker
Hi and welcome to my 4th suggestion, which is about the Su-33.
Well, it’s not one of my absolute favourites, but since I want to cover the whole flanker family, well at least the main variants, I can’t avoid the Su-33.
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
Basic Background:
The Design Bureau Work started to develop a Su-27-based naval fighter in 1971; the next decade saw 3 versions of plane developed one by one, designed for landing on project 1160 and 1153 aircraft carriers. The projects provided for development of a CTOL aeroplane with steam-catapult takeoff and conventional (non-V/STOL) landing using an arrestor wire. In terms of design/configuration, they faithfully reproduced all the major solutions then adopted for the baseline, “ground-based” version of the Su-27, but adapted for deck landing, which involved the need to strengthen the landing gear, install an arresting hook and provide for wing folding during the storage of machines on the hangar deck.
Official testing of the Su-27K took place in 1991-1994. In April 1993, the Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant released the first ship-based fighters for delivery to the pilots of the aviation wing of the Northern Fleet to be put into service at the 279th ship-based fighter aircraft regiment (SFAR). By August 1994, the regiment had received as many as 24 production aircraft. In 1993-95, combat pilots of the 279th SFAR gained experience on the aircraft; following that, between December 1995 and March 1996, the USSR Admiral of the Fleet Kuznetsov ACHC put to sea for its maiden long-distance training voyage. The 31st August 1998 decree of the president of the RF put the Su-27K into service under the name of the Su-33.
Overall:
The Su-33 is a single-seat multirole carrier-based conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) fighter aircraft. It is manufactured by Sukhoi in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia. The aircraft has been principally designed and developed to meet the requirements of the Russian Navy.
The aircraft is derived from its predecessor, the Su-27, and its Nato reporting name is Flanker-D. It performed its maiden flight in May 1985 and entered into service in 1994. The aircraft can be operated any time under the aid of the command centre ship.
Compared to the Su-27S Flanker-B, the Su-33, unlike its land-based brother Canards, has an N001K radar, which gives us the ability to use the Kh-41 anti-ship missile, an air-refueling probe, 2 more pylons, AL-31F Series 3 engines with emergency thurst mode and additional corrosion protection for salty environments. Due to the refueling test and small changes to the avionics, the OEPS-27K could no longer be installed in the center and had to be moved to the side. The wings have become a bit longer due to the folding mechanism, which has a slight effect on the aerodynamics, e.g. it increased its lift.
The Su-33 otherwise shares similar armament, with one speical exception (incl. Kh-41), the R-27EM. The R-27EM is a standard R-27(E)R SARH missile, which features an optimized seeker head against sea air targets at low and ultra-low altitude (such as cruise-missiles).
Armament of Su-33 (game relevant):
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 (12 Pylons):
8x R-27R / ER
8x R-27EM
2x R-27T / ET
6x R-73 RMD-1 / M
Bombs / guided Bombs, up to:
8x FAB-500M-62
28x OFAB-250-270
32x FAB-100-120
Air-to-Ground Missiles, up to:
1x Kh-41 (anti-ship missle)
4x S-25L
Unguided Rockets (in total), up to:
80x S-8 (4 pods)
20x S-13 (4 pods)
4x S-25
Radar:
The N001K “Merch” Radar is a slightly improved version of the standard N001 used on the Su-27S and P Flanker-B. It has been specially tuned for use at sea, can therefore also track very low-flying targets and has the necessary fire control system for the Kh-41.
Specifications and Internal:
Spoiler
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 21.19 m
Wingspan: 14.70 m (7.40m after folding)
Height: 5.9 m
Wing area: 62.4 m2
Empty weight: 18,400 kg
Loaded weight: 29,940 kg
Max. takeoff weight: 33,000 kg
Fuel capacity: ?
Powerplant; AL-31F-3 (Series 3)
(static) dry thrust: 74,5kN
(static) afterburner thrust: 122,54kN
(static) emergency thurst: 125,57kN
Performance
Maximum speed, Mach 2.17:
1396km/h at sea level
2300km/h at altitude
Operation celling: 18.500 m
Service ceiling: 17.000 m
Rate of climb: >240 m/s
Wing loading:
min.: 297 kg/m2
mid.: 483 kg/m2
max.: 532 kg/m2
Thrust/weight (with afterburner):
max.: 1.36
mid.: 0.83
min.: 0.76
Maximum g-load: +9g / -3g
Countermessures:
L-175W Khibiny-M ECM Jammer
APP-50A and APP 50MA dispenders - 96 Countermeassures in total
Other:
IRST OLS-27K (izdeliye 36Sh)
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)
Laser ranger (300-3000m range)
SPO-15LM RWR
ZSh-7AP Helmet
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:
Spoiler
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/sukhoisu-33/
Sukhoi Su-33 (Flanker-D) Carrier-Based Air Defense Fighter Aircraft
Sukhoi Su-33 Carrier-based Air Superiority Fighter - MilitaryLeak.COM
Su-33 Flanker-D (Su-27K) – Sea Flanker | Thai Military and Asian Region
Su-33 Navy Flanker-D - Russian 4 generation fighter jet [review]
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/su33/
https://www.uacrussia.ru/en/aircraft/lineup/military/su-33/
AIR SPACE TECH: Su-27SK (Su-30MK, Su-33) Flanker
Sukhoi Su-33 and Su-33UB Flanker D / Shenyang J-15 Flanker D
Sukhoi Su-33 Blueprint - Download free blueprint for 3D modeling
https://armiesnews.ru/2015/03/su-33-ostayotsya-v-morskoj-aviacii-dlinnaya-ruka-vmf/
PDF Document - The World´s Most Powerful Military Aircraft
PDF Document - The Military Balance 2021
Books (sorted by priority):
-Sukhoi Su-27 - Yefim Gordon - Midland Publishing 2007
-Su-27 The History of the Fighter - Andrei Fomin - Publishing 2004
-Soviel Cold War Fighters - Alexander Mladenov - Publishing 2015