Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker-D: The Russian Navy Flanker

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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. :popcorn:

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

grafik

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).

grafik

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 :salute:

[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]

VAR.SU-33

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/su33/

https://www.uacrussia.ru/en/aircraft/lineup/military/su-33/

Su-33 – Su-27 Flanker Family

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://arsenal-info.ru/pub/voennye-samolety/su-33-razmery-dvigatel-ves-istoriya-dalnost-poleta-prakticheskiy-potolok

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

9 Likes

i am a big chinese fighter jet and sukhoi fan so +1

5 Likes

I never understood why the Su-27 and others couldn’t carry more than two R-27T, is it because there is not enough exposure for the seeker on the other pylons?

1 Like

AFAIK the type of pylon they use for inner side cannot use R-27T/ET

2 Likes

That would make sense, since if I remember correctly, the coolant for the seeker head is stored in the pylon.

idgaf i just want to see canard

Su-35 (and su-27sm3?) can carry 4 R-27T/ET, For other canards flankers with 12 pylons canards are in the way

2 Likes

Any Flanker varient gets a +1 from me

3 Likes

Closer than ever to seeing the Flanker-D in game!

Considering the current Su-27 is only good kit wise, I don’t think getting Su-33 is a bad for gameplay when active radar missiles are in the horizon

+1 from me, absolutely hope they add it with F/A-18

1 Like

Hopefully it makes it’s entry soon.

I hope it will make this entry at the end of this year hopefully alongside the FA-18 & Rafale…

This is the wikipedia page for the R-27 Missile


And we can clearly see that the R-27EM is a active radar homing missile which would fit perfectly after the Yak-141 inside the game and would actually be meta since Fox-3s are the current meta right now.

I really hope it will come in december… I pray for it everyday.

Rafale and an Su-27K, lol, bit of a capability difference there…

Which is why you don’t rely on wikipedia for these things. The R-27EM isn’t active radar, and the Su-27K can’t use active radar missiles at all anyway. Its just the basic Su-27S but navalised and with 2 extra pylons.

also with Mig-29K and J-15

I didnt know that, so where could the Su-27k could fit into the game then?

You seem to be more informed on the subject so tell me where it should be please… Because I really want this aircraft.

Also the rafale prototypes aren’t as good as you’ve suggested.

What does the RMD-1 stand for?

Also, just to confirm, the Su-33s were never modernized (insofar as it is public knowledge anyway) for R-77 capability, right?

Here is a small article, doesn’t talk about R-77s but new guided bombs and avionics so idk.
I really want them to implement it with active radar missiles to be on par with the other current top tier aircrafts.

Foldered in with the Su-27S, or as a future event/squadron/premium.

Even the most basic one would demolish the current ingame Su-27S, let alone the heavier Su-27K.

not bad idea but better add something like mig25 before this

Yeah I get that it’s the same as the Su-27S but why wouldn’t they add it like what I did with my drawing there:

Since it can carry R27ET / ER & R73s, it would be on par with the Su-27 that we currently have in the game since they carry the same ordnance. Don’t you think it would be a logical step forward to put the Su-33 first in the naval aircraft branch first, then add the MiG-29K?

Waiting for your answer…