Operated by Ukraine as a Soviet-era air-superiority fighter adapted for wartime strike and suppression missions, including low-level attacks on Snake Island and carriage of AGM-88 HARM, JDAM-ER, and HAMMER/AASM weapons; Russian Su-27SMs have also been documented flying combat air patrol from occupied Crimea.
Role detailsAircraft & UAVs
Su-27
Also known as
- Sukhoi Su-27
- Flanker
The Su-27, NATO reporting name Flanker, is a Soviet-designed twin-engine air-superiority fighter built around long range, high speed, and heavy air-to-air armament. Its combat record extends from Abkhazia and the 1998 Eritrean-Ethiopian War to Angola, Tigray, and the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, where operators used it for air superiority, air-to-air combat, and adapted strike missions that now include Western precision and anti-radiation munitions.
Role in Conflicts
Fielded by the Ethiopian Air Force during the 2020 Tigray War as an improvised bomber over the Mekelle area, with reporting describing Su-27s dropping unguided bombs and operating alongside Wing Loong UAV target-designation flights.
Russian Su-27s were reported over Abkhazia during fighting against Georgian forces, and one was shot down near Sukhumi on 19 March 1993 amid competing strike and intercept accounts.
- Side
- Ethiopia
Ethiopian Su-27s were used in air-to-air combat and sporadic strike missions during the 1998-2000 war with Eritrea.
- Side
- MPLA government
- Role in conflict
- Reported operational service and loss
Angolan Su-27 service is tied to the final phase of the civil war by reference coverage that lists Angola in the type's combat record and notes a reported landing loss on 19 November 2000.
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- Soviet Union
- Built by
- Sukhoi
- Built in
- Soviet UnionRussia
- Type
- Twin-engine air-superiority fighter
- Service note
- Cold War design still in combat service during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
- Designer
- Sukhoi Design Bureau
- Designed
- 1970s
Specifications
- Crew
- 1 in Su-27 single-seat fighters; 2 in Su-27UB trainers
- Speed
- Mach 2.0 class
- Range
- About 1,620 miles
- Engines
- Two Lyulka/NPO Saturn AL-31F afterburning turbofans
- Armament
- 30 mm GSh-301 cannon, R-27 and R-73 air-to-air missiles, plus unguided bombs and rockets on combat-capable variants
- Role
- Long-range air defense, combat air patrol, escort, and adapted air-to-surface strike missions
Variants
The public Su-27 label covers the original single-seat fighter, air-defense interceptor, two-seat trainer, export versions, and later national upgrade designations; later Flanker-family derivatives such as Su-30, Su-33, Su-34, and Su-35 are separate catalog entries where present.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Su-27S | Initial single-seat fighter | GlobalSecurity describes the Su-27S as the original service version and initial production single-seater. Sources: Su-27 FLANKER |
| Su-27P | Air-defense interceptor | GlobalSecurity distinguishes the original air-defense-force Su-27P designation from the air-force Su-27S designation. Sources: Su-27 FLANKER |
| Su-27UB | Two-seat trainer | The U.S. Air Force museum fact sheet covers the Su-27UB Flanker-C trainer, and GlobalSecurity notes the Su-27UB's public display with the Su-27 at Le Bourget in 1989. |
| Su-27SK / Su-27UBK | Export variants | GlobalSecurity identifies Su-27SK and Su-27UBK as export variants produced from 1991 and exported to customers including China, Vietnam, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. Sources: Su-27 FLANKER |
| Su-27P1M | Ukrainian modernized single-seat designation | Aviation Safety Network records Ukrainian Air Force combat loss 58 Blue as a Sukhoi Su-27P1M assigned to the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade. |
| Su-27UB1M | Ukrainian modernized two-seat designation | Aviation Safety Network records Ukrainian Air Force 70 Blue as a Sukhoi Su-27UB1M assigned to the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade. |
Adapted Western Munitions
Ukraine's wartime Su-27 force has been documented carrying or releasing several Western air-launched weapons after local integration work.
| Launched item | Item type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Anti-radiation missile | The War Zone reported Ukrainian Su-27s carrying AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles for suppression of enemy air defenses. Sources: Ukraine's Su-27s Appear To Be Wielding Anti-Radiation Missiles Now Too |
 | GPS-guided glide bomb | The War Zone reported Ukrainian Air Force imagery of a Su-27 carrying a JDAM-ER on a purpose-built pylon and assessed the photographed weapon as Mk-82 based. Sources: TWZ Su-27 JDAM-ER carriage |
 | Precision-guided bomb family | The Aviationist described Ukrainian Su-27 footage showing AASM/HAMMER bombs released from the aircraft. Sources: The Aviationist on Ukrainian Su-27s dropping AASM Hammer |
Air-To-Air Missile Fit
The Su-27's baseline fighter role is tied to medium- and short-range air-to-air missiles, with R-73-family missiles represented elsewhere in the catalog.
| Launched item | Item type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Short-range infrared air-to-air missile | The museum source and GlobalSecurity armament discussion support the Su-27's short-range missile fit, including the R-73/K-73 family. |
Documented Combat Use
The Su-27 record is unusually broad for an air-superiority fighter: sources document air-to-air combat, strike work, bombing, air-defense patrols, and wartime adaptation for Western precision munitions.
| Conflict | Side | Role | Documented context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 War in Abkhazia | Abkhaz separatists and allies | Strike fighter | Russian Su-27s were reported over Abkhazia during fighting against Georgian forces; one was shot down near Sukhumi on 19 March 1993 amid competing strike and intercept accounts. |
| 1998 Eritrean-Ethiopian War | Ethiopia | Air superiority fighter | Ethiopian Su-27s were used in air-to-air combat and sporadic strike missions. |
| 1975 Angolan Civil War | MPLA government | Reported operational service and loss | Reference coverage ties Angolan Su-27 service to the final phase of the civil war and notes a reported landing loss on 19 November 2000. |
| 2014 Russia-Ukraine War | Ukraine; Russia | Adapted strike, suppression, and air-defense fighter | Ukrainian Su-27s have been documented in low-level attacks and with AGM-88 HARM, JDAM-ER, and HAMMER/AASM weapons; Russian Su-27SMs have been documented flying combat air patrol from occupied Crimea. |
| 2020 Tigray War | Ethiopian government and allies | Air-to-ground bombing | Reporting described Ethiopian Su-27s used as improvised bombers over the Mekelle area with UAV target-designation support. |
Timeline
Su-27 Key Events
T-10 prototype first flight
GlobalSecurity dates the first flight of the original T-10 prototype to 20 May 1977.
Sources: Su-27 FLANKER
Su-27S enters service
GlobalSecurity identifies the Su-27S as the original Su-27 version to enter service in 1984.
Sources: Su-27 FLANKER
Su-27 and Su-27UB shown abroad
GlobalSecurity says the Su-27 and Su-27UB were first shown abroad at the June 1989 Le Bourget air show.
Sources: Su-27 FLANKER
Su-27 shot down over Abkhazia
Los Angeles Times reporting described a Russian Su-27 shot down near Sukhumi after Russian aircraft bombed Georgian targets.
Sources: Russian Fighter Downed in Abkhazia
Snake Island strike footage analyzed
The War Zone identified Ukrainian Su-27s conducting a low-level strike on Russian-occupied Snake Island.
Sources: Ukraine Strikes Back: Su-27s Bomb Occupied Snake Island In Daring Raid
JDAM-ER carriage documented
The War Zone reported Ukrainian Air Force imagery of a Su-27 carrying a JDAM-ER on a purpose-built pylon.
Sources: TWZ Su-27 JDAM-ER carriage
AASM/HAMMER release documented
The Aviationist described Ukrainian Su-27 footage showing AASM/HAMMER bombs being released in combat.
Sources: The Aviationist on Ukrainian Su-27s dropping AASM Hammer
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
Sukhoi SU-27UB "FLANKER-C" TrainerPublisher: National Museum of the United States Air Force | Note: Supports general Su-27 background, service context, performance, engines, and armament specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Su-27 (Flanker) Russian Multirole Fighter AircraftPublisher: U.S. Army ODIN Worldwide Equipment Guide | Note: Supports Sukhoi design/manufacturer background and general aircraft classification. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Su-27 FLANKERPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports Su-27 development chronology, service-entry context, variant designations, export variants, production background, and air-to-air armament context. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Ukraine Strikes Back: Su-27s Bomb Occupied Snake Island In Daring RaidPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use by Ukrainian Air Force Su-27s in a low-level strike on Russian-occupied Snake Island. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Ukraine's Su-27s Appear To Be Wielding Anti-Radiation Missiles Now TooPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use by Ukrainian Air Force Su-27s fielded with AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles. | Accessed: 2026-07-06TWZ Su-27 JDAM-ER carriagePublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use by Ukrainian Air Force Su-27s fielded with JDAM-ER bombs, including purpose-built pylon context and the assessment that the photographed weapon appears based on a 500-pound Mk-82 bomb body. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Volodymyr Zelenskyy Congratulated Air Force Warriors and Presented State AwardsPublisher: Official Website of the President of Ukraine | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use by Ukrainian Air Force Su-27s, including air strikes near Zmiinyi Island and a Su-27 loss to enemy air defense in June 2022. | Accessed: 2026-07-06TWZ Russian Su-27s in UkrainePublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use by Russian Su-27SM aircraft flying combat air patrol from occupied Crimea. | Accessed: 2026-07-06New Imagery Suggests Continued Usage Of Surface-To-Air Missiles By Tigray ForcesPublisher: Oryx | Note: Supports 2020 Tigray War direct use by Ethiopian government and allies of Su-27 fighter aircraft dropping bombs near Mekelle. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Russian Su-27 Fighters Deployed As Bombers In 2020 Tigray WarPublisher: Ethiopanorama mirror of Oryx | Note: Supports 2020 Tigray War direct use by the Ethiopian Air Force of Su-27 fighters deployed as bombers with OFAB-250 unguided bombs. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Russian Fighter Downed in AbkhaziaPublisher: Los Angeles Times | Note: Supports 1992 War in Abkhazia direct use by Russian Su-27s bombing Georgian targets and the reported shoot-down of one aircraft near Sukhumi. | Accessed: 2026-07-06The Ethio-Eritrean War and Its ConsequencesPublisher: SIPRI | Note: Supports 1998 Eritrean-Ethiopian War direct use by Ethiopian Su-27s in air-to-air combat and strike missions. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Sukhoi Su-27 FlankerPublisher: Aerospaceweb | Note: Supports 1975 Angolan Civil War direct use by Angolan Su-27s; the page lists the war as the type's known combat record and notes a reported loss in November 2000. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Aviation Safety Network Su-27P1M 58 BluePublisher: Aviation Safety Network | Note: Supports the Ukrainian Su-27P1M designation, Ukrainian Air Force operator context, and 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade assignment for 58 Blue. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Aviation Safety Network Su-27UB1M 70 BluePublisher: Aviation Safety Network | Note: Supports the Ukrainian Su-27UB1M designation, Ukrainian Air Force operator context, and 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade assignment for 70 Blue. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Ukrainian Su-27 during exhibition 3.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-27 photograph published under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Ukrainian Su-27 during exhibition 1.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a second Ukrainian Su-27 photograph published under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported. | Accessed: 2026-07-06The Aviationist on Ukrainian Su-27s dropping AASM HammerPublisher: The Aviationist | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use by Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft launching HAMMER/AASM guided bombs. | Accessed: 2026-07-06