Editing Sukhoi Su-27 (section)

=== Air Force ===
[[File:Su-27 05.jpg|thumb|left|Soviet Su-27 in flight]]
[[File:P-42 at Ramenskoye.jpg|thumb|P-42 at Ramenskoye airfield]]
The T-10 was spotted by Western observers initially in satellite photographs at [[Gromov Flight Research Institute|Ramenskoye air base]], where it was first called "''Ram-K''" and later assigned the [[NATO reporting name]] 'Flanker-A'. The development of the T-10 was marked by considerable problems, leading to a fatal crash of the second prototype, the T-10-2 on 7 July 1978,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milavia.net/aircraft/su-27/su-27_history.htm |title=Aircraft - Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker Historical Events & Key Dates |first=Niels |last=Hillebrand |website=Milavia |access-date=8 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809212601/http://www.milavia.net/aircraft/su-27/su-27_history.htm |archive-date=9 August 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> due to shortcomings in the [[fly-by-wire]] control system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://su-27flanker.com/versions/t-10-flanker-a/ |title=Prototype of Su-27 and whole Flanker family – T-10 Flanker A |website=SU-27 Flanker.com |access-date=6 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817041202/http://su-27flanker.com/versions/t-10-flanker-a/ |archive-date=17 August 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Extensive redesigns followed (T-10-3 through T-10-15) and a revised version of the T-10-7, now designated the ''T-10S'', made its first flight on 20 April 1981. It also crashed due to control problems and was replaced by T-10-12 which became ''T-10S-2''. This one also crashed on 23 December 1981 during a high-speed test, killing the pilot.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prototype of Su-27 and whole Flanker family – T-10 Flanker A |url=http://su-27flanker.com/versions/t-10-flanker-a |website=Su-27 Flanker.com |access-date=5 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314230408/http://su-27flanker.com/versions/t-10-flanker-a/ |archive-date=14 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Eventually the T-10-15 demonstrator, ''T-10S-3'', evolved into the definitive Su-27 configuration.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kopp |first1=Dr. Carlo |url=http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Flanker.html |title=Sukhoi Flankers: The Shifting Balance of Regional Air Power (Technical Report APA-TR-2007-0101) |website=Air Power Australia |date=7 January 2007 |pages=1 |access-date=5 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226195336/http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Flanker.html |archive-date=26 December 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The ''T-10S-3'' was modified and officially designated the ''P-42'', setting a number of [[Viktor Pugachyov#Record flights|world records for time-to-height]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07tEk-9j69I |title=The fastest climb in aviation history. Climbing time record of the Su-27 to an altitude of 12 km |date=5 July 2020 |website=YouTube |access-date=8 December 2020 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709201016/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07tEk-9j69I |url-status=live }}</ref> beating those set in 1975 by a [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle#Research and test|similarly modified F-15]] called "The Streak Eagle".<ref>{{cite web |title=40 Years Ago, 'Streak Eagle' Smashed Records for 'Time to Climb' |url=http://www.utc.com/News/PW/Pages/40-Years-Ago-Streak-Eagle-Smashed-Records-for-Time-to-Climb.aspx |website=[[United Technologies]] Corp. |access-date=6 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402122156/http://www.utc.com/News/PW/Pages/40-Years-Ago-Streak-Eagle-Smashed-Records-for-Time-to-Climb.aspx |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ''P-42'' "Streak Flanker" was stripped of all armament, radar and operational equipment. The fin tips, tail-boom and the wingtip launch rails were also removed. The composite radome was replaced by a lighter metal version. The aircraft was stripped of paint, polished and all drag-producing gaps and joints were sealed. The engines were modified to deliver an increase in thrust of {{convert|1000|kg|abbr=on}}, resulting in a [[thrust-to-weight ratio]] of almost 2:1 (for comparison with standard example see [[#Specifications (Su-27SK)|Specifications]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=P-42 Record Flanker |url=http://www.propro.ru/flankers/eng/su-27.htm#p42 |website=ProPro Group |access-date=6 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312181931/http://propro.ru/flankers/eng/Su-27.htm#p42 |archive-date=12 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Winchester |first1=Jim |title=Jet fighters : inside & out |date=2012 |publisher=Rosen Pub. |location=New York |isbn=978-1-4488-5982-5 |page=130 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3shgcJXesN0C&pg=PA130 |access-date=6 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402201416/https://books.google.com.au/books?id=3shgcJXesN0C&pg=PA130 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Sukhoi Su-27UB ’17 red’ (37514194274).jpg|thumb|Twin-seat combat trainer Su-27UB of the [[Russian Aerospace Forces]]]]
The production ''Su-27'' (sometimes ''Su-27S'', NATO designation 'Flanker-B') began to enter [[Soviet Air Forces|VVS]] operational service in 1985, although manufacturing difficulties kept it from appearing in strength until 1990.<ref name="SU27SKhistory">{{cite web |url=http://www.sukhoi.org/eng/planes/military/su27sk/history/ |title=Airplanes - Military Aircraft - Su-27SÊ - Historical background |website=Sukhoi Company (JSC) |access-date=4 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214080912/http://www.sukhoi.org/eng/planes/military/su27sk/history/ |archive-date=14 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Su-27 served with both the [[Soviet Air Defence Forces|V-PVO]] and Frontal Aviation. Operational conversion of units to the type occurred using the ''Su-27UB'' (Russian for ''Uchebno Boevoy'' - "combat trainer", NATO designation 'Flanker-C') twin-seat trainer, with the pilots seated in tandem.<ref name="www.nationalmuseum.af.mil">{{cite web |last1=Zettlemoyer |first1=Ryan |title=Sukhoi SU-27UB "FLANKER-C" TRAINER |url=https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/3566120/sukhoi-su-27ub-flanker-c-trainer/ |website=www.nationalmuseum.af.mil |access-date=6 July 2024 |ref=National Museum Of The United States Air Force}}</ref>

When the naval Flanker trainer was being conceived the Soviet Air Force was evaluating a replacement for the [[Sukhoi Su-24|Su-24 "Fencer"]] strike aircraft, and it became evident to Soviet planners at the time that a replacement for the Su-24 would need to be capable of surviving engagements with the new American F-15 and F-16. The Sukhoi bureau concentrated on adaptations of the standard ''Su-27UB'' tandem-seat trainer. However, the Soviet Air Force favoured the crew station (side-by-side seating) approach used in the Su-24 as it worked better for the high workload and potentially long endurance strike roles. Therefore, the conceptual naval [[Trainer (aircraft)#Tandem and side by side|side-by-side seated trainer]] was used as the basis for development of the ''Su-27IB'' (Russian for ''Istrebityel Bombardirovshchik'' - "fighter bomber") as an Su-24 replacement in 1983. The first production airframe was flown in early 1994 and renamed the ''Su-34'' (NATO reporting name 'Fullback').<ref name="auto">{{cite journal |last1=Kopp |first1=Dr. Carlo |title=Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback: Russia's New Heavy Strike Fighter (Technical Report APA-TR-2007-0108) |url=http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Fullback.html |website=Air Power Australia |date=April 2012 |pages=1 |access-date=19 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317021534/http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Fullback.html |archive-date=17 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>