Editing Sukhoi Su-27 (section)

=== Export and post-Soviet development ===
In 1991, the production facilities at [[Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant]] and [[Irkutsk]] developed export variants of the Su-27: the ''Su-27SK'' single seat fighter and ''Su-27UBK'' twin-seat trainer, (the ''K'' in both variants is Russian for "'''K'''ommercheskiy" - literally "Commercial")<ref name="Global Security">{{cite web |last1=Zettlemoyer |first1=Ryan |title=Su-27UBK FLANKER |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/su-27ubk.htm |website=Global Security |access-date=7 July 2024 |ref=Global Security}}</ref> which have been exported to [[China]], [[Vietnam]], [[Ethiopia]] and [[Indonesia]].<ref name="ODIN">{{cite web |last1=Zettlemoyer |first1=Ryan |title=Su-27 (Flanker) Russian Multirole Fighter Aircraft |url=https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Su-27_(Flanker)_Russian_Multirole_Fighter_Aircraft |website=odin.tradoc.army |publisher=The United States Army |access-date=7 July 2024 |ref=ODIN}}</ref>
After the [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|collapse of the USSR]] in 1991, [[Russia]], the successor state, started development of advanced variants of the Su-27 including the [[Sukhoi Su-30|Su-30]], [[Sukhoi Su-33|Su-33]], Su-34, [[Sukhoi Su-35|Su-35]], and [[Sukhoi Su-37|Su-37]].

Since 1998 the export ''Su-27SK'' has been produced as the [[Shenyang J-11]] in China under licence. The first licensed-production plane, [[Shenyang Aircraft Corporation|assembled in Shenyang]] from Russian supplied kits, was flight tested on 16 December 1998. These licence-built versions, which numbered 100, were designated J-11A. The next model, the J-11B made extensive use of Chinese developed systems within the ''Su-27SK'' airframe.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kopp |first1=Dr Carlo |title=PLA-AF and PLA-N Flanker Variants (Technical Report APA-TR-2012-0401) |url=http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Flanker-Variants.html |website=Air Power Australia |date=7 April 2012 |pages=1 |access-date=7 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122009/http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Flanker-Variants.html |archive-date=15 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Sukhoi Su-27SM}}
Starting in 2004, the Russian Air Force began a major update of the original Soviet Su-27 ('Flanker-B') fleet. The upgraded variants were designated ''Su-27SM'' (Russian for "'''S'''eriyniy '''M'''odernizovanniy" - literally "'''S'''erial '''M'''odernized"). This included upgrades in air-to-air capability with the [[R-77]] missile with an active radar homing head. The modernized Su-27SM fighters belong to the [[Fourth-generation jet fighter|4+ generation]]. The strike capability was enhanced with the addition of the [[Kh-29|Kh-29T/TE/L]] and [[AS-17 Krypton|Kh-31P/Kh-31A]] [[Air-to-surface missile|ASM]] and [[KAB-500KR|KAB-500KR/KAB-1500KR]] smart bombs. The avionics were also upgraded.<ref name="Air Vectors">{{cite web |last1=Zettlemoyer |first1=Ryan |title=[2.0] Second-Generation Su-27s & Derivatives |url=https://www.airvectors.net/avsu27_2.html |website=Air Vectors |access-date=7 July 2024 |ref=Air Vectors}}</ref> The Russian Air Force is currently receiving aircraft modernized to the SM3 standard. The aircraft’s efficiency to hit air and ground targets has increased 2 and 3 times than in the basic Su-27 variant. Su-27SM3 has two additional stations under the wing and a much stronger airframe. The aircraft is equipped with new onboard radio-electronic systems and a wider range of applicable air weapons. The aircraft’s cockpit has multifunctional displays.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-defense-security-news/global-news-2018/november/4644-russian-air-force-sets-up-new-su-27sm3-wing.html |title=Russian Air Force sets up new Su-27SM3 wing |date=November 2018 |website=AirRecognition.com |access-date=2 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122172058/http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-defense-security-news/global-news-2018/november/4644-russian-air-force-sets-up-new-su-27sm3-wing.html |archive-date=22 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Su-30 is a two-seat multi-role version developed from the ''Su-27UBK'' and was designed for export and evolved into two main variants. The export variant for China, the [[Sukhoi Su-30MKK|''SU-30MKK'']] ('Flanker-G') which first flew in 1999. The other variant developed as the export version for India, the [[Sukhoi Su-30MKI|''Su-30MKI'']] ('Flanker-H') was delivered in 2002 and has at least five other configurations.

The Su-33 is the Russian Navy version of the Soviet ''Su-27K'' which was redesignated by the Sukhoi Design Bureau after 1991. Both have the NATO designation 'Flanker-D'.

The Su-34 is the Russian derivative of the Soviet-era ''Su-27IB'', which evolved from the Soviet Navy ''Su-27KUB'' operational conversion trainer. It was previously referred to as the ''Su-32MF''.

The newest and most advanced version of the Su-27 is the [[Sukhoi Su-35#Modernization|Su-35S]] ("'''S'''erial"). The Su-35 was previously referred to as the ''Su-27M'', ''Su-27SM2'', and ''Su-35BM''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Katz |first1=Dan |title=Program Dossier - Sukhoi Flanker |url=http://aviationweek.com/site-files/aviationweek.com/files/uploads/2014/11/asd_11_14_2014_Flanker6.pdf |website=Aviation Week |access-date=7 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101322/http://aviationweek.com/site-files/aviationweek.com/files/uploads/2014/11/asd_11_14_2014_Flanker6.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Su-37 is an advanced technology demonstrator derived from Su-35 prototypes, featuring thrust vectoring nozzles made of [[Titanium#Aerospace and marine|titanium]] rather than steel and an updated airframe containing a high proportion of [[Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer|carbon-fibre]] and [[Aluminium-lithium alloy|Al-Li alloy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Su-37 |url=https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/su-37.htm |first=John |last=Pike |date=March 11, 1999 |website=Federation of American Scientists |access-date=21 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402112523/http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/su-37.htm |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Only two examples were built and in 2002 one crashed, effectively ending the program. The Su-37 improvements did however make it into new Flanker variants such as the ''Su-35S'' and the ''Su-30MKI''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Su-37 Flanker-F Fighter, Russia |url=http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/su37/ |website=Airforce-Technology.com |access-date=21 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313004737/http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/su37 |archive-date=13 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><!-- {{Unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST |date=June 2016}} -->