Editing Sukhoi Su-27 (section)

=== Soviet Union and Russia ===
[[File:Su-27SM3 flight, Celebration of the 100th anniversary of Russian Air Force.jpg|thumb|left|Russian Su-27SM3]]

The [[Soviet Air Force]] began receiving Su-27s in June 1985.<ref name="SU27SKhistory"/> The first frontline unit to receive the Su-27 was the [[831st Tactical Aviation Brigade (Ukraine)|831st Fighter Aviation Regiment]] at [[Myrhorod Air Base]], [[Ukrainian SSR]], in November 1985.<ref name="RussianJetFightsForBothSides" /><ref>{{cite web |first=Vladimir |last=Trendafflovski |url=https://www.key.aero/article/ukrainian-su-27-flankers-front-line |title=Ukrainian Su-27 Flankers on the front line |website=key.aero |date=21 March 2019 |access-date=3 May 2023 |archive-date=2 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502130056/https://www.key.aero/article/ukrainian-su-27-flankers-front-line |url-status=live }}</ref>   It officially entered service in August 1990.<ref name="SU27SKhistory"/>

On 13 September 1987, a fully armed Soviet Su-27, Red 36, intercepted a Norwegian [[Lockheed P-3 Orion]] maritime patrol aircraft flying over the [[Barents Sea]]. The Soviet fighter performed different close passes, colliding with the [[reconnaissance aircraft]] on the third pass. The Su-27 disengaged and both aircraft landed safely at their bases.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_287.shtml |title=Bear Hunters, Part 3: Collision with Flanker |first=Tom |last=Cooper |date=September 29, 2003 |website=Air Combat Information Group Database |access-date=4 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729152940/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_287.shtml |archive-date=29 July 2014 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

These aircraft were used by the [[Russian Air Force]] during the [[War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)|1992–1993 war in Abkhazia]] against Georgian forces. One fighter, piloted by Major Vatslav Aleksandrovich Shipko (Вацлав Александрович Шипко) was reported shot down in [[friendly fire]] by an [[S-75 Dvina|S-75M Dvina]] on 19 March 1993 while intercepting Georgian Su-25s performing close air support. The pilot was killed.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://mdb.cast.ru/mdb/3-2008/item3/article3/ |title=Georgia's Air Defense in the War with South Ossetia |first=Said |last=Aminov |magazine=[[Moscow Defense Brief]] |number=3 |date=2008 |access-date=1 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090711165314/http://mdb.cast.ru/mdb/3-2008/item3/article3/ |archive-date=11 July 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_282.shtml |title=Georgia and Abkhazia, 1992-1993: the War of Datchas |first=Tom |last=Cooper |date=September 29, 2003 |website=Air Combat Information Group Database |access-date=4 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303054854/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_282.shtml |archive-date=3 March 2008 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

In the [[2008 South Ossetia War]], Russia used Su-27s to gain airspace control over [[Tskhinvali]], the capital city of South Ossetia.<ref name="lenta888">{{Cite web |url=https://lenta.ru/news/2008/08/08/stopsheling/ |title=Грузинские войска отступают из Цхинвали |trans-title=Georgian troops retreat from Tskhinvali |language=ru |date=August 8, 2008 |website=Lenta.ru |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030074525/http://lenta.ru/news/2008/08/08/stopsheling/ |url-status=live |archivedate=30 October 2008}}</ref><ref name="airplanes">{{Cite web |url=http://lenta.ru/news/2008/08/08/strikes/ |title=Российские самолеты бомбят позиции грузинских войск |trans-title=Russian planes are bombing Georgian army positions |language=ru |date=August 8, 2008 |website=Lenta.ru |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026164556/http://lenta.ru/news/2008/08/08/strikes/ |url-status=live |archivedate=26 October 2008}}</ref>

On 7 February 2013, two Su-27s briefly entered Japanese airspace off [[Rishiri Island]] near [[Hokkaido]], flying south over the [[Sea of Japan]] before turning back to the north.<ref name="Russian fighter jets 'breach Japan airspace'" /> Four [[Mitsubishi F-2]] fighters were scrambled to visually confirm the Russian planes,<ref name="Japan accuses Russian jets of violating airspace">{{cite news |title=Japan accuses Russian jets of violating airspace |url=http://dawn.com/2013/02/08/japan-accuses-russian-jets-of-violating-airspace/ |newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |date=7 February 2013 |access-date=9 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208094621/http://dawn.com/2013/02/08/japan-accuses-russian-jets-of-violating-airspace/ |archive-date=8 February 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> warning them by radio to leave their airspace.<ref name="Japan scrambles fighter jets as Russian warplanes intrude into airspace">{{cite web |title=Japan scrambles fighter jets as Russian warplanes intrude into airspace |url=http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2291677&language=en |website=Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) |date=7 February 2013 |access-date=10 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516080546/http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2291677&language=en |archive-date=16 May 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> A photo taken by a [[Japan Air Self-Defense Force|JASDF]] pilot of one of the two Su-27s was released by the Japan [[Ministry of Defense (Japan)|Ministry of Defense]].<ref name="Japan says 2 Russian fighters entered its airspace">{{cite web |title=Japan says 2 Russian fighters entered its airspace |url=https://news.yahoo.com/japan-says-2-russian-fighters-entered-airspace-141944662.html |first=Mari |last=Yamaguchi |date=7 February 2013 |website=Yahoo! News |access-date=9 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211204959/http://news.yahoo.com/japan-says-2-russian-fighters-entered-airspace-141944662.html |archive-date=11 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Russia denied the incursion, saying the jets were making routine flights near the [[Kuril Islands dispute|disputed]] [[Kuril Islands]].<ref name="Russian fighter jets 'breach Japan airspace'">{{cite web |title=Russian fighter jets 'breach Japan airspace' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21364559 |work=BBC News |date=7 February 2013 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806170254/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21364559 |archive-date=6 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Russian SU-27 Flanker with RAF Typhoon MOD 45157730.jpg|thumb|A Russian Su-27 and a British [[Eurofighter Typhoon|Typhoon]] meet over the Baltic, June 2014]]
Russia plans to replace the Su-27 and the Mikoyan MiG-29 eventually with the [[Sukhoi Su-57]] fifth-generation multi-role twin-engine fighter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA Stealth Fighter, Russia |url=http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/sukhoit50stealthfigh/ |website=Airforce-Technology.com |access-date=8 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331010927/http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/sukhoit50stealthfigh |archive-date=31 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> <!-- {{Unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST |date=June 2016}} -->

A squadron of Su-27SM3s was deployed to Syria in November 2015 as part of the [[Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-10-russian-military-aircraft-stationed-in-syria-2017-10?IR=T |title=These are the 11 types of Russian military jets and planes known to be stationed in Syria |first=Daniel |last=Brown |date=February 26, 2018 |website=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=26 April 2021 |archive-date=26 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426075519/https://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-10-russian-military-aircraft-stationed-in-syria-2017-10?IR=T |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.weaponews.com/news/10103-su-27sm3-seen-in-syria.html |title=Su-27SM3 seen in Syria |date=2017-06-29 |website=Weaponews.com |access-date=18 July 2021 |archive-date=18 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718124449/https://www.weaponews.com/news/10103-su-27sm3-seen-in-syria.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

A Russian Su-27 crashed over the Black Sea on 25 March 2020, in mysterious circumstances. The pilot was not found,<ref name=bseata>{{Cite web |url=https://tass.com/emergencies/1195247 |title=Rocket's engine blast caused Su-27 jet's crash in Crimea in March 2020 |date=30 August 2020 |website=[[TASS]] |access-date=15 September 2020 |archive-date=31 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831051634/https://tass.com/emergencies/1195247 |url-status=live }}</ref> after a large-scale rescue effort hampered by inclement weather involving four helicopters, 11 civilian and military vessels, and several drones. The plane's last location was some 50 kilometers from the city of [[Feodosia]].<ref name="dw03.26">{{cite news |title=Russian pilot missing after military jet crashes into Black Sea |url=https://www.dw.com/en/russian-pilot-missing-after-military-jet-crashes-into-black-sea/a-52931725 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=26 March 2022 |access-date=26 June 2022 |archive-date=26 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626231118/https://www.dw.com/en/russian-pilot-missing-after-military-jet-crashes-into-black-sea/a-52931725 |url-status=live }}</ref>