T-80U Main Battle Tank

T-80U Main Battle Tank

main battle tank (MBT) Russia T-80U tank

The T-80 is a third-generation main battle tank (MBT) designed and manufactured in the Soviet Union. When it entered service in 1976, it was the first MBT in the world to feature a powerful multifuel turbine engine as its main propulsion engine. The T-80U was last produced in a factory in Omsk, Russia, while the T-80UD and further-developed T-84 continue to be produced in Ukraine. The T-80 and its variants are in service in Belarus, Cyprus, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, and Ukraine. The chief designer of the T-80 was the Russian engineer Nikolay Popov.


T-80U main battle tank armament

The T-80U carries the 9M119 Refleks (Nato designation AT-11 Sniper) anti-tank guided missile system which is fired from the main gun. The range of the missile is 100m to 4,000m. The system is intended to engage tanks fitted with ERA (explosive reactive armour) as well as low-flying air targets such as helicopters, at a range of up to 5km. The missile system fires either the 9M119 or 9M119M missiles, which have semi-automatic laser beamriding guidance.

The tank is fitted with a 125mm 2A46M-1 automatic smoothbore gun with thermal sleeve, which can fire between 6 and 8 rounds/minute. Loading is hydro-mechanical with a 28 round carousel container. 45 rounds are carried. The gun fires separate loading projectiles which have semi-combustible cartridge case and sabot. Ammunition can be AP (armour piercing), APDS (armour piercing giscarding sabot), HEAT (high-explosive anti-tank) and HE-FRAG (high-explosive fragmentation).
"The T-80U carries the 9M119 Refleks (Nato designation AT-11 Sniper) anti-tank guided missile system."

Armament also includes a 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun and a 12.7mm Utes (NSVT-12.7) air defence machine gun. 

T-80U gunner position

Protection
The tank is protected by a combination of explosive reactive armour at the front and gill type armour panels elesewhere. Other countermeasures include quieter running, gas-turbine engine which exhausts smokeless gases, improved heat insulation of roof and hatches, ventilation of the engine-transmission system, cooling system, smoke-laying system and smoke discharging system.
Fire control and observation

The tank fire control system is the 1A42 which includes 1V517 ballistic computer, two-axis electrohydraulic weapon stabiliser, rangefinder sight stabilised in two axes as well as a GPK-59 hydro-semicompass azimuth indicator and an azimuth indicator for the turret rotation. This system permits firing on the move.

The gunner has the 1G46 day sight and also an infrared sight. 

Propulsion
The T-80U’s gas turbine engine is the GTD-1250 which produces 920kW (1,250hp). The GTD-1250 is a three shaft engine with two cascades of turbocompression. There is also an independent GTA-18 auxiliary power unit for use when the tank is stationary.

The tank has a planetary power transmission with hydraulic servo-system for increased mobility. The track and suspension system is fitted with RMSh track and rubber-tyred road wheels, torsion bar suspension with hydraulic telescopic double-acting shock absorbers. Maximum speed of the vehicle on road is 70km/h and across county is 48km/h. 

T-80U commander position

T-80UK command tank
The T-80UK tank provides command and control capability for field commanders and enable communications with superior command. It is similar to the T-80U but has a number of additional features. It is fitted with the Shtora-1 countermeasures suite also fitted on the T-90 tank. Shtora-1 is produced by Electronintorg of Russia. This system includes infrared jammer, laser warning system, grenade discharging system and a computerised control system. Operational range is 200m.
"The latest version of the T-80U being developed is the T-80UM2."

The tank has a combined symmetric dipole antenna for both UHF and HF communications. This increases range when the tank is stationary – up to 40km for the R-163-50U radio and 350 km for the R-163-50K radio. An AB-1-P28 1kW benzene generator is provided to power communications when the tank is stationary. T-80UK also has a more advanced fire control system, automatic loader for the gun, built-in turret ERA and TNA-4-3 navigational aid. 

T-80UM2

The latest version of the T-80U is the T-80UM2, also called Black Eagle or Chiorny Oriol, which is designed to engage targets while stationary or on the move. The demonstration of the prototype tank was held in Omsk in September 1997. The tank has a new all-welded cast steel turret with ERA on the hull front and turret, an automatic loading system and relocation of the ammunition to the turret bustle for improved survivability.

Other improvements include a computerised fire control system, thermal imaging sights for commander and gunner, and the Arena active countermeasures system. The T-80 UM2 is planned for exports.

 

T-80
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1976–present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	First Chechen War, Second Chechen War, War in Donbass
Production history
Designer	Nikolay Popov, LKZ (T-80), KMDB (T-80UD)
Designed	1967–1975
Manufacturer	LKZ and Omsk Transmash, Russia Malyshev Factory, Ukraine
Unit cost	USD $2.2 million T80U export, 1994.
Produced	1976–1992
No. built	5,404 (as of 2005)
Variants	engineering & recovery, mobile bridge, mine-plough with KMT-6 plough-type system and KMT-7 roller-type system.
Specifications (T-80B / T-80U)
Weight	42.5 tonnes T-80B, 46 tonnes T-80U
Length	9.9 m (32 ft 6 in) T-80B, 9.654 m (31 ft 8.1 in) T-80U (gun forward) 7.4 m (24 ft 3 in) T-80B, 7 m (23 ft 0 in) T80U, (hull)
Width	3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) T-80B 3.603 m (11 ft 9.9 in) T-80U
Height	2.202 m (7 ft 2.7 in) T-80B, T-80U
Crew	3
Armour	T-80B : Hull 440-450 mm vs APFSDS 500-575 mm vs HEAT, Turret 500 mm vs APFSDS 650 mm vs HEAT T-80U : Hull & Turret with Kontakt-5 780 mm vs APFSDS 1320 mm vs HEAT
Main armament	125 mm 2A46-2 smoothbore gun,  36 rounds T-80B, 2A46M-1 with 45 rounds T-80U 9M112 Kobra ATGM, 4 missiles T-80B, 9M119 Refleks ATGM, 6 missiles T-80U
Secondary armament	7.62 mm PKT coax MG, 12.7 mm NSVT or PKT antiaircraft MG
Engine	SG-1000 gas turbine T-80B, GTD-1250 turbine T-80U, or one of 3 diesel T-80UD 1,000 hp T-80B, 1,250 hp T-80U
Power/weight	23.5 hp (17.6 kW) / tonne T-80B 27.2 hp (20.3 kW) / tonne T-80U
Transmission	manual, 5 forward gears, 1 reverse T-80B, 4 forward, 1 reverse T-80U
Suspension	torsion bar
Ground clearance	0.38 m (1.2 ft) T-80B, 0.446 m (1.46 ft) T-80U
Fuel capacity	1,100 litres (240 imp gal) (internal) 740 litres (160 imp gal) (external)
Operational range	335 km (208 mi) (road, without external tanks) 415 km (258 mi) (road, with external tanks)
Speed	70 km/h (43 mph) (road) 48 km/h (30 mph) (cross country)

sources: wikipedia, army-technology

Akula-class submarine

Akula-class submarine

Akula-class attack submarine Nuclear submarine Russia submarines

Project 971 Щука-Б (Shchuka-B, 'Shchuka' meaning "pike", NATO reporting name "Akula") is a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986. The class is also known under the name Bars (meaning "snow leopard").There are four sub-classes or flights of Shchuka, consisting of the original seven Akula Is, commissioned between 1984 and 1990; six Improved Akulas, commissioned between 1991 and 2009; one Akula II, commissioned in 1995; and one Akula III, commissioned in 2001. The Russians call all of the submarines Shchuka-B, regardless of modifications.

Some potential for confusion may exist, as the name Akula (Акула meaning "shark" in Russian) was used by the Soviets for a different submarine, the Projekt 941, which is known in the West as the Typhoon class. By contrast, the Projekt 971 (the subject of this article) was named Shchuka-B by the Soviets but designated as the "Akula class" by the West after the name of the lead ship, K-284.

The launch of the first submarine in 1985, according to defense analyst Norman Polmar, "shook everyone [in the West] up", as Western intelligence agencies had not expected the Soviet Union to produce such a boat for another ten years.


Akula Class submarine history

Construction of Akula II began in 1991, but it was suspended for a period of ten years due to lack of funds.
"Three Akula II submarines, with advanced machinery-quietening technology, have been built."

The Indian Navy signed an agreement with Russia to lease a new Akula II submarine, the SSN Nerpa, for ten years. The vessel was completed at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur shipyard and commissioned to the Russian Navy in December 2009. The submarine, renamed INS Chakra, was recommissioned by the Indian Navy in April 2012.

Initially, the Akula II submarine was scheduled to be delivered to India in August 2007. However, the induction was postponed to 2009 due to recurred delays caused by the installation of new systems and technologies on Nepra and due to an attack on the latest series of Schucka-B or Akula-II Class Russian-built submarines.

Delivery was further delayed due to a fatal gas leak causing the deaths of 20 crew members during sea trials in November 2008.

Akula submarine design

The submarine has a double-hulled configuration with a distinctive high aft fin. The hull has seven compartments and the stand-off distance between the outer and inner hulls is considerable, reducing the possible inner hull damage. The very low acoustic signature has been achieved by incremental design improvements to minimise noise generation and transmission – for example, the installation of active noise cancellation techniques.

The retractable masts viewed from bow to stern are the periscopes, radar antennae, radio and satellite communications and navigation masts.

Missiles

The Akula Class carry up to 12 Granit submarine-launched cruise missiles. The missiles are fired from the 533mm torpedo launch tubes. Granit (Nato designation: SS-N-21 Sampson) has a range of about 3,000km and delivers a 200kt warhead.

The CEP (the circle of equal probability) is 150m. The CEP value is a measure of the accuracy of strike on the target and is the radius of the circle within which half the strikes will impact. The land attack Granit missile uses inertial and terrain following guidance.

The submarine’s anti-ship missiles are the Novator SS-N-15 Starfish and the Novator SS-N-16 Stallion. The Starfish, fired from the 533mm tubes, has a target range of 45km. The Stallion, fired from the 650mm tubes, has a longer range of up to 100km. The Stallion and the Starfish can be armed with a 200kt warhead or a type 40 torpedo.

An air defence capability is provided by a Strela SA-N-5/8 portable missile launcher with 18 missiles.

Torpedoes

The submarine has eight torpedo launch tubes, four 650mm and four 533mm tubes. The Improved Akula and Akula II have ten, with six 533mm tubes. The four 650mm tubes can be fitted with liners to provide additional 533mm weapon launch capacity. The torpedo tubes can be used to launch mines instead of torpedoes. The Akula can launch a range of anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel torpedoes.

Sensors

The Akula’s surface search radar is the Snoop Pair or the Snoop Half. The surface search radar antennae are installed on the same mast as the Rim Hat radar intercept receiver.
"The Akula Class submarines carry up to 12 Granit submarine-launched cruise missiles."

The submarine is fitted with the MGK 540 sonar system which provides automatic target detection in broad and narrow-band modes by active sonar. It gives the range, relative bearing and range rate.

The sonar system can also be used in a passive, listening mode for detection of hostile sonars. The sonar signal processor can detect and automatically classify targets as well as reject spurious acoustic noise sources and compensate for variable acoustic conditions.

Propulsion

The main machinery consists of a VM-5 pressure water reactor rated at 190MW with a GT3A turbine developing 35MW. Two auxiliary diesels rated at 750hp provide emergency power. The propulsion system drives a seven-bladed fixed-pitch propeller.

The propulsion system provides a maximum submerged speed of 33kt and a surface speed of 10kt. A reserve propeller system, powered by two motors rated at 370kW, provides a speed of 3kt to 4kt. The submarine is rated for a diving depth to 600m.

Class overview
Name:	Akula
Builders:	Sevmash
Operators:	Soviet Navy Russian Navy Indian Navy
Preceded by:	Victor class, Sierra class
Succeeded by:	Yasen class
Cost:	est. $1.55 billion (1995 dollars)
Built:	1983–1994
In service:	1984–present
In commission:	1984–2009
Planned:	20
Completed:	15
Cancelled:	5
Active:	5 (4 active +5 on modernization in Russia, 1 active in India)
Retired:	3
General characteristics
Type:	Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Displacement:	surfaced: 8,140 tons Akula I and Akula I Improved 8,450–8,470 tons Akula II and III submerged: 12,770 tons Akula I and Akula I Improved 13,400–13,800 tons Akula II and III
Length:	110.3 m (362 ft) for Akula I and Akula I Improved 113.3 m (372 ft) for Akula II and Akula III
Beam:	13.6 m (45 ft)
Draught:	9.7 m (32 ft)
Propulsion:	one 190 MW OK-650B/OK-650M pressurized water nuclear reactor 1 OK-7 steam turbine 43,000 hp (32 MW) 2 OK-2 Turbogenerators producing 2 MW 1 seven-bladed propeller 2 OK-300 retractable electric propulsors for low-speed and quiet maneuvering at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph)
Speed:	10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 28–35 knots (52–65 km/h; 32–40 mph) submerged
Endurance:	100 days
Test depth:	480 m (1,570 ft) test depth for Akula I and Akula I Improved 520 m (1,710 ft) for Akula II and III 600 m (2,000 ft) maximum operating depth
Complement:	73 for Akula I & Improved, 62 (31 officers) for Akula II & III
Sensors and processing systems:	MGK-500 or 540 active/passive suite Flank arrays Pelamida towed array sonar MG-70 mine detection sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys:	Bukhta ESM/ECM MG-74 Korund noise simulation decoys (fired from external tubes) MT-70 Sonar intercept receiver Nikhrom-M IFF
Armament:	4 × 533 mm torpedo tubes (28 torpedoes) and 4 × 650 mm torpedo tubes (12 torpedoes). (K-152 Nerpa has 8 × 533 mm torpedo tubes) 40 torpedoes total 1–3 × Igla-M surface-to-air missile launcher fired from sail (surface use only) Granat cruise missiles, now Kalibr
Notes:	Chiblis Surface Search radar Medvyeditsa-945 Navigation system Molniya-M Satellite communications MGK-80 Underwater communications Tsunami, Kiparis, Anis, Sintez and Kora Communications antennas Paravan Towed VLF Antenna Vspletsk Combat direction system

sources: wikipedia, naval-technology

KSVK 12.7 Sniper Rifle / Anti-Material Rifle (AMR)

KSVK 12.7 Sniper Rifle / Anti-Material Rifle (AMR)

anti-materiel rifle KSVK Russia Sniper rifle

The KSVK (Russian: Крупнокалиберная Снайперская Винтовка Ковровская (Krupnokalibernaya Snayperskaya Vintovka Kovrovskaya); English: Large-Caliber Kovrov Sniper Rifle) or Degtyarev sniper rifle is a 12.7mm anti-materiel sniper rifle developed in Russia for the purpose of counter sniping and penetrating thick walls, as well as light armored vehicles.

KSVK is a bullpup configured, manually operated, rotary bolt rifle. Ammunition is fed from detachable 5-round box magazines. It is equipped with massive muzzle brake. KSVK is fitted with standard Russian side-mounted scope rail, and can be fitted with variety of day and night scopes. Folding bipod is attached to a special extender, which runs below the barrel from the receiver, which allows for free floating barrel. Open iron sights on folding bases are installed for backup or emergency purposes.

Variants

SVN-98 (СВН-98)
KSVK (КСВК)
ASVK (АСВК, army Kovrov large-caliber sniper rifle) – adopted by Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation under designation 6S8 "KORD" sniper complex (6С8 «Корд») in June 2013 and used by the Syrian Arab Army during the Syrian Civil War.
Unnamed Vietnamese version, designed based on the Russian KSVK with several modifications to fit the local conditions. It is equipped with the also Vietnamese produced N12 optical sight with 10 times magnification. Manufactured at Z111 and Z199 factories

KSVK 12.7
Type	Bullpup anti-materiel rifle
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
In service	Russian Defense Ministry
Used by	See Users
Wars	See Conflicts
Production history
Designer	E.V. Zhuravlev, M.Y. Kuchin and V.I. Negrulenko
Designed	1997–1998
Manufacturer	Degtyarev plant
Produced	1990s
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	12 kg w/o scope
Length	1420 mm
Barrel length	1000 mm
Cartridge	12.7×108mm
Caliber	12.7mm
Action	Bolt action
Rate of fire	10 s.p.m.
Muzzle velocity	770–860 m/s
Effective firing range	1500 m
Maximum firing range	2000 m
Feed system	5-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Iron sights, rails for mounting various sniper sights

sources

S-400 missile system

S-400 missile system

missile Russia S-400 missile system

The S-400 Triumf (Russian: C-400 Триумф, Triumph; NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler), previously known as the S-300PMU-3, is an anti-aircraft weapon system developed in the 1990s by Russia's Almaz Central Design Bureau as an upgrade of the S-300 family. It has been in service with the Russian Armed Forces since 2007. The S-400 uses four missiles to fill its performance envelope: the very-long-range 40N6 (400 km), the long-range 48N6 (250 km), the medium-range 9M96E2 (120 km) and the short-range 9M96E (40 km). The S-400 has been described, as of 2017, as "one of the best air-defence systems currently made."

Development

Development of the S-400 system began in the late 1980s, and the system was announced by the Russian Air Force in January 1993.  On 12 February 1999 the first, reportedly-successful tests were performed at Kapustin Yar in Astrakhan, and the S-400 was scheduled for deployment by the Russian army in 2001. 

In 2003, it became apparent that the system was not ready for deployment. In August, two high-ranking military officials expressed concern that the S-400 was being tested with "obsolete" interceptors from the S-300P system and concluded that it was not ready for deployment.  Completion of the project was announced in February 2004, and in April a ballistic missile was successfully intercepted in a test of the upgraded 48N6DM missile.  In 2007, the system was approved for service. 


Structure


The 30K6E is an administration system which manages eight divisions (battalions). The 55K6E is a command and control centre based on the Ural-532301. The 91N6E  is a panoramic radar detection system (range 600 km) with protection against jamming which is mounted on an MZKT-7930. The S band system can track 300 targets.  Six battalions of 98ZH6E surface-to-air missile systems (an independent combat system)  can track no more than six targets on their own,  with an additional two battalions if they are within a 40-kilometre (25 mi) range. The 92N6E (or 92N2E) is a multi-functional radar with a 400-kilometre (250 mi) range which can track 100 targets.  The 5P85TE2 launcher and the 5P85SE2 on a trailer (up to 12 launchers) are used for launch. The 48N6E, 48N6E2, 48N6E3, 48N6DM, 9M96E, 9M96E2 and the ultra-long-range 40N6E are authorised by a Russian presidential decree.  According to the Russian government, the S-400 utilises an active electronically scanned array.


Optional elements of the S-400 (98ZH6E)   include the 15I6ME–98ZH6E, with coverage of 30, 60 and 90 km beyond the 30K6E coverage. The 96L6E  has a 300-kilometre (190 mi) detection range. The 40B6M is housing for the 92N6E or 96L6E radar. The Protivnik-GE is an anti-stealth UHF radar with a 400-kilometre (250 mi) range.  The Moscow-1 passive sensor is  2 1⁄2 times more effective than the Protivnik, with a 400-kilometre (250 mi) range  Orion  for a target-designation on-the-air defence system, and the Avtobaza-M  and Orion+ Avtobaza adds high-precision detection. The 1RL220BE   versions were reportedly were used for jamming.  The 400-kilometre (250 mi)-range S-200D Dubna (SA-5c) missiles and S-300 P-family radar systems can be used without additional command-and-control centres.  S-300 (SA-20A, SA-20B) missiles may also be guided.  A-50 and A-50U   aircraft provide early warning and command-and-control target designation. 

The 30К6Е control system can be integrated with the  S-400 Triumph 98ZH6E system; the S-300PMU2 (through the 83М6Е2 control system); the S-300PMU1 (through the 83М6Е control system); the Tor-M1 through the Ranzhir-M battery-command post; the Pantsir-S1 through the lead battery vehicle. The Protivnik-GE and Gamma-DE radars, integrated with the 92H6E radar system, enables communication between each battery with Baikal-E senior command posts and similar types; nearby 30К6Е, 83М6Е and 83М6Е2 administration systems; the Polyana-D4М1 command post; fighter-aircraft command post, and mobile long-range radars. The Nebo-M system is designed to hunt the F-35 joint-strike fighter. The system's VHF component provides sector search and tracking, with the X- and L-band components providing fine-tracking capability. Good placement of the radars relative to the threat axis enables the L- and X-band components to illuminate the incoming target from angles where the target RCS is sub-optimal. Attempts to jam the Nebo-M would be problematic, since all the radars have passive angle track capability against jammers; jamming permits passive triangulation of the target using three angle-track outputs. The RLM-S and RLM-D have better elevation-tracking accuracy than the RLM-M, and the Nebo M should be capable of producing high-quality tracks suitable for mid-course guidance of modern surface-to-air missiles and trajectory guidance of legacy SAMs. 

The Gamma-C1E SHF mobile radar station has a 300-kilometre (190 mi) detection range.  The Nebo VHF mobile radar station and the Resonance-NE radar station have a detection range of 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) and 65 kilometres (40 mi) to a height of 500 metres (1,600 ft). All Nebo-family locators are doubled for army air defence.  During the 1970s, the long-range mobile UHF 5H87 and SHF 5H69 low-altitude locators were used.   a 1980s goal was detection at a height of 10 metres (33 ft) at a distance of 40 km (25 mi). 

For export to foreign customers, with the purpose of integrating existing customer air defence systems, additional work on improvement of the 30K6E administration system for information technology pairing with anti-kets is in progress.


sources: wikipedia

Sukhoi Su-35

Sukhoi Su-35

air force Russia Sukhoi Sukhoi Su-35

The Sukhoi Su-35 (Russian: Сухой Су-35; NATO reporting name: Flanker-E) is a designation for two separate, heavily-upgraded derivatives of the Su-27 air-defence fighter. They are single-seat, twin-engine, highly-maneuverable aircraft, designed by Sukhoi and built by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO).

The first variant was designed during the 1980s as an upgrade of the Su-27, and was initially known as the Su-27M. This derivative incorporated canards and a multi-function radar that transformed the aircraft into a multi-role aircraft, and was structurally reinforced to support its heavier weight. The first prototype made its maiden flight in June 1988. As the aircraft was not mass produced due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, Sukhoi re-designated the aircraft as Su-35 to attract export orders. At the same time, the fifteen aircraft produced were used for tests and demonstrations; one example had thrust vectoring engines installed, and the resultant Su-37 was used as a technology demonstrator. A sole Su-35UB two-seat trainer was also built in the late 1990s that strongly resembled the Su-30MK family.

In 2003, Sukhoi embarked on a second modernization of the Su-27 to serve as an interim aircraft awaiting the development of the Sukhoi PAK FA (Su-57) program. Also known as Su-35, this derivative has a redesigned cockpit and weapons-control system compared to the Su-27M, and features thrust-vectoring engines in place of the omitted canards. The type made its first flight in 2008. Although the aircraft was designed for export, the Russian Air Force in 2009 became the launch customer of the aircraft, the production version of which is designated Su-35S. China's People's Liberation Army Air Force is the sole foreign user of the aircraft. Other countries are reportedly in discussions with Russia about the possible purchase of the Su-35, among which is Indonesia, whose government is expected to sign a contract in the near future.

Design and development

Upgraded Su-27

The first aircraft design to receive the Su-35 designation had its origins in the early-1980s, at a time when the Su-27 was being introduced into service with the Soviet Armed Forces. The definitive production version of the Su-27, which had the internal designation of T-10S, started mass ("serial") production with KnAAPO in 1983. The following year, this Su-27 version reached initial operational readiness with the Soviet Air Defence Forces. Having begun work on an upgraded Su-27 variant in 1982, Sukhoi was instructed in December 1983 by the Soviet Council of Ministers to use the Su-27 as the basis for the development of the Su-27M (T-10M). Nikolay Nikitin would lead the design effort throughout much of the project's existence, under the oversight of General Director Mikhail Simonov, who had been the chief designer of the Su-27.


While sharing broadly the blended wing-body design of the Su-27, the Su-27M is visibly distinguished from the basic version by the addition of canards, which are small lifting surfaces, ahead of the wings. First tested in 1985 using an experimental aircraft, the canards, in complement with the reshaped wing leading-edge extension, redirected the airflow in such a way so as to eliminate buffeting at high angles of attack and allowed the airframe to sustain 10-g manoeuvres (as opposed to 9 g on the Su-27) without the need for additional structural reinforcement. More importantly, when working with the relaxed-stability design and the accompanying fly-by-wire flight-control system, the aerodynamic layout improved aircraft's manoeuvrability; it enabled the aircraft to briefly fly with its nose past the vertical while maintaining forward momentum. Because of this, theoretically, during combat the pilot could pitch the Su-27M up 120 degrees in under two seconds and fire missiles at the target. Other notable visible changes compared to the T-10S design included taller vertical tails, provisions for in-flight refuelling and the use of two-wheel nose undercarriage to support the heavier airframe.

Besides the increase in manoeuvrability, another feature that distinguished the Su-27M from the original design was the new weapons-control system. The centrepiece of this system was the multi-function N011 Bars (literally "Panther") phased-array radar with pulse-Doppler tracking that allowed it to detect targets below the horizon. First installed on the third prototype, the radar transformed the Su-27M from simply being an air defence fighter into a multi-role aircraft capable of attacking ground targets. Compared to the N001 Mech ("Sword") Cassegrain-attenna radar of the Su-27, which could only direct a missile towards one target at a time, the new radar could track fifteen targets and direct missiles towards six of them simultaneously. The extra weight of the N011 radar at the front of the aircraft necessitated the addition of the canards; engineers would only later discover the aerodynamic advantages of these devices. In addition, an N012 self-defence radar was housed in the rearward-projecting tail boom. Other changes to the aircraft included the use of marginally-uprated turbofan engines, as well as the increased use of lightweight composites and aluminium-lithium alloys in the aircraft's structure.

Testing and demonstration

In 1987, Sukhoi started converting the first prototype (designated T10M-1) from a T-10S airframe at its experimental plant in Moscow. Like several subsequent aircraft, the first prototype lacked the many physical alterations of the new design. It made its first flight after conversion on 28 June 1988, piloted by Oleg Tsoi, followed by the second prototype in January 1989. Following the conversions of the two Su-27M prototypes, the actual production of the aircraft was transferred to the country's Far East where it was carried out by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO). The third aircraft (T10M-3), which was the first new-built Su-27M and first to be constructed by KnAAPO, made its first flight in April 1992. By then, the Soviet Union had disintegrated, and the ensuing economic crisis in Russia throughout the 1990s meant that the original plan to mass-produce the aircraft between 1996 and 2005 was abandoned, with the aircraft to serve as experimental test-beds to validate the canards, the flight-control system and thrust-vectoring technology.In total, two prototypes, ten pre-production and three production aircraft were constructed by 1995; the production aircraft were delivered in 1996 to the Russian Air Force for weapons testing.






By the time of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Sukhoi had been demonstrating the Su-27M to senior defence and government officials. With its debut to a Western audience at the 1992 Farnborough Airshow, the company redesignated the aircraft as Su-35. The aircraft subsequently made flying demonstrations overseas in an effort to attract export orders, starting in November 1993 with Dubai, where Viktor Pugachev flew it in a mock aerial engagement with an Su-30MK in front of spectators. The aircraft thereafter flew in Berlin and Paris, and would be a regular feature at Moscow's MAKS Air Show. The Russian government cleared the aircraft for export during Sukhoi's unsuccessful sales campaign in South Korea during the late 1990s and early 2000s; the company also marketed the aircraft to Brazil, China and the United Arab Emirates.

As the flight test programme of the Su-27M proceeded, engineers discovered that the pilot failed to maintain active control of the aircraft during certain manoeuvres, such as the Pugachev's Cobra. The eleventh Su-27M (T10M-11) was therefore installed with thrust-vectoring engine nozzles in 1995, and the resultant Su-37 technology demonstrator made its first flight in April 1996. It also tested the enhanced N011M Bars-M radar, as did the twelfth developmental Su-27M. The Su-37's ability to maintain a high angle of attack while flying at close to zero airspeed attracted considerable public attention.  It later received different engines and updated fly-by-wire controls and cockpit systems for evaluation. 

Apart from the single-seat design, a two-seat aircraft was also constructed. Working in cooperation with Sukhoi, KnAAPO's own engineers designed the Su-35UB so as to combine thrust-vectoring engines with features of the Su-27M. Modified from an Su-30MKK airframe, the aircraft made its first flight in August 2000, and afterwards served as an avionics test-bed.  While the original Su-27M never entered mass production due to a lack of funding,  Sukhoi refined the Su-27M's use of canards and the Su-37's thrust-vectoring technology and later applied them to the Su-30MKI two-seat fighter for the Indian Air Force.The tenth Su-27M (T10M-10) also served as a test-bed for the Saturn 117 engine that is intended for the Sukhoi Su-57 (previously known under the acronym "PAK FA") jet fighter.

A modernized Su-35S of the Russian Air Force
Role	Multirole air superiority fighter
National origin	Soviet Union / Russia
Design group	Sukhoi Design Bureau
Built by	Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association
First flight	Su-27M: 28 June 1988 Su-35S: 19 February 2008
Introduction	2014
Status	In service
Primary users	Russian Air Force People's Liberation Army Air Force
Produced	Su-27M: 1987–1995 Su-35S: 2007–present
Number built	Su-27M: 15 Su-35S: 58, 4 for export
Unit cost	US$40–65 million (Su-35S)
Developed from	Sukhoi Su-27
Variants	Sukhoi Su-37

sources: wikipedia