DCS Su-27 Flanker Technical specifications

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DCS: Su-27 Flanker
Flight Manual

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DCS: Su-27 for DCS World
The Su-27, NATO codename Flanker, is one of the pillars of modern-day Russian combat aviation.
Built to counter the American F-15 Eagle, the Flanker is a twin-engine, supersonic, highly
manoeuvrable air superiority fighter. The Flanker is equally capable of engaging targets well beyond
visual range as it is in a dogfight given its amazing slow speed and high angle attack manoeuvrability.
Using its radar and stealthy infrared search and track system, the Flanker can employ a wide array of
radar and infrared guided missiles. The Flanker also includes a helmet-mounted sight that allows you
to simply look at a target to lock it up! In addition to its powerful air-to-air capabilities, the Flanker
can also be armed with bombs and unguided rockets to fulfil a secondary ground attack role.
Su-27 for DCS World focuses on ease of use without complicated cockpit interaction, significantly
reducing the learning curve. As such, Su-27 for DCS World features keyboard and joystick cockpit
commands with a focus on the most mission critical of cockpit systems.
General discussion forum: http://forums.eagle.ru

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................VI
SU-27 HISTORY ............................................................................................................. 2
ADVANCED FRONTLINE FIGHTER PROGRAMME.......................................................................... 2
FROM T-10 TO T-10S.......................................................................................................... 9
TESTING...........................................................................................................................12
41 RECORDS OF THE SU-27 .................................................................................................15
IN SERVICE .......................................................................................................................16
GENERAL DESIGN ........................................................................................................ 19
DESIGN............................................................................................................................20
SYSTEMS AND AVIONICS .....................................................................................................22
COCKPIT ..........................................................................................................................23
GAME AVIONICS MODE .............................................................................................. 26
NAVIGATION MODE...........................................................................................................28
AIR TO AIR MODE .............................................................................................................29
COCKPIT INSTRUMENTS.............................................................................................. 31
Airspeed and Mach Indicator ................................................................................................................... 32
Pressure Altimeter ................................................................................................................................... 32
Radar Altimeter........................................................................................................................................ 33
Mechanical Devices Indicator .................................................................................................................. 33
AoA Indicator and Accelerometer............................................................................................................ 34
Attitude Direction Indicator ..................................................................................................................... 34
Horizontal Situation Indicator .................................................................................................................. 35
Vertical Velocity Indicator........................................................................................................................ 36
Aircraft Clock............................................................................................................................................ 36
Tachometer.............................................................................................................................................. 37
Fuel Quantity Indicator ............................................................................................................................ 37
Interstage Turbine Temperature Indicators ............................................................................................. 38
Head Down Display (HDD)........................................................................................................................ 38
Radar Warning System............................................................................................................................. 39
PPD-SP Panel............................................................................................................................................ 42
Direct control switch ................................................................................................................................ 42
Trimming Mechanism .............................................................................................................................. 43
Automatic Control System (ACS).............................................................................................................. 44

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SU-27 HUD AND HDD OPERATIONAL MODES....................................................................... 47
Basic HUD symbols....................................................................................................................................47
Navigation Modes.....................................................................................................................................49
Beyond Visual Range Combat Modes .......................................................................................................50
Digital Datalink..........................................................................................................................................57
Work in Complicated Countermeasures Conditions .................................................................................58
Vertical Scanning - Close Combat Mode ...................................................................................................60
BORE - Close Combat Mode......................................................................................................................61
HELMET - Close Combat Mode .................................................................................................................61
Fi0 –Longitudinal Aiming Close Combat Mode.........................................................................................62
Gun Employment......................................................................................................................................63
Air-to-Ground Mode .................................................................................................................................65
Reticle .......................................................................................................................................................66
ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES ......................................................................................... 68
Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) Stations of Su-27 ..............................................................................68
SU-27 WEAPONS......................................................................................................... 71
AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES......................................................................................................... 71
SU-27 MISSILES................................................................................................................ 73
R-27 (AA-10) Medium Range Missiles.......................................................................................................73
R-73 (AA-11) Short Range Missile .............................................................................................................76
AIR-TO SURFACE WEAPONS ................................................................................................ 80
Free-fall Bombs.........................................................................................................................................80
Unguided Aerial Rockets...........................................................................................................................84
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS AND MESSAGES ............................................................... 90
RADIO COMMANDS ........................................................................................................... 90
RADIO MESSAGES ............................................................................................................. 97
VOICE MESSAGES AND WARNINGS ..................................................................................... 100
THEORETICAL TRAINING ........................................................................................... 103
INDICATED AIR SPEED AND TRUE AIRSPEED .......................................................................... 103
VELOCITY VECTOR ........................................................................................................... 103
ANGLE-OF-ATTACK (AOA) INDICATOR................................................................................. 103
TURN RATE AND RADIUS OF TURN ...................................................................................... 104
TURN RATE .................................................................................................................... 106
SUSTAINED AND INSTANTANEOUS TURNS ............................................................................. 107

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ENERGY CONTROL ...........................................................................................................108
SU-27 IMPLEMENTATION.......................................................................................... 109
FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM (FCS) ........................................................................................110
Longitudinal Channel ..............................................................................................................................110
Lateral Channel .......................................................................................................................................112
Directional Channel.................................................................................................................................115
NOZZLE CONTROL SYSTEM ................................................................................................117
SU-27 CHECK LISTS .................................................................................................... 119
Engine Ground Start................................................................................................................................119
Engine Shutdown ....................................................................................................................................119
In Flight Engine Restart ...........................................................................................................................119
WEAPONS DELIVERY ........................................................................................................121
Beyond Visual Range Combat .................................................................................................................121
Close Air Combat.....................................................................................................................................124
Air-to-Ground Weapons..........................................................................................................................129
SUPPLEMENTS .......................................................................................................... 132
ACRONYM LIST................................................................................................................132

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INTRODUCTION
The Su-27, NATO codename Flanker, is one of the pillars of modern-day Russian combat aviation.
Built to counter the American F-15 Eagle, the Flanker is a twin-engine, supersonic, highly
manoeuvrable air superiority fighter. The Flanker is equally capable of engaging targets well beyond
visual range as it is in a dogfight given its amazing slow speed and high angle attack manoeuvrability.
Using its radar and stealthy infrared search and track system, the Flanker can employ a wide array of
radar and infrared guided missiles. The Flanker also includes a helmet-mounted sight that allows you
to simply look at a target to lock it up! In addition to its powerful air-to-air capabilities, the Flanker
can also be armed with bombs and unguided rockets to fulfil a secondary ground attack role.
Figure 1: Su-27

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SU-27 HISTORY
SU-27 HISTORY
The Su-27, a Russian fourth-generation single-seat supersonic fighter, is recognised all over the
globe as one of the best combat aircraft of the 20th century. Due to its perfect flight performances
and operational characteristics, the fighter is rightfully popular with pilots and technicians. Top
piloting capabilities of the Su-27 fighter demonstrated during multiple air shows around the world did
not leave anyone indifferent. The Su-27 is in the top lines of the aviation record tables of the
International Aircraft Federation. To the date, the Su-27 is a record-holder of 27 world class flight
achievements. The Su-27 is the forefather of a combat aircraft family of various functionality,
including the Su-27UB trainer, Su-33 ship-borne fighter, Su-30 twin-seat multirole fighter family, Su-
34 tactical bomber and deep modernized fighter Su-35.
To achieve such impressive results, the developers of the fighter had to follow the long and difficult
way. The creation of the fighter in its modern appearance with its current performances to guard the
Russian aerospace as well as that of the Su-27 buyers would not have been possible without
strenuous efforts made by many engineers, designers, scientists, researchers, pilots and military test
experts. The most significant input in the Su-27 development was made by teams of the Sukhoi
Design Bureau and Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Manufacturing Plant, developers of its powerplant,
radar and guided missile system from the Lyulka-Saturn Company, Tikhomirov Instrumentation
Research Institute and Vympel State-owned Design Bureau respectively. In addition to the above
organisations, the Su-27 fighter was being developed by many other scientific and research
institutions, including the TsAGI, CIAM, GosNIIAS, CNII, a range of other design bureaux and
research institutes that designed and manufactured various systems for the Su-27 fighter. This article
is dedicated to some aspects of the Su-27 development history which began 30 years ago.
Advanced Frontline Fighter Programme
A team of developers from the Kulon Machine-Building Plant headed by Pavel Osipovich Sukhoi
initiated in 1969 the development of an advanced new-generation fighter for the Soviet Air Force and
Air Defence Forces' aviation. By the mid-seventies, a general concept of the new fighter was
formulated in co-operation with a number of science and research institutions. This concept provided
for a high-manoeuvrability long-range fighter with a powerful weapons system and a perfect
sighting/navigation system that would allow the pilot to participate efficiently in both long-range
missile exchange and dogfight. The basic performances of the new fighter were to be of top class
globally while a number of characteristics was to exceed those of its American F-15 counterpart the
American leadership was reasonably vesting its high hopes in. The design bureau was planning to
introduce a number of major innovations and solutions into the design of the new fighter designated
T-10.
In 1970, the Sukhoi design bureau developed the first version of the fighter airframe incorporating
key features of the integrated aerodynamic configuration. The aircraft was to have a lifting body
featuring a smooth coupling of the wing and fuselage, two turbojet engines located in isolated belly-
mounted engine nacelles and two vertical stabilisers. Such an integrated design allowed a significant
improvement of the fighter's aerodynamics and provided for a more spacious interior to
accommodate fuel tanks and various equipment. For the fighter to achieve intended flight
performances within a wide range of altitudes and speeds, the new fighter's wing had ogyval shape

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and a leading edge extension. According to the developers, the leading edge extension was supposed
to ensure required high-lift characteristics during the aerodynamic focus shifting at supersonic speeds
and generate vortice increasing wing, tail unit and control surface efficiency. At the same time,
Sukhoi was engaged in developing a traditional non-integrated version of the same fighter powered
by two adjacent engines, which were located in the fuselage's aft part, and fitted with side-mounted
air intakes and two vertical stabilisers. In 1972, both versions were submitted to the Air Force board
for examination and consideration. The board was to assess proposals submitted by three aircraft
design bureaux (Sukhoi, Mikoyan and Yakovlev) regarding development of an advanced tactical
fighter slated for entering the service with the Soviet Air Force in the early eighties.
Figure 2: First prototype T-10-1
As a result of thorough evaluation and assessment of all versions submitted for consideration, the
proposals presented by Sukhoi and Mikoyan were approved by the board for further development.
The Su-27 (T-10) programme was to be developed into a heavy multirole advanced tactical fighter,
while the MiG-29 programme was to produce a series-built light advanced tactical fighter. Among the
major combat objectives the both fighters were to meet, there was the dogfight and medium-range
aerial combat capability, interception of aerial targets in the front and rear hemispheres both against
the sky and ground as well as the secondary task of ground target destruction. The Su-27, which had
a better fuel endurance, more weapons load and more sophisticated navigation, self-defence and
communication systems, was intended to operate independently within an air group deep behind the
enemy lines at an operational-tactical range of up to 250-300 km, while a lighter and cheaper MiG-29
would operate only at ranges of up to 100-150 km into the enemy-held territory. The Su-27's
weapons control system was expected to ensure successful countering the F-15 fighter, the most
capable fighter of that time available to the potential opponent, as well as successful engagement
when outnumbered by less capable but numerous fighters (for instance, YF-17, YF-16 and J-6).
Besides, the Su-27 fighter was intended for entering the service with the Soviet Air Defence Forces
after its appropriate reequipping and rearmament.

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SU-27 HISTORY
Figure 3: T-10-1 wing
Proceeding from the updated and more specific requirements the client set for the tactical fighter of
the eighties, Sukhoi started in 1972 developing a preliminary design of the T-10 fighter subsequently
followed by the conceptual design stage. During 1970-75, over 15 options of the fighter configuration
were given consideration. Those configurations varied not only in general approaches to the problem
(integrated or classic configuration) but differed in solutions suggested for individual problems
(engine and air intake positioning, landing gear design, type of the control system, etc.). Finally,
preferences were given to the aircraft design with an integrated statically unstable configuration. The
Su-27 was to become the first Soviet unstable fighter with longitudinal in-flight balancing to be
provided by a fly-by-wire control system. Accepting the longitudinal static instability concept (in other
words, "electronic stability") promised a lot of advantages: for the aircraft to balance at a high angle
of attack, the leading edge slat's upward deflection was required with its lift being added to the wing
lift, which allowed significant improvement of the fighter lift with a minor increase in its drag. Due to
the use of the integrated statically unstable configuration, the Su-27 was to acquire outstanding
manoeuvrability allowing the fighter altitude changes unavailable to typical configuration fighters and
an increase in its range of up to 4,000 km without external fuel tanks. There were no other series-
produced fighter in the world boasting similar performances.
The fighter's aerodynamic configuration featured a regular scheme with the empennage being
situated behind the wings on the load-carrying beams on the outer sides of the separated engine
nacelles. The aircraft had twin tails mounted on the engine nacelles. The plane was to be controlled
by the all-moving horizontal stabiliser whose panels could deflect in different directions, as well as by