OKB of Sukhoi started the Development of a perspective fighter of new generation in 1969. The projected plane should have given a worthy response to F-15 which had been created by firm McDonnell Douglas by fast rates since 1969. The plane projected in OKB of Sukhoi whose code was T-10, should have been created much better than F-15. If in the USA the planes with root inflows of a wing had been already projected (YE-16, YE-117) and flied (F-5E), in our country it was necessary to be engaged in this problem from the early beginning.
In 1975-1976 the data about American F-15 was received. It was found out, unexpectedly, that on a number of parameters the machine does not suit the technical project, and makes concessions to F-15 on many parameters. For example, developers of the electronic equipment didn't go in fixed weight dimensional frameworks. Also it was not possible to realize the fixed charge of fuel.
After M.P.Simonov had headed that theme, and later and OKB of Sukhoi tests on completely "exotic" variants of configuration of the plane had been carried out: with wings of negative sweep, with PGO (Front Horizontal Tail unit); modeling of engines' work was fulfilled.
On April, 20, 1981 experimental plane T-10-17 (other designation T-10-1, i.e. the first serial), manned by V.S.Iljushinym was mounted in the sky. The machine was strongly changed; almost all units were calculated «from the early beginning". The data received at the tests showed that really unique plane; on many parameters not having analogues in the world was created.
The plane was created according to the normal balancing scheme, had integrated aerodynamic configuration with smooth interface of a wing and a fuselage forming a uniform carried body. A design is all-metal with wide usage of titanic alloys. A fuselage of type semimonocoque with circular cross section. The nose part is rejected downwards. The ejected armchair T-36 provides emergency escape of the plane in all a range of altitudes and speeds of flight.
Planes can be used for interception of the air targets in a big range of altitudes and speeds of flight, including on a background of the ground, and conducting of maneuverable air fight in any meteorological conditions during a day or at night. For successful fulfilling of fighting tasks modern aim-navigating equipment was installed onboard. Search and support of the target are carried out with help of RLPS (Radar-tracking Aim Complex) with coherent pulse-Doppler Radar-tracking Station (RLS) or Optical-Electronic Aim Station (OEPS) with Optical-Laser Locational Station (OLLS) and helmet system of target destination. Board Radar-tracking Station (BRLS) with an antenna in diameter of 1076 mm is able to find out the air targets of a class " easy fighter" on range up to 80-100 kms in a forward hemisphere and 30-40 kms - in a back one, to accompany on pass up to ten targets and to provide simultaneous launch of missiles on two targets. OEPS finds out high-speed air targets on a range of up to 40 kms in a forward hemisphere and 90-100 kms - in a back one. On achieving of the allowed range of missile launch a pilot can use UR of middle range (such as R-27) or a missile of increased (R-27E) range with passive thermal or semi-active radar-tracking Heads of Homing (GSN) to strike a target. A quick-firing gun of caliber of 30 mm or UR of a small range R-73 with TGS available onboard is used in a close maneuverable fight. For providing of piloting and air navigation there is a complete set of the radio engineering navigating equipment on the board of a fighter .The plane was subjected to adaptations during a serial production.
Being added to arms the plane received a designation SU-27, and in aviation of Air Defense - SU-27P (interceptor). More than 300 planes-interceptors SU-27 (out of 450 planes - which Armed Forces of the Russian Federation had by the beginning of 1996) is in the structure of aviation of Air Defense.
Code designation of the NATO is Flanker-B (Extreme).
