Fighter Aircraft
Su-33
The Sukhoi Su-33 is a carrier-based fighter built by Sukhoi at KnAAPO in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia, and in service since 1998. A naval derivative of the Su-27 Flanker, it flew from the carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, though only about two dozen production aircraft were ever built.
Russia|Sukhoi (KnAAPO)Overview
The Su-33 grew out of the Su-27K prototype, which first flew on 17 August 1987. Test pilot Viktor Pugachev made the first landing on the carrier Tbilisi, later renamed Admiral Kuznetsov, on 1 November 1989. Sukhoi added folding wings and stabilators, a strengthened undercarriage, an arrestor hook, canard foreplanes, a refuelling probe and multi-element flaps for ski-jump take-offs. Two Saturn AL-31F-3 engines of roughly 125 kN each give a top speed near Mach 2.17.
The Russian Navy accepted the Su-33 in 1998 and received about 24 production aircraft, roughly 26 with prototypes. They serve with the 279th Naval Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Northern Fleet and flew combat sorties off Syria in 2016, where one was lost in a landing accident. With Admiral Kuznetsov in long refit since 2018, the jets mostly operate from land bases, and the fleet is estimated at 17 to 20 airframes. The navy has chosen the MiG-29K as its newer deck fighter.
Key Specifications
Variants
The Su-33 is the standard single-seat carrier fighter, accepted by the Russian Navy in 1998.
The Su-27K is the original name and prototype designation of the naval Flanker that first flew in 1987.
The Su-33UB, or Su-27KUB, is a two-seat carrier variant that stayed a prototype and test aircraft.
Operators
RussiaFrequently Asked Questions
How much does the Su-33 cost?
No export price has been published for the Sukhoi Su-33. Estimates put a single aircraft at roughly 40 to 50 million US dollars, but that figure is unconfirmed because the jet was built only for the Russian Navy.
How fast is the Su-33?
The Sukhoi Su-33 has a maximum speed of about Mach 2.17, or roughly 2,300 km/h. Its service ceiling is about 17,000 m and its combat radius is commonly cited at around 1,000 km.
How many Su-33 does Russia have?
Russia is estimated to have roughly 17 to 20 Su-33 fighters left, though estimates vary. About 24 production aircraft were built, and the remaining jets are ageing and being retired gradually without a direct replacement.
Su-33 vs J-15: what is the difference?
The Su-33 is the Russian original and the Shenyang J-15 is China’s unlicensed copy, built from a Su-33 prototype (T-10K-3) obtained from Ukraine in 2001. The J-15 has since been developed further, while the Su-33 is being retired.
Is the Su-33 a 4th generation fighter?
The Sukhoi Su-33 is a fourth-generation fighter and is not stealth. It uses an N001-type pulse-Doppler radar and an OLS-27K infrared search system, and it has no AESA radar or modern precision-strike integration.
Which countries use the Su-33?
Russia is the only country that operates the Su-33, through the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet. China built the J-15 from a Su-33 prototype but never bought the Russian jet, and India chose the MiG-29K instead.