2025 marks the 48th anniversary of the maiden flight of the Su-27 fighter prototype - a milestone that signalled the birth of one of the most successful fighter families in aviation history. Developed by the Sukhoi Experimental Design Bureau, the Su-27 became the foundation for a long line of advanced combat aircraft that would go on to dominate skies around the world.
In the decades that followed, Sukhoi's aircraft evolved into a true combat dynasty - the Su-27, Su-30, Su-34, Su-35 and the latest Su-57 - combining speed, agility, endurance, and firepower in a way that few rivals could match. Today, the Su-27/Su-30 family remains among the most in-demand fighters globally, serving with the air forces of Angola, Belarus, Venezuela, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, China, Malaysia, Uganda and several others.
Much of the credit belongs to aircraft designer Pavel Osipovich Sukhoi and his talented design team, who established a legacy of innovation that continues to define the Sukhoi brand to this day.
Sukhoi Su-57 Fighter Jet in Action
“Air superiority is a key factor in any confrontation. That is why we pay great attention to developing new advanced platforms,” said Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy Director General of the Rostec State Corporation. “At one time, the Su-27 became a technologically breakthrough machine and the progenitor of a whole family of outstanding aircraft: the Su-30, Su-34 and Su-35. Today, these jets are the mainstay of the Russian Aerospace Forces and successfully perform missions even under especially adverse conditions. This is a vivid demonstration of our technological capabilities.”
Currently, the Sukhoi family of high-performance, multi-mission aircraft offered for export includes the Su-30SME, Su-34E, and Su-35, representing the pinnacle of 4+/4++ generation fighter technology.
According to Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport, “Rosoboronexport has delivered about 700 Su-27/Su-30 combat aircraft abroad since 2000. In 2021, the company's order portfolio was replenished with new contracts for the supply of Su-30SMs. Over the past 10 years, aircraft supplies have accounted for 40-50% of Russia's total arms exports, and even exceed this figure today.”
Mikheev noted that foreign customers appreciate that engines, avionics, weapons, and systems in Russian combat aircraft are exclusively Russian-made - ensuring independence from foreign restrictions. Furthermore, the open architecture of Sukhoi's avionics allows for integration of domestically developed systems and weapons by customer nations, making each aircraft adaptable to local needs.
Power and Performance
Sukhoi Su-30MKM Dances in the Sky over Singapore with Thrust Vectoring Manoeuvres
The Su-35, the most advanced of the 4++ generation, incorporates fifth-generation technologies and is capable of the full spectrum of fighter missions across all altitudes and speeds. With up to twelve medium-range air-to-air missiles or six air-to-surface weapons, and a radar capable of detecting targets at up to 350 km, the Su-35 combines range, precision, and power.
It can also act as an airborne command post, coordinating the actions of other fighters - a capability usually reserved for dedicated AWACS aircraft. Hero of Russia fighter pilot Major Viktor Dudin describes it as “a perfect fighter that surpasses all its foreign counterparts.”
Key advantages of Sukhoi fighters include super-manoeuvrability, giving them a clear edge in close-range dogfights; powerful missile and cannon armament; in-flight refuelling capability; autonomous basing; and modular avionics architecture.
The Su-34: The Fighter-Bomber with a Punch
Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback Supersonic Fighter-Bomber
The Su-34 Fullback brings heavy firepower and extended range to the family, serving as a supersonic fighter-bomber capable of precision strikes from low, medium, or high altitudes. Its armoured cockpit and long-range capability make it a versatile platform for strike missions in challenging conditions.
“The intensity of military threats in the world is not decreasing,” Mikheev added, “which increases interest in Russian combat planes that have proved their reliability and effectiveness and outperform their Western counterparts in many respects.”
Global Reach and Legacy
One of the most notable Sukhoi operators is India, where licensed production of the Su-30MKI has been a major success under the Make in India initiative. The aircraft forms the backbone of the Indian Air Force, and cooperation continues with further assembly kits, upgrades, and modernisation programs.
Beyond combat, Sukhoi aircraft have also earned admiration on the airshow circuit. The Russian Knights and Falcons of Russia aerobatic teams - flying Su-27s, Su-30s and Su-35s - have thrilled audiences around the world with their precision manoeuvres and power. Heads of state and dignitaries who have flown in these aircraft often remark on their unmatched performance and reliability.
From the pioneering Su-27 of the 1970s to today's stealthy Su-57, the Sukhoi family represents a remarkable continuum of design innovation and combat capability. Each generation builds upon the last, combining Russian engineering resilience with cutting-edge aerodynamics and avionics - a lasting tribute to the vision of Pavel Osipovich Sukhoi, whose name continues to soar through the skies of the world.
As usual, the last Pilot's Post report for 2025 will be published on 10 December and publication will recommence on 10 January 2026.
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