| Su-37 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Multirole Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Sukhoi |
| Maiden flight | 2 April 1996 |
| Status | Prototype |
| Number built | 2 |
| Developed from | Sukhoi Su-35 |
The Sukhoi Su-37 (NATO designation: Flanker-F) is a Russian multi-role jet fighter aircraft. It is a single seat all-weather fighter derived from the Su-27 'Flanker'.
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Design and development
The Su-37 is a single-seat, all-weather, fighter and ground attack prototype aircraft, derived from the Su-27 'Flanker'. The Su-27 is a Russian fourth generation jet aircraft that has been exported to over 20 nations. The Su-37 test aircraft made its maiden flight in April 1996 from the Zhukovsky flight testing center near Moscow. The Su-37 is referred to as the Terminator.[1] The Su-37 includes several updates over the Su-27, including all-weather multi-mode passive electronically scanned array radar with synthetic aperture, terrain avoidance, terrain mapping and a rear facing radar. The airframe includes a percentage of parts made from composites, unlike the all-metal Su-27. Additionally, the Su-37 incorporates the AL-37FU engines equipped with thrust vectoring. The Su-37’s nozzles are variable in pitch only and travel plus or minus 15 degrees, but they can be operated differentially to provide a rolling moment. The aircraft is also the first Russian aircraft with Hands On Throttle and Stick, or HOTAS, system. The Su-37 also stores a radar in the tailcone of the plane that allows it to fire missiles behind the plane. The engine not only incorporates 2D TVC but also is tough and resistant to engine surge even during classic, inverted and flat spins, giving better reliability and maneuverability, such as when the AOA is as high as 180 degrees. The Su-37 appeared at the 1996 Farnborough air show piloted by Sukhoi test pilot Eugeny Frolov. During the performance, the Su-37 was flipped on its back while flying at 350 km/h/217 mph so that it faced the opposite direction, inverted and almost stationary. After pausing for two seconds the thrust vectoring was used to complete a 360 degree rotation and the aircraft moved off in its original direction of flight at only 60 km/h/37 mph. The Su-37 can carry air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons on 12 stations. The number of missiles and bombs carried can be increased to 14 with the use of multi-payload racks. Russia has not ordered Su-37s, but it might find customers abroad, a market that now constitutes a sizable share of Sukhoi’s income. Several prototypes have been built, but the aircraft is not in production.
Mock Dogfight challenge
Sukhoi's chief designer Mikhail Simonov was so confident about the advantage bestowed by the aircraft's thrust vectoring system, that he challenged any U.S. aircraft to a mock dogfight "... any time, any place!" But as it stands the Su-37 has not been ordered into production.
Specifications (Su-37)
General characteristics
- Crew: One pilot
- Length: 22.183 m (72 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)
- Height: 6.43 m (21 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 62.0 m² (667 ft²)
- Empty weight: 18,500 kg (40,790 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 35,000 kg (77,160 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Lyulka AL-37FU turbofans, 145 kN (32,000 lbf) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 2,500 km/h at high altitude (1,550 mph [1])
- Range: 3,700 km (2,230 mi)
- Service ceiling 18,000 m (59,100 ft)
Armament
- 1× 30 mm GSh-30 cannon with 150 rounds
- 12× wing and fuselage stations for up to 8,200 kg (18,080 lb) of ordnance
References
External links
- Su-37 at Globalsecurity.org
- Su-37 at EnemyForces.com
- Su-37 at Fighter Tactics Academy
- Su-37 at Russian Military Analysis
- Su-37 at airforce-technology.com
Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
Related lists
See also
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Fighters/Interceptors: Su-9 (II) · Su-11 (II) · Su-15 (II) · Su-27 · Su-30 · Su-33 · Su-35 · Su-37 · Su-47 |
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| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
