Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 Utkonos

     Notes: This is the tactical strike variant of the MiG-23 interceptor; the name Utkonos is Russian for Platypus, and refers to its flattened nose; this is a colloquialism and not the type’s official name.  Another name, common among Russian and Ukrainian troops, is the Krokodil Gena (after a Russian cartoon character, Gena the Crocodile). The Indians called the MiG-27 the Bahadur (Valiant); the NATO reporting name is the same as the MiG-23, the Flogger. As of 2023, the Russian, Indian, Sri Lankan, Ukrainian, and Kazakh Air Forces have retired the MiG-27, and they were the last countries to use the type.

     The MiG-27 was devised due to dissatisfaction with the MiG-27BN, the strike variant of the MiG-23 fighter. In particular, the MiG-23BN had poor forward visibility, a poor strike avionics package, and had features such as variable geometry air intake ramps that a strike aircraft did not need and needlessly increased complexity and weight without a significant increase in performance at low speeds and altitudes. The cockpit also had increased armor, and new strike avionics were installed at the expense of interception-type avionics. The landing gear was beefed up and raised to accommodate larger weapons and to operate from poorer-quality forward airfields. The MiG-27 is powered by a Tumansky R-29-B-300 turbojet with 17600 pounds thrust dry and 25400 pounds thrust in afterburner.

     The MiG-27 has a three-position swing-wing; in the forward position, handling characteristics are as shown (this is the normal position for strike configuration), but maximum speed is Tr Mov 900 and Com Mov 826. If wings are in mid-sweep, maximum speed is Tr Mov 1230 and Com Mov 1106, but minimum Com Mov is 160, Agl is -2/-1, and Turn is -20/-10.  If wings are in full sweep, maximum speeds are as shown, but minimum Com Mov is 200, Agl is -3/-2, and Turn is -30/-20.  It takes one phase to change sweep by one setting; during this phase, the plane may only fly level or be in a shallow dive and no weapons may be fired or launched. The MiG-27’s pylons rotate when the wings sweep to keep the pylons and ordnance pointed into the slipstream.

     The first version of the MiG-27 was also known as the MiG-23BM.  Its NATO reporting name is the Flogger-D.  Later versions of the MiG-27 had the ability to attack in inclement weather, and the dielectric head above the glove pylons was used to house electro-optical and radio frequency gear for guiding weapons. The MiG-27K had the NATO reporting name the Flogger-J2; it is the most advanced Soviet variant, equipped with a laser designator and compatible with a wide variety of Soviet TV-guided and command-guided ordnance. The MiG-27M has the NATO reporting name Flogger-J; it is a later, cheaper alternative to the MiG-27K, despite the NATO reporting name. It deletes the glove-box electro-optical and radio frequency heads, and therefore cannot carry the full range of Soviet ordnance of the time period. Initial marks of the MiG-27M were armed with the GS-6-23M Gatling gun, but this was later replaced with the GSh-30-6 gun. Despite the ordnance delivery system being somewhat dumbed down, the MiG-27M received a better ECM system and an improved nav/attack system. However, the heavy recoil from the autocannon tended to damage the new nav/attack system, and bursts longer than two seconds could also damage the airframe. Many MiG-27Ms are actually MiG-27Ds, which are MiG-23BMs upgraded and modified into the MiG-27M standard; these are identical to MiG-27Ms for game purposes. The MiG-27ML is an export variant supplied to India; it had the addition of an IRST sensor under the nose. They were sent to India in kit form, for assembly in India. India later upgraded these MiG-27MLs into MiG-27Hs, which have French-designed avionics of (in game terms) a higher Tech Level, a partial glass cockpit, and the addition (due to the avionics used being more miniaturized) of a joint GPS/GLONASS receiver, a mission computer, Sextant Ring Laser Gyro navigation with a digital map module, a HUD with HUD interface, secure long-range radios with a data link and communications with ground units, and an improved EW suite. The MiG-27H is the pinnacle of MiG-27 development, but it was not exported outside India.

     Except for the base MiG-27s, the MiG-27 is capable of nuclear delivery, with both bombs and missiles.

*The cockpit has additional armor and has AV 8.

**The cockpit has additional armor and has AV 9.

Sukhoi Su-7 Fitter

     Notes: This elderly ground-attack aircraft first flew in the 1950s. Fitter is the NATO reporting name.  It remains in service with many Third-World countries that were former Soviet client states.  Its highly swept wings do not lend themselves to maneuverability, and its underpowered engine does not give it high speed or good cargo capability.  The aircraft has an ejection seat, but is not capable of in-flight refueling.

     The Su-7A was the initial version; it was not a strike aircraft at this point, but a low-level tactical air superiority fighter. It did not prove particularly good at that role, for the reasons noted above.  It remained in service from 1959-65, but experiments began in 1959 to turn the disappointing fighter into a strike aircraft, producing the Su-7B. The Su-7A (and B) used the Lyulka AL-7F turbojet engine, which produced 15000 pounds of thrust dry and 21200 pounds thrust in afterburner. It was not a particularly reliable version of that engine, and it tended to fail at the wrong moment; it also suffered from high fuel consumption.

     The Su-7B was the first ground-attack version, manufactured from 1960-62.  It has an improved gunsight optimized for ground attack. It should be noted that despite the high fuel consumption, the Su-7A and Su-7B have no wet hardpoints, and cannot carry external fuel tanks, limiting their combat radius significantly. The Su-7BM is a heavily modified version of the Su-7B, equipped with a more reliable and less maintenance-hungry AL-7F-1 engine with the same power as the AL-7F, though the engine is just as fuel hungry.  Fuel tanks were installed in the wings (the Su-7A and B do not have wing fuel tanks); a way to tell a Su-7BM or later from the Su-7A and B is the external fuel pipes mounted on either side of the fuselage spine. The Su-7BM also has a pair of wet hardpoints on the inside wings. The Su-7BM is capable of nuclear gravity bomb delivery. The Su-7BKL is a rough-field-capable version of the BM, with small skids on the sides of the main landing gear and provision for a pair of SPRD-110 JATO rockets; when used, takeoff run is cut in half. The Su-7BKL also pops two braking parachutes when landing, cutting landing run distance. The Su-7BMK is a simplified version of the Su-7BM, with reduced maintenance requirements and not fitted for nuclear weapons delivery.

     The Su-7U is a two-seat trainer version of the Su-7B, instead of lengthening the fuselage like most such aircraft, the Russians simply removed one fuel tank behind the cockpit and installed the second cockpit there. The Su-7UM is a trainer version of the Su-7BM; the Su-7UMK is a trainer version of the Su-7BMK.  All have the NATO reporting name of Moujik.

Sukhoi Su-17/Su-20/Su-22

     Notes: The Su-17 Fitter is basically an Su-7 Fitter equipped with variable geometry wings and a more powerful engine; the Soviets realized the shortcomings of the Su-7 within months of its introduction and ordered a “perfected” form of the Su-7. To this end, the Russians put variable geometry wings on an Su-7BM (the Su-7IG testbed, later lost in a crash), then steadily upgraded the product until the Su-17 (NATO reporting name: Fitter-C) was okayed for series production in 1969. Production of the Su-17/20/22 was long enough that a plethora of modified and improved versions were devised.

     The swing wing has two positions, fore and aft, for low or high speeds.  The wing sweep may be changed only when the aircraft spends 4 phases or more in straight-line or minimal turn rate flight.  Unless the wings are swept, the maximum combat move is 1000; but if the wings are swept, minimum speed is 150 and all agility ratings are -1 and turn rates are -20/-10. 

     The Su-17 was the initial design, little more than a production variant of the Su-7IG prototype, with only minimum upgrades to avionics and extra power boosting in the controls.  It used the same Lyulka AL-7F-1 afterburning turbojet engine as the Su-7BM, but its hardpoints were partially redistributed and made able to pivot when the wings were swept or unswept.

     While the Su-17 was little more than a production prototype, the Su-17M has a large number of upgrades and modifications to make into a much more capable combat aircraft. Its NATO reporting name was also the Fitter-C. The engine was replaced with the Lyulka AL-21F-3 afterburning turbojet with 17200 pounds thrust dry or 24700 pounds thrust in afterburner. This engine was coupled with a variable position intake to give it greater efficiency at high speeds. The fuselage was modified to allow for two more fuselage hardpoints, and incorporated a wing sweep mechanism that deleted the driveshafts. A minor form of navigation gear, a radio compass, was incorporated into the avionics. The Su-17M-28 and Su-17MKG were minor variants of the Su-17M used to test air-to-surface missiles such as the Kh-28, Kh-25, and Kh-29.  The Su-17M was exported under the designation Su-20. A small number of Su-17Ms were rigged to carry several reconnaissance pods, including photographic and ELINT pods; these were designated Su-17Rs.

     The Su-17M2, NATO reporting name Fitter-D, was a further heavily modified version of the Su-17M. The nose is extended 38 centimeters, not only to incorporate a droop for better visibility, but to house a laser rangefinder, enhanced aiming avionics, and a laser designator; the ranging radar of previous versions was removed as obsolete. However, underneath the nose was a fairing for a Doppler navigation radar and the KN-23 navigation system taken from the MiG-23. The Su-17M2 is also equipped with a transponder, and this transponder was replaced several times during the Su-17M2’s service lifespan. Under the wing in a pod was carried a command guidance emitter for air-to-ground ordnance requiring such guidance. Due to the Doppler radar fairing, the Su-17M2 was given the nickname Borodoy, by its aircrews and ground crews, which means “with a beard.”

     The Su-17M2D featured the installation of a Tumansky/Khatchaturov R-29BS-300 afterburning turbojet, which offered somewhat higher thrust at 17640 pounds thrust dry and 25360 pounds thrust in afterburner.  It also has higher fuel consumption, and for this reason was not used by the Soviets, being used only in export models, which were designated Su-22 (NATO reporting name: Fitter-F).

     The Su-17M3, NATO reporting name Fitter-H, was the most numerous of the Su-17 series, with almost 1000 being built between the Soviet version and its export versions. Based on the Su-17UM, the second cockpit was removed and a large fuel tank installed as well as an avionics bay. The electronics were improved and miniaturized, having what in game terms a higher Tech Level than on the Su-17M or Su-17M2. The Doppler navigation radar was moved internally. Two more hardpoints were added; these extra pylons could carry only R-13 or R-60 air-to-air missiles. The Su-17M3 has a ventral fin on the underside of the rear fuselage; this fin also incorporated some communications antennas. Extensive autopilot systems were installed; the pilot could basically have his aircraft auto-navigate to up to four waypoints and then to the target, and the autopilot could also automate some of the weapons dropping and firing.  The export version was designated the Su-22M. The Su-22M3 had special hardpoints which could mount gun pods on the wings facing to the front or rear (this depends upon which way they were mounted on the ground; they could not pivot to the rear or to the front during flight); when firing to the rear, the RF bonus is only +1.

     The Su-17M4 (NATO reporting name: Fitter-K) was the final production version of the Su-17 series.  The Su-17M4 had the addition of RSDN navigation (the Russian version of LORAN) and INS. There were several ram-air inlets along the fuselage to improve engine cooling; the inlet cone was also fixed.  While this decreased the maximum speed dramatically, it also simplified production and maintenance and allowed for a more powerful laser rangefinder to be installed in the nose cone.

     The Su-22M5 was a Russian-French upgrade package for the Su-17 and Su-22 series.  This package further miniaturized electronics, modernized the cockpit instruments, and replaced the nose cone-mounted laser rangefinder with a Phazotron/Thomson-CSF radar set, with the designator moved to the port wing box. The stick and throttle are a HOTAS set.

     The Su-17UM is a two-seat trainer version of the Su-17M2, which also retains its full combat capability.  It carries less fuel, as with the Su-7U series it is made by removing a fuel tank behind the first cockpit and installing the second cockpit in its place. The port cannon was also deleted on the Su-17UM. Flight testing revealed longitudinal instability at high angles of attack and the tail fin was enlarged as a result. The export version has an R-29BS-300 engine and is designated Su-22U. The Su-17UM and Su-22U have the NATO reporting name of Fitter-E.

     The Su-17UM3 is a trainer version of the Su-17M3, which retains full Su-17M3 combat capability, but with reduced fuel load. The export version with the R-29 engine is designated the Su-22UM3. Some export versions of these aircraft were powered by an AL-21 engine and were designated Su-22UM3K.

     The Su-17 in all its marks is not capable of air-to-air refueling.  All variants could be converted to tactical reconnaissance aircraft by the mounting of a KKR (Combined Reconnaissance Pod) which contained cameras for day and night as well as having ELINT functions. All Su-17 variants are capable of nuclear gravity bomb delivery; the M3 and M4 are also capability of nuclear missile delivery.  Export variants are not capable of nuclear weapons delivery.

SukhoiSu-24 Fencer

     Notes: This is the one of the Russian's primary strike aircraft.  It is also in use by several former Russian republics, Iran, Libya, and Syria.  It is a medium bomber in the same class as the US F-111. One of the conditions the Soviet leaders put on Sukhoi when the Su-7B was adopted was that a more advanced strike aircraft be developed, and they later let Sukhoi know that the Su-17 wasn’t good enough. They saw the development of the US F-111 and said, “This is what we want.” While Sukhoi developed the airframe of the Su-24, a design firm called OKB-794 (now known as Lennets) developed the avionics; OKB-794 developed an avionics package called Puma. (This package was similar enough the avionics on early prototypes of the F-111 to make the US suspect espionage.)

     The Fencer is capable of delivering nuclear weapons.  The Su-24 has ejection seats but is not capable of in-flight refueling. The Fencer has a variable geometry wing with auto sweep features. The avionics suite was comprehensive, though short of what the F-111 delivered. For the first time, a Soviet strike aircraft had an all-weather day/night attack capability. Power is provided by a pair of Saturn/Lyulka AL-21F-2A afterburning turbojets developing 17175 pounds thrust dry and 24675 pounds thrust in afterburner. The air intakes had variable position inlet ramps, improving high speed performance, but since the Su-24’s missions would primarily take place at low-altitude and low speeds, the actuators of the inlet ramps were removed to save weight and maintenance; this dramatically reduces maximum speed, but simplifies maintenance. The original Su-24s (designated Fencer-A by NATO) had a boxy rear fuselage, but a revised variant (designated Fencer-B by NATO, but not given a separate designation by the Soviets) had a more streamlined rear fuselage, as well as three fairings for antennas on the nose, a repositioned landing parachute, and a new ram-air intake at the base of the tail. The cannon armament is a GSh-6-23 Gatling gun, unusual for the time period, the firing barrel is covered by an eyelid shutter, similar to the gun installation that would become more common on aircraft like the F-22 and F-35A. Initial Su-24s had basic ECM jammers, while later Su-24s (designated Fencer-C by NATO), though again the Soviets did not give it a separate designation) have Active Jamming and Deception Jamming capabilities, again something that the US was also working on. Basic variants had fairings near the fuselage rear for flare and chaff dispensers, while Fencer-Cs had additional dispensers on added wing fences on the upper parts of the non-sweeping parts of the wing.

     The first official subtype of the Su-24 was the Su-24M (Fencer-D in NATO parlance). The Su-24M had in-flight refueling capability and had a 76-centimeter extension of the nose to house the inflight refueling probe and additional avionics. In addition, additional radar avionics were installed along with a longer-range radar. INS was added along with a TV-optical/laser designator type system were installed in the port side of the lower fuselage; this is similar to the Pave Tack system used in the F-111.  Systems were added to the Su-24M to widen the aircraft’s compatibility with air-to-ground ordnance. However, all the new systems led to a slight reduction of internal fuel, despite the lengthening of the nose.

     The Su-24M2 (also Fencer-D in NATO speak) began in 1999.  This upgrade began with a comprehensive refurbishment in Su-24M airframes, and modernized the avionics with miniaturization and upgrades (again, in game terms, on a higher Tech Level).  The Su24M2 received a new navigation system, using GLONASS with an inertial navigation backup. A HUD interface system was installed, along with an Auto Track feature to help keep track of a larger amount of targets; this HUD system is borrowed from the Su-27. An even wider array of air-to-ground munitions may be carried, ranging from TV-guided bombs to cruise missiles. The Su-27MK is an export version with downgraded capability. It is also known as the Fencer-D to NATO.

     The Su-24MR is a dedicated reconnaissance platform; the Su-24MP is a dedicated ELINT variant. These will not be detailed here, but may be in a future page (I have some ideas).

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Many tragic mistakes resulted from the Su-24’s resemblance to the F-111, so much so that many aircraft of both types were mistakenly shot down by both sides.

Sukhoi Su-25 Grach

     Notes: This is the Russian counterpart of the A-10, being a dedicated ground attack aircraft.  In addition to Russia, the Frogfoot is operated by Afghanistan, Angola, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and Peru.  This aircraft was first used in combat in the Soviet-Afghan War, and it has seen combat in almost a dozen conflicts since, up to the current Russian-Ukrainian War.  The Su-25 was built in Tbilisi, Georgia, and construction stopped in 2010.  Attempts were made to resume production both in Georgia and Russia, but these so far have ended in failure.

     The pilot of the Su-25 has an ejection seat, and the aircraft is capable of inflight refueling. The wing has high-lift devices including slats and flaps, and the wing has a high aspect ratio which further increases low-speed lift. Construction of the Su-25 is largely of duralumin, with titanium in areas requiring high strength (such as the nose, wing leading edges, and the “bathtub” of armor surrounding the pilot), and even stainless steel. The early marks of the Su-25 are powered by a pair of Tumansky R-95Sh non-afterburning turbojets, each developing 8970 pounds thrust. The latest versions of the Su-25, such as the Su-25T and TM, are powered by R-195 turbojets, improved versions of the R-95Sh, which develop 9930 pounds thrust each. Gun armament is under the cockpit; this consists of a double-barreled 30mm autocannon. The cockpit is described by many Su-25 pilots as cramped; in addition, the pilot sits low in the cockpit, hindering all-around visibility. Rearward visibility is especially poor, and the canopy has a rearward-facing periscope. The Su-25 is not equipped to guide TV-guided weapons but has a laser designator and rangefinder. The Su-25 is equipped for night and adverse weather attack conditions. Communications include air-to-air and air-to-ground radios. The Su-25 has a weakness, in that when rockets are salvo-fired from the wing pylons, the exhaust from the rockets can get ingested into the air intakes.  This can cause the engines to flame out.

     Variants include the Su-25K, which is the export version and has some minor differences in avionics; the Su-25K is identical to the Su-25 for game purposes. The Su-25UB is a two-seat trainer version of the Su-25; this version retains full combat capability, and can be called upon for combat missions, though the combat capability is retained primarily for training purposes. The Su-25UBK is a two-seat variant of the Su-25K, again retaining full combat capability.  It is identical to the Su-25UB for game purposes. The Su-25UTG was designed to train naval pilots to take off from a flight deck equipped with a ski jump ramp, but also retains full combat capability.  Other than having an arresting hook, it is almost identical to the Su-25UB, except for some differences in weight.

     The Su-25T is a dedicated antitank version.  It is based on the Su-25UB, but the rear seat is replaced with additional avionics and fuel. The Su-25T can carry a wider variety of weapons than the Su-25; most notably, it can carry TV-guided weapons, as well as the Kh-25ML SALH-guided missile. The Su-25T can also use the 9K121 Vikhr ATGM, which is its primary tank-hunting weapon. The Su-25T’s nose in enlarged, and carries a laser rangefinder, a laser designator and an optical TV aiming system. Despite the upgrade, the Su-25T’s upgrade program was very much stopgap and ended in 2000 in favor of the Su-25TM.

     The Su-25TM, aka the Su-39 (also known as the Frogfoot-B) is a development of the Frogfoot using lessons learned from the War in Afghanistan.  It is a two-seat trainer with the rear seat removed and replaced with additional fuel and avionics, and a radar set is carried in a pod beneath the nose.  The cannon has been increased to 6 barrels for a greater fire rate, and ammunition supply has been increased.  Armor in the fuselage has been increased.  IR suppression has been achieved through cooling intakes in the upper fuselage and a new center body that masks hot turbines. The Su-25TMis rated for attacks against all sorts of targets, including air-to-air threats and shipping, as well as its staple diet of armored vehicles.

     The Su-25SM is described as an “affordable” variant of the Su-25TM, with Western-derived (and pirated), more efficient electronics and a few reductions in electronics in favor of podded systems, most notably in EW equipment.  Some improvements have also been made, such as the new HUD which has double the field of view of the electro-optical sight on the Su-25TM. The Su-25SM’s pilot navigates with a GLONASS system with an INS backup. The new engines of the Su-25SM are similar to the R-195, but have an antisurge system which makes them much more resistant to the ingestion of exhaust particles from air-to-ground rockets.

     The further upgraded Su-25SM3 features a new electro-optics nose module which integrates a laser designator and rangefinder, a radar set, a 16x zoom optical sight, a thermal imager, and a TV sight and tracker. The wingtips mount a pair of integral ECM pods, restoring the onboard EW capability.

     The Su-25KM is a proposed upgrade kit based on advancements at the original Su-25 manufacturing plant in Georgia in conjunction with Elbit of Israel. A prototype has been produced for testing and evaluation.  The Su-25KM features advanced avionics with a glass cockpit, digital map generator, a helmet-sight interface, and fully redundant backups for vital systems. The navigation suite is fully GPS/GLONASS compliant with an INS backup. The Su-25KM can use several Israeli air-to-ground weapons in addition to Soviet and Russian weapons.

     The Su-25M1 is a Ukrainian upgrade of the basic Su-25. The Su-25M1 has a GPS receiver, new NATO-compliant radios, more accurate sights and weapon delivery, and a new digital flight recorder. In addition, safe rocket delivery has been restored to the Su-25M1. A two-seat Su-25UBM1 version has also been built.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Russia had about two-dozen of the Su-25TMs at the start of the Twilight War. The Su-25SM, SM3, KM, M1 and UBM1 do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

*The area just around the cockpit is armored with titanium and reinforced Perspex and has an AV of 12.

Sukhoi Su-34 Sych

     Notes: This widened, two seat version of the SU-30MK was meant to replace the SU-24 Fencer in Russian service.  The Su-34’s NATO reporting name was at first the Flanker-F, denoting its origin as a variant of the Su-27 Flanker, but this was later changed to Fullback, denoting its dramatic differences from the Su-30MK and Su-27. It is an advanced weapons-delivery platform, with the improvements of the SU-30MK, and terrain following radar, and is in a class with the US F-15E Strike Eagle. It is meant to replace the Su-24 and in some roles the Tu-22M bomber. The Su-34 is known to its crews as the Duckling, Hellduck or Platypus, and the nose as its Duckbill.

     The bulbous profile of the Su-34 has less streamlining and less speed than the SU-30MK; though propelled by the same engines, the Su-34 is not as aerodynamic and is much heavier, and its maximum speed is limited to Mach 1.8.  However, the wing structure, tail, and engine nacelles are the same as on the Su-30MK, and the Su-34 has canards taken from the Su-30MKI. The Su-34 can handle high-G maneuvers and perform acrobatics when not loaded down with stores. The crew has ejection seats and the aircraft is capable of in-flight refueling.  The two wingtip hardpoints may only be used for AAM or electronics pods. The center fuselage hardpoint may be loaded the heaviest, up to four tons. The bulbous nose not only houses the two crewmembers side by side, but also houses the Leninets V004 PESA radar, an advanced FLIR, an advanced electro-optical viewer, a laser rangefinder, and a laser designator. The wide nose is not simply crew comfort, it is to reduce crew stress. The crew is also not required to wear oxygen masks below 10,000 meters, as the cabin is pressurized, another nod to reducing crew stress. Finally, there is a space between the seats where crewmembers can take turns lying down on long flights. There is even a small microwave, just enough to heat up water for coffee. The long rear tail stinger was at first thought to be a tail radar, but is actually a housing for an APU (which balances out the aircraft with the large nose) and ECM gear. The Su-34 is powered by a pair of Saturn AL-31FM1 afterburning turbofan engines, with 17200 pounds thrust dry and 27560 pounds thrust in afterburner.

     The Su-34M update brings a glass cockpit to the Su-34, and updates nearly all of the avionics (takes it up a Tech Level). The radar system is replaced with a Pika-M system from BKR; this radar has more range and is more miniaturized, with more utility against ground targets.

*The area just around the cockpit is armored with titanium and reinforced Perspex and has an AV of 10.