Project T10K
Project T10KUB

Carrier-based fighter Su-27K (Su-33)
Carrier-based fighter-trainer Su-27KUB

K for Korabyelnyi = Ship-based
KUB for Korabyelniy Uchyebno-Boyevoy = Ship-based Trainer Combat
Since August 1998 Su-33 is official name of Su-27K in service.

Manufacturer:

Komsomolsk-on Amur Aircraft Production Association named after Gagarin (KnAAPO).
KnAAPO

Background:

In 1982 in the Naval Aviation Training Centre (Crimea) at Novo-Fyedorovka near Saki was built a special ground-based testbed, with a ski-jump (Russian: tramplin = spring-board)and 4-line deck arrestor - Nazyemniy Ispitatyelno-Trenirovochniy Komplyeks (NITKA) = Ground Test-Training Complex system, where first MiG-29KVP and Su-27 were tested in 1982 (piloted by A.Fastoviets and N.Sadovnikov respectively). First ski-jump was built in 1982: height 5 m, length 60 m, width 30 m, inclination 8,5o. Different prototypes were tested: T10-3, T10-24, T10-25, T10K-1, T8-4, T8-UTG1, MiG-29K [311], experimental MiG-27. Second ski-jump (similar to "Tbilisi") was built in 1984: height 5,6 m, length 53,6 m, width 17,5 m, inclination 14o. Base is now in Ukraine, so is hired by Russia since 1994.

Project 1143 (Tyazholiy Avianiesushchiy Kryeysyer TAKR = aircraft-carrying heavy cruisers):

  • 1143.1 Kiyev (in service 1975) [1]
  • 1143.2 Minsk (in service 1978) [2]
  • 1143.3 Novorossyiysk (in service 1982) [3]
  • 1143.4 Baku (in service 1987) / Admiral Gorshkov / Vikramaditya [4]
  • 1143.5 Riga / Leonid Brezhnyev / Tbilisi (in service 1989) / Admiral Flota Sovyetskovo Soyuza Kuznyetsov [5]
  • 1143.6 Varyag / Riga - not in service, finished in 70% [6]
  • 1143.7 Ulyanovsk - never finished [7]

[1] Retired, sold to China, displayed in public park at Tianjin. Not operational.
[2] Retired, sold to China, displayed in military park at Shenzhen. Not operational.
[3] Retired.
[4] Retired, sold to Indian Navy as Vikramaditya. Not operational yet. Will be equipped with MiG-29K/KUB fighters.
[5] Only one still operational in Russian Navy.
[6] Built in Nikolayev shipyard, in 1998 sold by Ukraine to China. In 2002 the hulk reached Dalian shipyard (through the Dardanelle and around Africa), to be used as hotel, casino and entertainment centre by Chong Lot Travel Agency; not operational. Since about 2004 prepared to enter military service in Chinese Navy PLAN, even some sea trials in 2011. Unofficial name: Shi Lang.
[7] Scraped before entering service.

Current (2011) status:

Su-27K (based at Syevyeromorsk, few Su-25UTG, Ka-27PL and Ka-27PS) are operational on TAKR "Admiral Kuznyetsov" (based at Murmansk).
Prototype of Su-27KUB in hands of Sukhoi Design Bureau.

Designation Type Year Bort number Notes
T10-37 1st prototype T10K-1 08.1987 blue 37

White nose; first one-seater T10 with air refueling probe; destroyed 1988 by N. Sadovnikov.
Prototype for use on project 1143.5 aircraft-carrying heavy cruisers with short take-off Su-27 and MiG-29 airplanes, with a ski-jump instead a steam catapult. Prototype was built by Sukhoi Design Bureau in cooperation with KnAAPO. The first flight performed by the design bureau's test pilot V. G. Pugachov.

T10-39 2nd prototype T10K-2 12.1987 blue 39

Prototype was built by Sukhoi Design Bureau in cooperation with KnAAPO. The first flight performed by the design bureau's test pilot N.F. Sadovnikov. First landing on air-carrier 11.1989 performed by Pugachov on Admiral of the USSR Fleet Kuznyetsov; pattern to preproduction aircrafts.

? 02-01 1989 ? For static tests; 1997 rebuilt to T10KUB-0 for static tests.
T10K-3 3rd prototype T10K-3 02.1990 blue 49 (?) After USSR split left in Ukraine. In 2003 probably (or T10K-7) bought by China to reverse engineering and to build J-15, Chinese version of Su-33.
T10K-4 preproduction 02.1990 blue 59

04.1999 rebuilt to 1st prototype of Su-27KUB - carrier-based combat aircraft, fighter and trainer with two seat side-by-side. Designation of project is T10KUB. A prototype T10KUB-1 (no. 21) was built in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in 1995-1998 and assembled in Moscow. First flight of T10KUB: 29th April 1999 by V.G. Pugachov and S.N. Melnikov.

In 2001 Su-27KUB was equipped with radar Zhuk (=Beetle) produced by Fazotron, 2003 - Zhuk MFS produced by Nizhniy Novgorod Aircraft Building Plant Sokol, 2003 - engines AL-31F-3 with TVC nozzles and 2005 - canard foreplanes with new shape.


In 2001 appeared informations about second prototype of Su-27KUB (T10KUB-2), supposed to be built by KnAAPO and project T10KM - "land" version of Su-27KUB, prepared by KnAAPO.

2011: still flying.


Prototype of Sukhoi Su-27KUB, 2001. Proposition for Admiral Kuznyetsov.


Prototype of Sukhoi Su-27KUB, 2005. AL-31F-3 and new canards.

T10K-5 preproduction 1990 blue 69 grey, later white nose
T10K-6 preproduction (03-01) 01.1991 blue 79 grey, later white nose. Well known from MAKS.
T10K-7 preproduction (03-02) 02.1991 blue 89 After USSR split left in Ukraine. In 2003 probably (or T10K-3) bought by China to reverse engineering and to build J-15, Chinese version of Su-33.
T10K-8 preproduction (03-03) 04.1991 blue 99 (?) Destroyed 07.1991 by T. Apakidze.
T10K-9 preproduction (03-04) 06.1991 blue 109 initially without number, later 109. grey nose, big Russian flag on fins. Well known from MAKS.
T10K-10 preproduction (03-05) 07.1991 (?) ? second static tests
Su-27K Su-33 1991-1993 red two-digit: 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 Flag of the Voyenno Morskiy Flot

Serial 26 aircrafts. First military pilot landing on air-carrier: Timur Apakidze. 09.1991. Based at Sevyeromorsk; Admiral Kuznyetsov; 279th Korabyelniy Istryebityelniy Avya Polk (KIAP) = Ship-based Fighter Air Regiment. In 07.2001 one (no. 70) crashed during air show in Ostrov - a legendary pilot  Timur Apakidze  died (commander of the 279 KIAP).


Sukhoi Su-33 from Admiral Kuznyetsov, Saki airbase (Crimea) 2005. 1st Squadron 'Eagles' of 279 KIAP.


Sukhoi Su-33 from Admiral Kuznyetsov, Saki airbase (Crimea) 2005. 2nd Squadron 'Tigers' of 279 KIAP.

Late 2011 status:

  1. 60 in service, overhauled*, modernized in 2010
  2. 61 in service, overhauled*, modernized in 2010
  3. 62 in service, overhauled*, modernized in 2010
  4. 64 in service, overhauled*, modernized in 2010
  5. 66 in service, overhauled*, modernized in 2010
  6. 80 in service, overhauled*, modernized in 2010
  7. 81 in service, overhauled*, modernized in 2010
  8. 86 in service, overhauled*, modernized in 2010
  9. 87 in service, overhauled*, modernized in 2010
  10. 68 in service, overhauled*
  11. 76 in service, overhauled*
  12. 78 in service, overhauled*
  13. 84 in service, overhauled*
  14. 65 destroyed 06.1996, V. Kuzmyenko died
  15. 70 destroyed 07.1996, T. Apakidze died
  16. 73 destroyed 05.2000
  17. 82 destroyed 09.2005
  18. 67 ?
  19. 71 ?
  20. 72 ?
  21. 74 ?
  22. 75 ?
  23. 77 ?
  24. 83 ?
  25. 85 ?
  26. 88 ?
* Overhauls were realised by KnAAPO in 2006 and in following years.

December 2011: Center of Scientific and Technical Services "Dinamika" (Центр научно-технических услуг «Динамика») in Zhukovskiy (Жуковский) has prepared a training complex for the pilots and maintenance staff of the modernized Su-33. It's a deeply upgraded version of simulator built in 2002 in the Naval Air Conversion Training Center in Ostrov city.


Su-27UB from 279th regiment, used to training. Saki airbase, 2010.

February 2012: Russian Ministry of Defence signed a contract with RSK-MiG for 20 x MiG-29K and 4 x MiG-29KUB for Russian Navy; deliveries: 2012-2015. Aircrafts should replace Sukhoi Su-33 on board of the Admiral Kuznyetsov.

March 2012: In Yeysk (Ейск) ОАО "Корпорация "Трансстрой" (Trasstroy Corporation) from Moskva make a Центр боевого применения и подготовки лётного состава авиации ВМФ России (Center of Combat Applications and Training of Flying Personel of Russian Navy Aviation), including a ground analog of air-carrier deck (трамплин). End of the works expected in 2012, whole Center in 2015.


© 2008-2018 Mariusz Wojciechowski, Słupsk (Poland)