Document created: 1 December 03
Air & Space Power Journal - Winter 2003

Flankers: The New Generation by Yefim Gordon (translated by Dmitriy Komissarov). Specialty Press/Midland Publishing (http://www.specialty press.com), 39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, Minnesota 55056, 2002, 128 pages, $27.95 (softcover).

Flankers, the second entry in Midland’s Red Star series, is authored by noted Russian aviation writer Yefim Gordon, whose previous works include books on both the history of the Sukhoi design bureau (responsible for the development of the Flanker) and on the Flanker’s closest rival: Mikoyan’s MiG-29 Fulcrum. Ironically, the reputation earned by the Mikoyan design bureau’s fighters during the Cold War made the term MiG (derived from Mikoyan-Gurevich) a common euphemism in Western aviation circles for any adversary fighter aircraft. Yet, the culmination of fighter design during the Soviet era came not from this establishment but from the rival Sukhoi bureau. By the early 1980s, Sukhoi’s T10-1 prototype, first flown in 1977, was the subject of much scrutiny by Western intelligence agencies, who dubbed it “Flanker A.” As the prototype evolved into the Su-27 or “Flanker B” production model, word of its potential as a fighter spread as well. The book’s pictures and text drive home the point that this is a big airframe with a large internal fuel load, extensive avionics capacity, and the capability to carry numerous weapons. For all its size, however, the Flanker proved itself agile as well, and Gordon describes a history of aerobatic demonstrations that few aircraft can rival. In combination, these traits showed great promise for the design’s adaptability and longevity.

This book is also a testament to the aircraft’s potential in that it covers only experimental, prototype, and advanced production models beyond the basic design. The author documents experimentation on the airframe dating back to the earliest phases of the program. The bulk of Flankers, however, is dedicated to the so-called Su-30 series of aircraft. Beginning with the Su-27M—in effect a concept demonstrator renamed the Su-35—the Flanker has evolved into the Su-30 multirole fighter, the Su-32/34 tactical bomber, and the Su-33 naval variant. Gordon also devotes much effort to describing subtypes intended for foreign sales, such as the Su-30MKI (India) and the Su-30MKK (China).

Numerous photographs, most of them in color, along with colored drawings complement the text, providing information on all prototypes and production models. Close-up photos offer details on key features such as cockpits, thrust-vectored engine nozzles, and weapons and attachment points. (I am not a modeler, but I think that the paint schemes and details thus offered would make this book a valuable reference for the hobbyist.)

Gordon states that the information he presents in Flankers comes from both the Russian aviation industry as well as “various” other sources. Unfortunately, he makes no further attempt to identify the latter or qualify judgments for specific claims. For example, Gordon offers performance details on the N-011 pulse-Doppler fire-control radar used in most of the Su-30 series and gives figures for the detection ranges, number of targets it can track or engage, and so forth. Is this information derived solely from the manufacturer’s data, or has it been validated or assessed by others? The reader is left to wonder.

Despite such concerns, Gordon offers us valuable information and insight into a family of aircraft that already competes with US aircraft in the export market and that might someday oppose our planes in combat. Anyone interested in the future of the Flanker and its potential impact on the Russian air force and other foreign air arms will want to read this book.

Maj Pete Osika, USAF, Retired
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Disclaimer

The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.