SU33

The Sukhoi Su-33 is a carrier-based air superiority fighter developed for the Russian Navy. A navalized derivative of the Sukhoi Su-27, it was initially designated the Su-27K during development and is commonly referred to by NATO as Flanker-D. The aircraft was specifically designed to operate from aircraft carriers to provide fleet air defense and air superiority over naval task groups.

Design features include a reinforced airframe and landing gear, folding wings for compact storage on a carrier, and an arrestor hook for arrested landings. The Su-33 is powered by two AL-31F turbofan engines and is configured to take off from a ski-jump ramp rather than catapult-assisted launches, as used on some Soviet-era carriers. It carries a range of air-to-air missiles on multiple hardpoints and supports integrated avionics and radar suitable for air combat and fleet defense, with various updates over its service life to improve reliability and survivability.

Operational history: Development began in the late 1980s, with the type first flown as the Su-27K and entering service with the Russian Navy in the 1990s aboard the carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. Production was limited, and the Su-33 remained the principal carrier-based fighter for many years, primarily deployed on Kuznetsov. Post-Soviet budget constraints and aging airframes shaped its use, maintenance, and upgrade path, with the type serving as a cornerstone of carrier aviation during its period of activity.

See also: Sukhoi Su-27 family, Russian Navy, Admiral Kuznetsov, carrier-based aviation.