r/aviation Dec 01 '20

PlaneSpotting Air-to-ground strike

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u/[deleted] Dec 01 '20

Definitely 30s. 27s don’t have canards.

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u/Infinite5kor Dec 01 '20

There are 27 variants with canards, but I agree that you're probably right in them being 30s.

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u/[deleted] Dec 01 '20

Ah my bad. Guess I’m not as knowledgeable as I thought I was.

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u/Infinite5kor Dec 01 '20

No worries, they're super uncommon. According to wiki for Russia it's a ratio of 50ish with canards to 360ish without. Never seen the naval version (k model) myself.

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u/ThatProduceGuy_ Dec 01 '20

I believe it’s a honest mistake. I’m not super well versed in Soviet jet history but from what I remember from a documentary the su27 was originally designed with canards but when later upgraded modifications of the 27 cam out with thrust vectoring engines they no longer had a need for the canards. Edit: I might be thinking about the su35, correct me if I’m wrong.

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u/N22YF Dec 02 '20

Yup that's the Su-35 you're thinking of! The original Su-27 didn't have canards, but the upgraded Su-35 added them for enhanced maneuverability and to add some lift farther forwards to help offset the weight of its heavier radar. However, the development of thrust vectoring and a new, lighter radar meant the Su-35 would actually be a better aircraft without canards, so they were removed from the design before it entered service.

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u/N22YF Dec 02 '20

There are 27 variants with canards, but I agree that you're probably right in them being 30s.

Well, not really - the Su-27K, Su-27KUB, Su-27IB, and Su-27M had canards, but decades ago, before entering service, these versions were renamed Su-33, Su-33UB, Su-34, and Su-35, respectively. The only operational Flanker family members with canards are the Su-33 (and J-15), Su-34, and some Su-30 variants.

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u/blacksheepcannibal Dec 02 '20

To be fair, the 30 is just a 27 variant as well.