Sukhoi Su-33

Su-33
A Russian Navy Sukhoi Su-33
Role	Carrier-based air superiority fighter and multirole fighter Type of aircraft
National origin	Soviet Union Russia
Manufacturer	Sukhoi, Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association
First flight	17 August 1987; 36 years ago (1987-08-17)[1]
Introduction	31 August 1998 (official)[2]
Status	In service
Primary user	Russian Navy
Produced	1987–1999
Number built	approx. 22 production aircraft
Developed from	Sukhoi Su-27
Variants	Shenyang J-15

The Sukhoi Su-33 (Russian: Сухой Су-33; NATO reporting name: Flanker-D) is a Soviet/Russian all-weather carrier-based twin-engine air superiority fighter designed by Sukhoi and manufactured by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association, derived from the Su-27 and initially known as the Su-27K. Compared with the Su-27, the Su-33 has a strengthened undercarriage and structure, folding wings and stabilators, all for carrier operations. The Su-33 has canards, and its wings are larger than the Su-27 for a slower stall speed. The Su-33 has upgraded engines and a twin nose wheel, and is air refuelable.

First used in operations in 1995 aboard the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov,^{[N 1]} the fighter officially entered service in August 1998, by which time the designation "Su-33" was used. Following the break-up of the Soviet Union and the subsequent downsizing of the Russian Navy, only 24 aircraft were produced. Attempted sales to China and India fell through. With plans to retire the Su-33 once they reach the end of their service life, the Russian Navy ordered the MiG-29K as a replacement in 2009.

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