The Su-27S (NATO reporting name – Flanker) is a single-seat highly-maneuverable fighter aircraft built by Sukhoi Design Bureau as the Soviet response to the U.S. F-14 and F-15 and entered service in 1985. The primary role of the Su-27 was to provide defense against American bombers, USN ships and provide Soviet bomber escorts. There have been many improvements over the years resulting in numerous variants of the Su-27. The export variant, the Su-27SK was sold to China and eventually developed into the license-built Shenyang J-11.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s Ukraine along with many other countries gained their independence. Because of the collapse the Ukrainian Air Force was established in 1992 and it inherited approximately 1500 aircraft. The most modernized type of aircraft was the Su-27 that had the former red star removed and replaced with the Ukrainian national symbol. Su-57 Blue 57 c/n 36911035612 belongs to the 831s tactical aviation brigade, Mirgorod AB. In 2018 this aircraft took part in air shows at RIAT RAF Fairford, Belgium and Denmark.

Info:     Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker-B Ukrainian Air Force, Blue 58, Ukraine, August 2016