Sukhoi Su-37 Flanker-F (Three) Sukhoi Su-37 Flanker-F, multirole, combat, jet, fighter, Russia, technology, KnAAPO, Frolov Chakra, supermaneuverability, demonstrator, aircraft, airplane, military, defense, attack, widescreen, wallpaper, photo, picture, image.
Sukhoi Su-37 Flanker-F Wallpaper 3 is a super-maneuverable thrust vectoring fighter derived from an Su-35 prototype. The Su-37 represents a new level of capability compared with the Su-27 and Su-35. The Su-37 test aircraft made its maiden flight in April 1996 from the Zhukovsky flight testing center near Moscow. This impressive single-seat all-weather counter-air fighter and ground attack aircraft, derived from the SU-27, has an updated airframe containing a high proportion of carbon-fibre and Al-Li alloy. The engines, avionics and armaments are also improvements on those originally installed in the SU-27. The AL-37FU engines are configured for thrust vector control, with the axisymmetric steerable thrust vector control nozzle is fixed on a circular turning unit. The steel nozzle in the experimental engines is replaced in production engines by titanium units to reduce the weight of the nozzle. The nozzle only moves in the pitch axis, and the nozzles on the two engines can deflect together or differentially to achieve the desired thrust vector for a particular maneuver. The Su-37 has a variety of other innovative equipment such as a radar configured for simultaneous surveillance of airspace and the ground and a high-precision laser-inertial/satellite navigation system. The all-weather digital multi-mode phased array radar operates in either air and ground surveillance modes or in both modes simultaneously. Ground surveillance modes include mapping (with Doppler beam sharpening), search-and-track of moving targets, synthetic aperature radar and terrain avoidance. The Su-37 is also equipped with a rearward facing radar in the tail stinger area of the fuselage. Sukhoi Su-37 Flanker-F Wallpaper 3 features fly-by-wire and relaxed static instability, which along with 3D thrust vectoring give the aircraft tremendous agility. It incorporates state of the art ECM in wing-tip pods, allowing improved survivability in electronic warfare environments. The Su-37 can carry air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons on 12 stations. The number of missiles and bombs carried can be increased to 14 with the use of multi-payload racks. Sukhoi used payments earned in the sale of an Su-27 license to China to finance the Su-37 development. Russia's Air Force has not ordered any Su-37s. Sukhoi is studying the possibility of developing a two-seat version of the Su-37 with enhanced strike capabilities. The 711 Blue was demonstrated to the press at Zhukovsky in spring 1996, by which time it was re-designated Su-37. Its debut to the general public came in September that year at the Farnborough Airshow, piloted by Sukhoi test pilot Yevgeny Frolov. A big talking point of the show was its performance of the "Super Cobra", when the aircraft pitched up to 180°, literally flying tail first, albeit for only a few seconds; this maneuver evolved into the 360° "Frolov Chakra" somersault. The following year, the aircraft arrived on the fifth and last day of the Paris Air Show to perform five aerial displays, the fourth of which was marred by a minor incident when the emergency undercarriage extension handle was moved, preventing gear retraction. It appeared at that year's MAKSAirshow and Dubai International Defence Exhibition, as well as the 1998 FIDAE air show in Chile; for the latter two the Su-37 appeared under the enigmatic designation, "Su-37MR". In 1998, a second Su-37 (T10M-12) was similarly converted before making its first flight on 23 March the same year. Flight tests and demonstrations at air shows continued until 2000. In 2001, 711 was outfitted with the AL-31F and updated fly-by-wire flight control system and avionics. In December 2002, 711 crashed during a ferry flight, effectively bringing an end to the programme; the fault was later traced to a software malfunction. The Su-37 did not reach the production stage, although by mid-2000, Sukhoi introduced several modernizations of Su-27, such as Su-30MKI and second generation Su-35, the Su-35BM, which feature similar improvements such as improved avionics and radar systems, and thrust vectoring engines. Sukhoi Su-37 Flanker-F Wallpaper 3 |
<< Home