The many reasons why the Su-27/30/35/57 can’t outmaneuver the F-22 Raptor

The many reasons why the Su-27/30/35/57 can’t outmaneuver the F-22 Raptor

By Dario Leone
Sep 27 2020
Share this article

Over the decade multiple aircraft have scored a kill or two on F-22 Raptor in Red Flags or Northern Edge – never was maneuverability a contributing factor.

The Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name: Flanker) is a Soviet Origin twin-engine supermaneuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi.

The Su-27 had the Soviet Union’s first operational fly-by-wire control system, based on the Sukhoi OKB’s experience with the T-4 bomber project.

Thanks to its relatively low wing loading and powerful basic flight controls, the Su-27 (as well as the other members of the “Flanker Family” Su-30 and Su-35 and the fifth generation Su-57 Felon) is an exceptionally agile aircraft, controllable even at very low speeds and high angle of attack.

Do the Su-27, Su-30, Su-35 and Su-57 have a better maneuverability than the US F-22 Raptor?   

‘Not even close,’ says Abhirup Sengupta, an aviation expert, on Quora.

‘People simply forget a simple but the most important factor, this is how a combat loaded F-22 looks like.

The many reasons why the Su-27/30/35/57 can’t outmaneuver the F-22 Raptor

‘There’s no external pylons, weapons, targeting or ECM pod – unlike Su-30 or Su-35 which looks like this…

The many reasons why the Su-27/30/35/57 can’t outmaneuver the F-22 Raptor

‘All that external carriage creates huge drag which has significant impact on maneuverability. For instance, the Eurofighter Typhoon has its top speed reduced from Mach 2 to Mach 1.6 when carrying 6 AAMs. There’s a huge difference between a combat loaded Su-30/35 vs. a clean airshow Su-30 flying with minimum fuel load.

‘There’s a reason behind every design choice because everything comes at a price. The Su-30MK for instance has canards – not to increase maneuverability (as often mistaken) but to compensate the extra weight from Bars radar which is heavier than usual.’

Sengupta continues;

‘Contrary to popular notion Su-30/35 or Su-57 doesn’t have 3D Thrust Vectoring – Flanker’s thrust vectoring actually move in one plane (up or down) but are canted outward to the engine axis. The canting allows movement in all rotational axis by vectoring each engine nozzle differently.

The many reasons why the Su-27/30/35/57 can’t outmaneuver the F-22 Raptor

‘That’s great for low-speed high alpha performance in the Air shows, but once engaged the aircraft bleeds a lot of air speed. For comparison, look at F-22’s thrust vectoring.

The many reasons why the Su-27/30/35/57 can’t outmaneuver the F-22 Raptor

‘The F-22’s 2D Thrust vectoring (TV) nozzles are parallel and therefore, much more efficient than canted nozzles in Su-30/35. What this mean is when TV is in use, the Flanker’s canted TV will bleed more energy than Raptor – giving Raptors better sustained turn rates.

‘The substantially larger vertical stabilizers provide more than sufficient yaw control.

The many reasons why the Su-27/30/35/57 can’t outmaneuver the F-22 Raptor

‘The F-22 have demonstrated Mach 1.8 supercruise with a combat-load, the Su-57 program doesn’t even have a ‘goal’ anywhere near that. Sure, there might be areas where Su-57 comes near F-22 but there are many areas where the F-22 likely has significant advantage such as speed, acceleration and sustained turn rate or Vertical flight envelope to say the least.’

F-22A Print
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F-22A Raptor 192nd Fighter Wing, 149th Fighter Squadron, FF/04-4082 – Langley AFB, VA – 2014

Sengupta concludes;

‘Never mind that raw kinematic performance plays a small role in real combat. It might be great for air shows but the fact is maneuverability takes the last spot in a list of things that are actually relevant in modern combat. Over the decade multiple aircraft have scored a kill or two on Raptor in Red Flags or Northern Edge – never was maneuverability a contributing factor.’

F-22 Model
This model is available from AirModels – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS.

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force, Teddy Techer, Dmitry Pichugin and Alex Beltyukov via Wikipedia


Share this article

Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share this article


Share this article
Share this article

Always up to date! News and offers delivered directly to you!

Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Error: Contact form not found.


Share this article
Back to top
My Agile Privacy
This website uses technical and profiling cookies. Clicking on "Accept" authorises all profiling cookies. Clicking on "Refuse" or the X will refuse all profiling cookies. By clicking on "Customise" you can select which profiling cookies to activate. We and our selected ad partners can store and/or access information on your device, such as cookies, unique identifiers, browsing data. You can always choose the specific purposes related to profiling by accessing the advertising preferences panel, and you can always withdraw your consent at any time by clicking on "Manage consent" at the bottom of the page.

List of some possible advertising permissions:

You can consult: our list of advertising partners, the Cookie Policy and the Privacy Policy.
Warning: some page functionalities could not work due to your privacy choices