The Su-27 and the MiG-29 stand out as some of the best Soviet jets of the Cold War.
The US-Soviet arms race that took place during the Cold War resulted in some of the most notorious military systems to date. From submarines and fighter jets to bombers and air defense systems, American and Soviet engineers demonstrated a ramp-up of technological and military capabilities during this era. Notably, many of the aircraft designed by the USSR remain critical players in the Russian Federation’s existing aerial fleet. Particularly, the Su-27 and the MiG-29 stand out as some of the best Soviet jets of the Cold War.
The Su-27
While the legendary Sukhoi-produced Su-27 fighter may appear mediocre due to its performance in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the platform was truly top-tier when introduced during the Cold War. Codenamed by NATO as “Flanker,” the Su-27 has officially remained in service for four decades.
When the Soviets first heard of the US Air Force’s “F-X” program in the 1960s, its engineers got to work to develop a capable counter to a new American fighter series. The Soviet government initially put forth rather ambitious expectations for a new jet, including Mach 2+ speed, long-range, heavy firepower, and solid short-field performance. Ultimately, the Sukhoi design bureau would field the resulting platform alongside the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute. The Su-27 is powered by twin turbofan engines, giving the platform a top speed of Mach 2.35. Recent iterations of the jet are equipped with a Phazotron N001 Zhuk coherent pulse-doppler radar and other advanced sensors and communications systems.
The MiG-29
When the Soviets first introduced their MiG-29 fighter platform during the Cold War, Western analysts were initially wary of the purported fourth-generation aircraft’s potential. Designated by NATO as the “Fulcrum,” the MiG-29 would ultimately reach operational capacity with the Soviet Air Forces in the early 1980s.
Mikoyan Design Bureau designed this platform, incorporating features like a top speed of Mach 2.25 and a hefty armament capacity. The jet was equipped with seven external weapon hardpoints that can carry up to two R-27 air-to-air medium-range missiles, six R-73 and R-60 air-to-air short-range missiles, four pods of unguided rockets, and a wide range of munitions. As explained by Airforce Technology,” The R-27 medium-range air-to-air missile is supplied by the Vympel State Engineering Design Bureau, based in Moscow. The R-27 is available in two configurations: the R-27R, which has a semi-active radar homing head and inertial navigation control with a radio link, and the R-27T missile, which is fitted with an infrared homing head. The missile can intercept targets with a speed of up to 3,500km/h at altitudes from 0.02-27km, and the maximum vertical separation between the aircraft and the target is 10km.”
The Fulcrum was certainly formidable on paper; however, its combat record was less than glorious. In the late 1980s, two Fulcrums flown by Syrian pilots were taken down in a dogfight with Israeli airplanes. In the early 2000s, more Fulcrums were destroyed during Operation Desert Storm.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has bylines in many publications, including The National Interest, The Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
Image: DVIDS.
