command-controlled or manual-
controlled landing approaches to the
aircraft carrier.
Up to 6,500kg (14,330lb) of weapons
and stores can be carried on 12
hardpoints. Weapons options are
generally similar to those of the Su-27
and include R-27/R-27E (AA-10 ‘Alamo’)
medium-/extended-range air-to-air
missiles (AAMs) and R-73 (AA-11 ‘Archer’)
short-range AAMs. The single GSh-30-1
xed gun is retained. The Su-33 was
developed as a pure eet defence and air
superiority ghter; it has no capability for
carrying guided air-to-surface weapons.
During more than 25 years of service
the Admiral Kuznetsov rarely sailed for
longer cruises in the Atlantic or the
Mediterranean Sea. However, the carrier’s
sixth deployment to the Mediterranean
between October 2016 and February2017 became her combat debut. At least
nine Su-33s were embarked on the ship.Upgrades for Syria
Before the deployment to Syria some
aircraft were subject to upgrades that
added SVP-24-33 navigation equipment,
originally developed for Su-24M tactical
bombers. The SVP-24 (Spetsializirovannaya
Vychislitelnaya Podsistema, special
computation sub-system) is a low-cost
and e ective device that enhances
navigational accuracy thanks to a new
computer and radio navigation system
coupled with a satellite receiver. Another
advantage of the new system is the
ability to use unguided weapons during
complex manoeuvring — previously, the
ghter could employ unguided weapons
in straight-line ight only. However, even
after this upgrade the Su-33 remains an airAbove left: The
Su-33 is able to
carry S-25-OFM
rockets for use
against hardened
targets.
Piotr Butowski
Below: ‘78 Red’ is
one of the aircraft
that deployed
aboard the
Admiral Kuznetsov
for the Syria
mission. It is seen
pre-deployment
during its upgrade
with SVP-24-33
navigation
equipment.
Stanislav
Bazhenovsuperiority ghter for carrier defence, with
very limited air-to-ground capability using
unguided weapons only. After returning
from the Syrian deployment, upgrades
of the Su-33 with SVP-24-33 are being
continued. All aircraft will probably be
modernised.
On November 15, 2016, Su-33s from
the Admiral Kuznetsov attacked targets
in Syria with free-fall bombs. Four
examples reportedly took part, each
with two 500kg (1,102lb) iron bombs.
It was the rst combat use of aircraft
from the Admiral Kuznetsov; it is hard to
imagine that it was of great operational
signi cance. For most of the time, the
Su-33s (and MiG-29Ks) were deployed to
Hmeimin air base near Latakia. Some 90
per cent of Su-33 missions in Syria were
performed from this land base.
Su-33 ‘67’ crashed into the
Mediterranean Sea on December 3, 2016.
After the arresting wire broke on landing,
the aircraft failed to stop on the deck and
fell into the water. The pilot ejected safely.
Russian media, referring to sources in
the naval sta and the aviation industry,
claim that the loss occurred due to pilot
error. The pilot apparently misjudged
the approach, which created excessive
loads and tore o the arresting wire. The
pilot deviated 4.7m (15ft 5in) from the
landing axis, while the permitted margin
of error is 4.2m (13ft 9in). It was initially
assumed that the cause of the wire break
was a production defect. However, the
manufacturer of the arresting gear rejects
this version of events.http://www.combataircraft.net // May 2018 87
86-87 Russian Fighters Su-33 C.indd 87 20/03/2018 11:21