Hobby Master 1/72 HA6027 Su-27 Flanker B Blue 21, Ukrainian Air Force (with 2 x JDAM-Er gliding bombs)

The Ukrainian Air Force has adapted Su-27 fighters to employ Western supplied JDAM-ER precision guided bombs during ongoing combat operations. This integration allows the Su-27 to strike targets at extended range using GPS guided munitions with glide capability. Modifications include adapted pylons, targeting solutions, and mission planning support to enable compatibility with Western weapons. JDAM-ER provides increased stand off distance, improving survivability against air defenses. Ukrainian Su-27 crews use these weapons for precision strikes against infrastructure, logistics, and military targets. The integration demonstrates Ukraine's ability to rapidly adapt legacy Soviet aircraft to modern Western strike capabilities.

Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker-B

Designed by the Soviet Union to challenge the superiority of fourth generation US fighters such as the F-15 Eagle, the Su-27 was first flown on May 20, 1977. This one seat Mach-2 fighter had the Soviet Union's first operational fly-by-wire system. The aircraft is very large compared to the MiG-29, its closest Soviet counterpart, but it is built with a high percentage of titanium, which helps minimize its weight. It is exceptionally agile and is perhaps most famous for its "Cobra" maneuver, which is a short, sustained level flight at a 120 degree angle of attack, often performed at air shows.