Russian air defense shoots down Ukrainian Su-27 but loses Ka-52

Russian air defense downs Ukrainian Su-27 amidst crossfire, writes bulgarianmilitary.com military website but loses Ka-52 helicopter in retaliation. Caliber.Az reprints the article

The anti-aircraft forces of the Russian army intercepted and shot down a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported in its daily briefing. This likely event took place over the weekend, as the Russian summary of operations was released early on the morning of May 13. The brief statement did not provide information on exactly where the Ukrainian plane was intercepted.

According to the Ministry’s statement, they also intercepted “in addition, 33 unmanned aerial vehicles, six Point-U tactical missiles, 39 Vilkha multiple launch rockets, Czech-made Vampire and US-made HIMARS, five French Hammer guided bombs, five US anti-missile system HARM radar missiles, and four British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles.” Similar to the case of the downed Su-27, the Ministry of Defense did not provide additional information about the date and place of the interceptions.

Several Russian bloggers have speculated that the S-300 anti-aircraft system may have been involved in the downing of the Ukrainian Su-27. However, these bloggers do not provide any source for this information, nor do they present any factual evidence or photographic material to substantiate these claims. The Russian Ministry of Defense does not specify where the Ukrainian Su-27 was intercepted. Based on this, it can be inferred that these bloggers and propaganda channels may be making baseless assumptions in an attempt to showcase the superiority of one of Russia’s two most renowned air defense systems – the S-300, with the other being the S-400.

Ka 52, too

Currently, there’s an eerie silence from the Ukraine Ministry of Defense regarding the situation of their downed Su-27. This information blackout also extends to local media channels. In the face of this silence about the fate of the Su-27, credible sources from the Ukrainian front line have come forward with reports of Ukrainian forces retaliating by downing a Russian Ka-52 Alligator. 

According to a report by the 47th Mechanized Brigade, published in the Kyiv Independent, Ukrainian forces successfully brought down a Russian Ka-52 “Alligator” attack helicopter on May 13. While the exact location of this incident was not disclosed, it’s worth noting that the brigade is currently operating towards Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region. 

The Airforce Technology website states that the Ka-52 Alligator is an upgraded two-seater version of the Russian Ka-50 attack helicopter. It’s specially engineered to annihilate enemy ground targets, whether armored or unarmored, tanks, slow-moving air targets, and ground troops.

Ukrainian flanker

The Ukrainian Su-27, also known as the Sukhoi Su-27, is a highly advanced twin-engine super maneuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi. It was originally manufactured by the Soviet Union and is now used by many nations, including Ukraine. The aircraft is large and heavy with a length of 72 feet, a wingspan of 48 feet, and a height of 19 feet 6 inches. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 30,450 kilograms. 

The Su-27 is renowned for its impressive range and heavy armament, making it one of the most potent fighters of its era. It has a maximum speed of Mach 2.35 at high altitudes and a range of 3,530 kilometers. The aircraft’s service ceiling is 19,000 meters, and it has a rate of climb of 300 meters per second.

The Su-27 is equipped with a variety of avionics systems. These include a Phazotron N001 Myech radar, an OEPS-27 electro-optical system which includes an infrared search and track [IRST] sensor, and a helmet-mounted target designator. The aircraft also has a sophisticated electronic warfare suite for self-defense.

Su-27’s armament and engine

The aircraft’s armament is versatile and powerful. It is equipped with a single 30mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 cannon and has 10 hardpoints for carrying an assortment of weapons. These include R-27 [AA-10 ‘Alamo’] medium-to-long-range air-to-air missiles, R-73 [AA-11 ‘Archer’] short-range air-to-air missiles, as well as a medley of bombs and rockets.

The Su-27’s propulsion is provided by two Saturn AL-31F afterburning turbofan engines. These potent engines deliver a total thrust of 25,000 kilograms, enabling the aircraft to execute resilient high-speed maneuvers and maintain supersonic speeds. 

The Su-27 also features a spectrum of auxiliary equipment. This includes a Zvezda K-36DM ejection seat, a life support system, and a navigation system. For self-defense, the aircraft is equipped with a radar warning receiver, a missile approach warning system, and a chaff and flare dispenser.

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

On February 21, 2022, Russia stated that its border facility was attacked by Ukrainian forces, resulting in the deaths of five Ukrainian fighters. However, Ukraine quickly dismissed these allegations, labeling them as ‘false flags’.

In a notable move on the same day, Russia announced it officially recognized the self-proclaimed areas of DPR and LPR. Interestingly, according to Russian President Putin, this recognition covered all the Ukrainian regions. Following this declaration, Putin sent a battalion of Russia’s military forces, tanks included, into these areas.

Fast forward to February 24, 2022, global headlines were dominated by a significant incident. Putin commanded a forceful military assault on Ukraine. Led by Russia’s impressive Armed Forces positioned at the Ukrainian border, this assault wasn’t spontaneous but a premeditated action. Despite the circumstances resembling a war, the Russian government refrains from using this term. They’d rather refer to it as a “special military operation”.