Ukraine's Gray Ghost Su-27 Interceptors Are Disappearing, One Tragic Loss At a Time
How many Su-27s are left?
Fast, maneuverable and versatile, the Sukhoi Su-27 interceptor is one of Ukraine’s most useful warplanes. But the twin-engine, supersonic Su-27 is also the most endangered fighter in Ukrainian air force service.
That’s because Ukraine’s potential stock of grounded but recoverable Su-27s is smaller than its stock of old, but fairly intact, Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters. And while there are still a few soon-to-be-surplus MiG-29s knocking around Europe, none of Ukraine’s foreign allies have Su-27s they could donate to the war effort.
The Ukrainian air force also flies ex-European Lockheed Martin F-16s and ex-French Dassault Mirage 2000s. Ukraine’s European allies could, with a little gumption, probably find a few more F-16s and Mirage 2000s to pass on to Ukraine.
All that is to say, of Ukraine’s four fighter types, the Su-27 is the likeliest to disappear as Russia’s wider war on Ukraine grinds into its 43rd month.
The 18th loss of a Ukrainian Su-27 in the current war, on Sept. 11, underscored the problem. How many Su-27s are left? And how soon could the type go extinct in Ukrainian service?
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