Ukraine's Su‑27 loss: A significant blow to aerial defence
Ukraine has confirmed the loss of a Su-27 aircraft. The plane was probably destroyed while defending Ukrainian targets against drones. The pilot, who managed to eject, survived the crash.
The Su-27 fighter jet is another loss for Ukrainian aviation in April 2025. The previous loss was an F-16 aircraft, shot down by a Russian Su-30 on 12 April.
In the case of the Su-27 lost on 28 April, the pilot survived, but the loss of the aircraft is particularly severe for Ukraine. This is because Su-27s are not operated by countries providing military aid to Ukraine, and before the war broke out, they were the most valuable part of Ukrainian aviation.
While the loss of a MiG-29 or F-16 can be compensated by external supplies, the destruction of a Su-27 means the loss of an aircraft that currently has no replacement. Especially since on 2 February 2025, Ukraine lost another such aircraft, shot down by a MiG-31 with a long-range R-37M missile.
Before the Russian attack, Ukraine had about 30 operational Su-27s, but during wartime operations, these planes suffered very significant losses. At least 17 have been destroyed so far (confirmed losses), and some of the remaining ones may not be fit to fly due to wear and a lack of spare parts. Therefore, the number of Su-27s remaining in service is likely small.
Tasks of Ukrainian Su-27s
For Ukraine, the Su-27 – despite its age – remains a very valuable aircraft. This is due to its characteristics: the plane was developed as an air superiority fighter, capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 2.35 (about 2,490 km/h) and carrying about six tonnes of armament.
Beyond post-Soviet and Russian weapons, Ukrainian Su-27s can, thanks to ad-hoc modernisations, carry some Western missiles, such as AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missiles or guided bombs. The range of these missiles depends, among other factors, on the speed of the carrier and the altitude from which they are dropped. In this respect, the Su-27 outperforms other Ukrainian aircraft.
Currently, the priority role of Ukrainian fighters is not in air battles (which rarely occur) or ground target attacks, but in supporting air defence. Fighters are used, among other things, to destroy drones massively used by Russians, allowing them to be shot down with the help of affordable short-range air-to-air missiles or gunfire from onboard cannons. The Su-27 lost by the Ukrainians likely took part in such a mission.
