F/A-18 vs Su-27? who will win?

Question

if pilots were matched.

Answer 1

That will depend upon pilot skill and training more than anything else. An experienced Flanker jock will wax a greenhorn Hornet jock every time. And vice-versa.

Answer 2

Nobody knows.
Everybody says that the su-27 is superior to the f-1x series, and they use the indian/US wargames as proof.
A few years ago, the indian airforce and the US airforce staged simulated dogfights between the brand new su-37(improved su-27) and the 30 year old f-15A, which was being flown by the air national guard.
There is apsolutely no reason that the Indians could gain from this experience, since the f-15 had already fought and conquered other aircraft and had been analyzed by the enemy since the day the first drawing appeared.
On the other hand, the US has never seen the su-37 or even the su-27 in combat. That means that when they fought the su-37's they didnt want to win!
Why not? Because by allowing the Su-37's to get in firing positions, the f-15's weapons systems would record every little detail about the radar system. The f-15s could have been secretly upgraded to hold intel gathering equipment, which could be held in the wingtips, where the f-15d has fuel tanks, and the f-15a has nothing.
If they were upgraded, then they would have learned exactly how far the new russian missiles can track, how far the helmet mounted sights can track, and much more.
If you calculate the performance of the su-27 based on its wing area, cord, weight, thrust, specific fuel consumption, and fuel capacity and this is what I discovered:
When the F-15 is loaded with full fuel and full weapons load, and the Su-27 is loaded with the russian equivalent and the same amount of fuel for the range (The su-27 is longer range, so it was less than 2/3 tanks) the su-27 had a significantly higher wing loading and significantly lower thrust to weight ratio.
At first, I didnt understand how this could be, since the Su-27 broke all the F-15's world records, so I looked some more and I found that the F-15 and the su-27's had been modified for those record attempts.
Both aircraft had all military equipment removed, which immediately gives the su-27 the upper hand, because its radar weighs almost 4 times as much as the f-15's, and the su-27 had a significantly larger amount of weapons hardpoints that could be removed to save weight.
After the modifications, the Su-27 undoubtedly has better wing loading and thrust to weight ratio.
Unfortunately, the results of f-18 versus f-15 combat have not been released, so there is no way to judge whether or no the Su-27 is better than the f-18.
My guess would be that the su-27 would be at a disadvantage to the f-18, due to the fact that it is rated to 6 G's when loaded to combat weight, and the F-18 can, and has pulled over 9 G's. That would mean the f-18 could dodge the su-27's missiles if the pilot reacted correctly, but the su-27 would have nearly no chance, whether or not he knew how to react.

Answer 3

This is a poor match up as the hornet was never designed to take on the SU-27. It was designed to take on the MIG-29 and it's like. Almost all the advantages are in the SU-27's favor. The F-15, F-35 and F-22 are the planes that would take on the SU-27. The hornets pilots will make the difference in most cases as most countries pilots are not up to snuff with western training. However as the SU-27 is still a combat virgin who knows how it will really do in combat but be apprised the hornet pilots are training and developing strategies to defeat the SU-27.

Answer 4

The SU-27 Flanker has more suitable maneuverability and severe alpha overall performance. The F-15 has somewhat more suitable % yet it is of little use in a dogfight. If the pilots have equivalent ability, in a no income dogfight (from the merge) the SU-27 would paste the F-15. It become designed AFTER the F-15 extremely to conquer the F-15. It become no longer designed as a floor attack plane (even with the very shown actuality that, like the F-15, it has floor attack ability). You each body is thinking the MIG-27 or the SU-25 that are floor attack plane.

Answer 5

Too many variables to choose winner. However since the F-14 Tomcat has been retired, the navy has decided to replace it with the F-18 Super Hornet. Although a capable bird, I can tell you there would have been no question who would have won ,had you compared the F-14 to the Su-27due to our pilots superb tactics,and abilities. Also, our F-22 Raptor would smoke it.

Answer 6

Why is a Strike fighter pitted against an air superiority fighter?

Many of you have discussed about maneuverability and superior tactics. The current doctrine is to get the first look, take the first shot and get the hell out to live and fight another day. The sukhoi is more equipped to do this tactic. You dont manuever with 6-G when at 100 nmi. To get to the stage where manuverability comes to play you need to get across the BVR and Far-WVR missile zones. It will be highly difficult to evade the Slammer, 'Winder, Alamo, Adder and the Archer. IMO the shooter of the first salvo gets the upperhand. The Russian modular warhead concepts of the BVR missiles (IR/Radar/Radiation Homing) would give the Flanker and additional edge.

The links below point towards the COPE-INDIA exercises that was mentioned earlier. The USAF "lost" due to reasons different to what was mentioned.

Answer 7

The question specifically says matched pilots, which means that the results will be dictated by the weaponry available and launch platforms capabilities.

I'd say the Flanker will squash the Bug in a BVR engagement owing to Alamo/Adder superior range and engagement capabilities. Most likely the Hornet wont even get a chance to shoot.

The superior skills of the American pilots mentioned in preceding posts are predominently teamwork including the AWACS support. That is not considered, one-on-one, the Flanker and the Hornet meets in hostile skies, with Radars blazing to acquire target. And to be fair, the Flankers additional sensor, the IRST, which will enable it to prowl with EMCON on is not being considered.

Answer 8

it all depands on how skilled is the pilot. the SU 27 is a great aircraft and so the F/A 18./the SU 27 has great weapons tactics.

Answer 9

Since both aircraft have missile avoidance capabilities I would say the SU-27 could turn away quicker and carry the attack back quicker. The F-18 may be faster, but the SU-27 is more maneuverable.

Answer 10

It is still tactics. Your question has too many variable built into it. Dog fighting or ACM still comes down to who sees who first and who can manuver into the kill zone somewhere behind the other first. Also what weapons are you using ie guns,missles, and so on? Some weapons can be used head on most can't . There are several good tactical shows or videos out there Sierra put one out called "The Art of the Kill" It discusses how to manuver and when you should make your choice of either continuing the fight or get the hell out. The history channel is now airing "Dogfight" it breaks down several historical dogfights that have taken place from WW1 to Viet Nam. Showing how the planes actually moved and their positions thoughout the dog fight. Each air craft has it strong and weak points. The pilot that will win will be the one that knows both his aircraft and his opponents and can exploit the weaknesses of the other.