MiG-27K
This page is about the Soviet jet fighter MiG-27K. For the other MiG-27, see MiG-27M. |
Contents
Description
Following the introduction of the MiG-27 into the Soviet Air Force in the mid 1970s, a major upgrade program was initiated by Mikoyan OKB to overhaul the MiG-27's capabilities. This program included the addition of the powerful Kayra-23 laser-optical sight and targeting system, permitting the aircraft to use laser and TV-guided ordnance, along with many upgrades to the avionics and airframe. In the end, this heavily upgraded variant entered service as the MiG-27K, with a large order for the Soviet Air Force. However, due to lack of funding and the high costs, the Soviet Air Force would cut their MiG-27K order in half, and instead order the other half to be a cheaper variant. Mikoyan OKB would then develop the MiG-27M as the "cheaper" upgraded variant.
The MiG-27K, introduced in Update "Winged Lions", is the epitome of single seat Soviet swing-wing ground attack aircraft. Combining major upgrades in avionics, ordnance, and targeting systems into one of the most lethal CAS aircraft of its battle rating, the MiG-27K is truly a force to be reckoned from both the air and the ground. Striking ground targets in mixed battles is easy for this plane, thanks to the strong targeting systems and abundance of laser and TV guided weaponry. The aircraft is no slouch either in air battles, carrying enough bombs to level one base in addition to its full complement of air-to-air missiles and great low altitude flight performance already familiar to pilots of the preceding MiG-27M.
General info
Flight performance
Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 13,000 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
Stock | 2,182 | 2,172 | 15000 | 36.6 | 36.8 | 133.9 | 127.3 | 750 |
Upgraded | 2,220 | 2,200 | 35.4 | 36.0 | 177.4 | 154.6 |
Details
Features | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear | Drogue chute |
X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
Limits | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
1,417 | 630 | N/A | 508 | 473 | ~__ | ~__ |
Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
< 675 | < 650 | < 700 | N/A |
Engine performance
Engine | Aircraft mass | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Engine name | Number | Basic mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | ||||
Tumansky R-29B-300 | 1 | 11,605 kg | 419 - 472 kg/m2 | ||||
Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Takeoff Weight | |||||
Weight (each) | Type | 11m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 39m fuel | ||
1,780 kg | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet | 12,964 kg | 13,912 kg | 15,065 kg | 16,135 kg | 20,760 kg | |
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP) | ||||||
Condition | 100% | WEP | 11m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 39m fuel | MTOW |
Stationary | 7,950 kgf | 10,208 kgf | 0.79 | 0.73 | 0.68 | 0.63 | 0.49 |
Optimal | 8,268 kgf (1,400 km/h) |
12,633 kgf (1,400 km/h) |
0.97 | 0.91 | 0.84 | 0.78 | 0.61 |
Survivability and armour
Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.
Modifications and economy
Armaments
Ballistic Computer | |||
---|---|---|---|
CCIP (Guns) | CCIP (Rockets) | CCIP (Bombs) | CCRP (Bombs) |
Offensive armament
The MiG-27K is armed with:
- A choice between two presets:
- 1 x 30 mm GSh-6-30 cannon, belly-mounted (300 rpg)
- 1 x 30 mm GSh-6-30 cannon + 72 x large calibre countermeasures
Suspended armament
The MiG-27K can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg) | 1 | 1 | ||||||
100 kg OFAB-100 bombs | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | |
250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
250 kg OFAB-250Sh bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
500 kg FAB-500Sh bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
500 kg KAB-500Kr bombs | 1* | 1* | 1* | 1* | ||||
500 kg KAB-500L bombs | 1* | 1* | 1* | 1* | ||||
ZB-500 incendiary bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
S-5K rockets | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | ||||
S-8KO rockets | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | ||||
S-24B rockets | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
Kh-23M missiles | 1† | 1† | ||||||
Kh-25ML missiles | 1* | 1* | 1* | 1* | ||||
Kh-29L missiles | 1* | 1* | ||||||
Kh-29T missiles | 1* | 1* | ||||||
R-13M1 missiles | 1 | 1 | ||||||
R-60M missiles | 2 | 2 | ||||||
Delta-NG targeting pod | 1† | |||||||
800 l drop tanks | 1 | |||||||
Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 700 kg | ||||||||
* KAB-500Kr and KAB-500L bombs, Kh-25ML, Kh-29L, and Kh-29T missiles cannot be mixed, only one type may be carried across hardpoints † It is required to equip the Delta-NG targeting pod with the Kh-23M missiles |
Default weapon presets | |
---|---|
|
As mentioned before, the MiG-27K's arsenal is largely the same as the MiG-27M's. Unguided options include bombs, rockets, and gun pods and the TV guided weapons are still the Kh-29T missile and KAB-500Kr bomb. These two weapon categories function more or less the same as the MiG-27M. The real stars of the show are now the laser-guided weapons: the familiar Kh-25ML and Kh-29L missiles are far easier to use with the MiG-27K's optics, which have high zoom and a wide field of view akin to an attack helicopter. It is now possible to designate and track targets from long distances and indirect angles, which makes flying the aircraft in attack approaches much easier. The new KAB-500L laser-guided bombs are an extra option for those who want precise and powerful explosions that can take out clustered targets, but they are slower than the air-to-ground missiles and may be trickier to guide due to their unpowered nature.
Usage in battles
Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).
Pros and cons
Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".
Pros:
Cons:
History
The MiG-27K is the final Soviet version of the MiG-27 ground attack aircraft, derived from the MiG-23. This variant of the MiG-27 differs from previous versions mainly through the inclusion of an onboard laser designator and compatibility with TV-guided weapons systems.
The MiG-27K is a variant of the MiG-27, a ground-attack aircraft derived from the earlier MiG-23. Compared to the MiG-23, the MiG-27 featured a revised downward-sloping nose, leading the aircraft to be nicknamed "Balkon" ("Balcony") because of its improved frontal visibility. The aircraft also had simpler non-variable intake ramps and a fixed engine nozzle, leading to weight savings. In accordance with its ground attack role, the MiG-27 lacked a radar and was instead fitted with ground attack systems.
The MiG-27K followed the previous MiG-27M as the ultimate variant of the MiG-27 in Soviet service. The most notable change was the addition of a laser designator and targeting pod in the nose of the aircraft. Additionally, the aircraft gained the ability to carry TV-guided munitions. In total, roughly 200 MiG-27Ks were built for the Soviet air force.
Media
- Skins
See also
- Related development
External links
Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau (Микоя́н и Гуре́вич Опытное конструкторское бюро) | |
---|---|
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I-225 | |
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MiG-21F-13 · MiG-21PFM · MiG-21S (R-13-300) · MiG-21SMT · MiG-21bis | |
MiG-23M · MiG-23ML · MiG-23MLD | |
MiG-27M · MiG-27K | |
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◊MiG-15bis · ◔MiG-15bis · J-2* | |
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*Licensed and domesticated with Chinese designations. | |
**Unlicensed, reverse-engineered and domesticated with Chinese designations. | |
See Also | Shenyang · Chengdu |
USSR jet aircraft | |
---|---|
Bereznyak-Isayev | BI |
Yakovlev | Yak-15 · Yak-15P · Yak-17 · Yak-23 · Yak-28B · Yak-30D · Yak-38 · Yak-38M · Yak-141 |
Mikoyan-Gurevich | MiG-9 · MiG-9 (l) · MiG-15 · MiG-15bis · MiG-15bis ISh · MiG-17 · MiG-17AS · MiG-19PT |
MiG-21F-13 · MiG-21PFM · MiG-21S (R-13-300) · MiG-21SMT · MiG-21bis | |
MiG-23M · MiG-23ML · MiG-23MLD · MiG-27M · MiG-27K | |
MiG-29 · MiG-29SMT | |
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Sukhoi | Su-9 · Su-11 |
Su-7B · Su-7BKL · Su-7BMK · Su-17M2 · Su-17M4 · Su-22M3 | |
Su-24M | |
Su-25 · Su-25BM · Su-25K · Su-25T · Su-25SM3 · Su-39 | |
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Su-34 | |
Ilyushin | IL-28 · IL-28Sh |
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