https://medium.com/war-is-boring/f3cd5115da7f

 

Ukraine Fighter Pilot Not Afraid of Russia!

After Russian invasion, Ukrainian Su-27 packs a whopping 10 missiles

·         David Cenciotti in War is Boring

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A new—and frankly startling—photo depicts a heavily-armed Ukrainian air force Su-27 Flanker on patrol on March 1 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine’s Crimea region.

The photo by Andrey Rakul, published at Russianplanes.net, features Su-27 “45 Blue” at an undisclosed location, possibly Mirgorod air base in central Ukraine, home of the air force’s only Su-27 squadron.

Andrew Rakul photo via Russianplanes.net

45 Blue bristles with no fewer than 10 air-to-air missiles—arguably one of the heaviest air combat load-outs ever on an operational warplane. The missiles include six Vympel R-27 long-range semi-active-radar homers plus four Vympel R-73 short-range infrared models. The Russian-made Su-27 also packs a 30-millimeter cannon.

The Ukrainian air force operates around 250 warplanes including up to 42 Su-27s, although most of the Flankers are grounded pending repairs or upgrades. 45 Blue and presumably other Ukrainian Su-27s have begun flying with 10 air-to-air missiles apparently as part of Kiev’s mobilization for possible war with Russia.