Микоян МиГ-27: История советского штурмовика

Series of Soviet attack aircraft

The Mikoyan MiG 27 (Микоян МиГ 27; NATO reporting name: Flogger D/J) was a variable sweep ground attack aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union and later licence produced in India by Hindustan Aeronautics as the Bahadur ("Valiant"). It is based on the Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 23 fighter aircraft, but optimised for air to ground attack. Unlike the MiG 23, the MiG 27 did not have widespread use outside Russia, as most countries opted for the Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 23BN and Sukhoi Su 22 instead. As of late 2023, all Russian, Indian, Sri Lankan, Ukrainian, and Kazakh MiG 27s have been retired, bringing the type's service to an end.

The MiG 27 shares the basic airframe of the MiG 23, but with a revised nose – nicknamed "Utkonos" ("Platypus") or "Krokodil Gena" in Russian service, first introduced on the MiG 23B. Dissatisfaction with the MiG 23BN led to the further development of the basic airframe to accommodate a stronger undercarriage, simpler intakes and a shorter exhaust nozzle, a laser rangefinder and marked target seeker. Among its test pilots, it was also called "Balkon" ("Balcony") because of the increased frontal view from the cockpit. Additional cockpit armor was installed, along with a totally new nav/attack system. Since the MiG 27 was intended to fly most of its missions at low altitude, the MiG 23's variable intake ramps and exhaust nozzles were discarded in favor of a simpler fixed configuration, reducing weight and maintenance requirements. The aircraft also has larger, heavy duty landing gear to facilitate operation from poorer quality airfields. In accordance with the MiG 27's strike and low level attack requirements, provisions were made to mount missiles and precision guided munitions, as well as retaining a nuclear capability in line with other Soviet combat aircraft by introducing specialized navigation systems.

The MiG 27 saw service with the Soviet Air Force in Afghanistan. Although several Western observers considered the MiG 27 widely exported, confusing it with the MiG 23BN, the aircraft type was only exported to India and Sri Lanka which also utilized the MiG 27 in regional conflicts. Soviet MiG 27s were permanently deployed to five foreign countries: East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Mongolia until the 1990s. Soviet forces used the MiG 27 during the later stages of the Afghanistan conflict in 1987–89, which was the only time the Soviets used this aircraft in action. Around the same time, MiG 27s started to be gradually replaced by more advanced Sukhoi Su 24 and Su 25 aircraft in the ground attack role at home. Other MiG 27 units, such as the 642nd GvAIP, re equipped with MiG 29 fighters. Additionally, between 1990 and 1994 a single regiment of MiG 27s (the 88th Separate Fighter Bomber Regiment) served with Soviet Naval Aviation as a way to save the unit from being dissolved under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. By the collapse of the Soviet Union, a number of MiG 27s remained in service. These would then be inherited by the air forces of the various former Soviet republics.

The Air Force of the Russian Federation inherited most of the Soviet MiG 27s. However, on 1 July 1993 the Air Force decreed that single engined attack aircraft such as the MiG 27 were to be phased out. Most aircraft were scrapped or left to deteriorate in storage.

MiG 27 aircraft entered service with the Sri Lanka Air Force in 2000, with the purchase of four remanufactured MiG 27s from Ukrinmash in May 2000 at US$1.75 million each. This was followed by another ordered for two more in October 2000 at US$1.6 million and a MiG 23UB trainer aircraft for US$900,000. Initially piloted by Ukrainian pilots until SLAF pilots could be trained and was attached to the No. 5 "Jet" Squadron SLAF. During the Eelam War III phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War, they saw considerable action bombing targets and providing close air support. In August 2000, a MiG 27 crashed near Colombo International Airport, killing its Ukrainian pilot. In July 2001, a second MiG 27 was destroyed and another damaged on the ground during an assault on the same air force base by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. A MiG 27 crashed into the sea near the airport in June 2004. With the resumption of hostilities in 2006 as peace talks broke down and the Eelam War IV phase of the war starting, MiG 27 were once again flying combat sorties. In 2007, three MiG 27s and a MiG 23UB trainer were overhauled as part of a life extension program. Four MiG 27s were purchased at US$10 million. This led to the MiG deal scandal. The MiG 27s and the MiG 23UB were reorganized into the newly formed No. 12 Squadron. Another MiG 27 fighter jet crashed on a routine training mission on 13 February 2012 near the Dummalasuriya area at around 1.35 pm. The pilot managed to eject from the jet without sustaining injuries.

On 27 May 1999, during the Kargil War, one Indian MiG 27L suffered an engine flameout while firing 80 mm rockets, possibly due to a MANPADS hit. Its pilot, Kambampati Nachiketa, ejected and was captured by Pakistani forces. In mid February 2010, India grounded its entire fleet of over 150 of the aircraft after a MiG 27 crashed on 16 February 2010 in Siliguri, West Bengal. The crash was attributed to defects in the R 29 engines of the aircraft, suspected to have occurred during the overhauling of the aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Another MiG 27 crashed in the Barmer area on 27 January 2015. India retired the last MiG 27ML squadron on 27 December 2019, when the last two MiG 27 squadrons were retired with a ceremony at Jodhpur airbase.

12 MiG 27s remained in service with the Kazakh Air Force until 2023 or so. In October 2023, the aircraft were retired and put up for auction. In April 2024, the aircraft were purchased by the USA, and it is speculated that these aircraft may be transferred to Ukraine for use as spare parts sources or decoys.