The Su-37 is a single-seat, all-weather, fighter and ground attack prototype aircraft, derived from the Su-27 ‘Flanker’. The Su-27 is a Russian fourth generation jet aircraft that has been exported to over 20 nations. The Su-37 test aircraft made its maiden flight in April 1996 from the Zhukovsky flight testing center near Moscow.
The Su-37 includes several updates over the Su-27, including all-weather multi-mode passive electronically scanned array radar with synthetic aperture, terrain avoidance, terrain mapping and a rear-facing radar. The airframe includes a percentage of parts made from composites, unlike the all-metal Su-27. Additionally, the Su-37 incorporates the AL-37FU engines equipped with thrust vectoring. The Su-37’s nozzles are variable in pitch only and travel plus or minus 15 degrees, but they can be operated differentially to provide a rolling moment.
Cockpit

In the cockpit the aircraft is the first Russian fighter with the Hands On Throttle and Stick, or HOTAS, system and the first with side-stick. The weapon system shares much with the Su-30″MK”, but it lacks the large display in the rear cockpit occupied by the weapons system officer. The cockpit features four multi-function displays (MFDs) instead of traditional dial-type analogue instruments and has an ejection seat inclined 30 degrees backwards to help counter the effects of high g-forces. The two-grip flying control configuration was designed to prevent the pilot from flailing around when the aircraft engaged in fast vectored-thrust manoeuvres. Both the fixed throttle and the side-stick controller provide secure points for the pilot to brace his hands.

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