Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA6412 Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker D Red 71, 279th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Reg., Russian Navy, 2016. 1/72 Scale Diecast Model, Size: 8.5" Wingspan & 7.75" Long, Optional Up & Down Landing Gear, Armaments & Display Stand Are Included.

In 1985 the approval was given for a naval variant of the Su-27 that would provide air superiority for its aircraft carriers. The new aircraft was designated Su-27 (K = Korabelny, Ship Borne) with a factory designation of T-10K which would later become Su-33, NATO Flanker D. Canards were added, strengthened frame and landing gear with a two-wheel nose gear. The drag chute was removed, a retractable tail hook added and wings, horizontal stabilizers and nose cone were made to fold. A retractable in-flight refueling probe was included on the port side.

The Chinese J-15 began development in 2006 code named “Flying Shark”. The idea was to develop a naval variant of the Shenyang J-11 that could operate from aircraft carriers. A Russian Su-33 was acquired from Ukraine and reverse-engineered and the first prototype completed its maiden flight on August 31, 2009. The J-15 is a large and heavy aircraft for carriers, but China now operates a new class of carrier: the Type 003 carrier will be larger than the Liaoning and will use a magnetic field catapult system.