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Around 680 Su-27s were manufactured by the USSR, and 400 are in service with the Russian Tactical Air Force. Of the CIS member states, Kazakhstan has around 30 and is due a further 12 under agreement; Belarus has, possibly, 20; Ukraine has around 60; Uzbekistan perhaps 25.

The Russians presently plan to upgrade their aircraft to the Su-27SM standard, which will include a glass cockpit and a change to digital FBW. The radar is to be upgraded with a phased array (most likely Pero) allowing increased range. The self defense and navigation suites will also be upgraded, as well as an attack suite. They hope this will be completed by 2008.

China received 26 in 1991-92 and a further 24 in 1995-96 before signing an agreement in 1998 for licensed manufacture of 200 as the Shenyang J-11. Vietnam has twelve and has ordered a further 24. Ethiopia has 8 Su-27A and 2 Su-27U. Malaysia has ordered 18 Su-30MKM in 2003 worth US$900 million and expecting deliveries in 2006. The Su-30MKM is equipped with the latest missiles to include a variety of the AA-10 missiles, AA-12 and AA-11 as well as complete range of air to ground weapons to include guided and unguided missiles and bombs. Malaysia's aircraft comes equipped with canards and thurst vectoring engines for high agility. Indonesia has 2 Su-27 and 2 Su-30KI. About 10 went to Ethiopia, eight to Angola, and 20 to Syria. Iran is interested in purchasing 40 Su-27 to complement the dwindling numbers of US aircraft and complement the existing fleet of MiG-29 and Su-24 Fencers After years of negotiations, India finally ordered 50 Su-30MKI aircraft with more powerful AL-31FP engines, advanced avionics, canards, and thrust vectoring. Hindustan Aeronautics has a license to manufacture up to 140 additional aircraft through 2020.

Recently, the US Navy was rumored to be interested in obtaining the Su-27, possibly to replace F-14 Tomcats in service with aggressor squadrons (which have played the role of flankers). So far, this seems to just be a rumor, as the US Navy has already planned to buy F-35s to replace the role of the F-14 Tomcat, and eventually the F/A-18 Hornet.