Ukrainian Su-27S spotted with new air superiority grey paint

This tactical modification is aimed at improving the aircraft’s ability to operate in high-altitude air superiority roles by enhancing its camouflage effectiveness across different atmospheric conditions.

Traditionally, Ukrainian Su-27s have featured blue-gray camouflage patterns, optimized for operations at medium and low altitudes. However, modern air combat is increasingly taking place at higher altitudes, where the backdrop of the sky and cloud layers requires a different approach to visual concealment.

The adoption of a light gray scheme, similar to those used by Western air forces, reduces the aircraft’s visibility in such environments, making it harder for enemy pilots to detect and visually track the jet in the heat of battle.

Actions at higher altitudes provide several key tactical advantages. Aircraft operating at these levels have greater kinetic energy, which improves the effectiveness of “air-to-air” missiles. Additionally, they can detect and engage enemy targets from greater distances, using their radar advantage.

In this context, the Su-27 can take on more tasks related to long-range interceptions, airspace control, and ensuring the safety of other aircraft in the operational area. To perform these missions effectively, the Ukrainian Su-27 will likely be armed with various Western munitions.

Among them is the AIM-120 AMRAAM – a missile with active radar homing, which enables attacks on enemy aircraft at long ranges. It is also possible that the Ukrainian Air Force possesses the British ASRAAM, which is designed for close air combat and has a high maneuverability capacity.

There is credible information that Ukraine has received these missiles from the United States as part of military aid following the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. They are intended for use by the Ukrainian armed forces, including on F-16 fighter jets delivered by Western partners.

The AIM-120 missiles have an active radar homing head and are used to engage air targets at medium ranges, beyond visual range [BVR].

According to public sources, including reports from 2024, Ukraine has received variants such as the AIM-120B and AIM-120C, with ranges of approximately 70 and 105 km, respectively. However, the delivery of the newest variant, the AIM-120D, with a range of 160-180 km, has not been confirmed, although this is mentioned as a potential future possibility.

There is no official or widely circulated evidence that Ukraine has received ASRAAM [Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles]. These missiles, developed by the United Kingdom, use infrared guidance and are designed for close combat.

Although the United Kingdom is a key ally of Ukraine and has provided significant military aid, including Storm Shadow missiles and air defense systems, there is no specific data on the delivery of ASRAAM as of February 2025. It is possible that negotiations have taken place or that there is non-public information, but this has not been confirmed by reliable sources.

The use of AIM-120 AMRAAM in combination with high-altitude operations could shift the balance of power in the airspace over Ukraine. Such a strategy aims not only to hinder the actions of Russian aviation but also to expand the capabilities of Ukrainian fighter jets in future operations.

Beyond its tactical advantages, the new paint scheme could also signal broader modernization efforts and increase alignment with Ukraine’s Western partners. NATO air forces have long employed similar air superiority camouflage on their fighters, a move that could facilitate future interoperability and integration with allied forces.

The visual shift also carries a psychological impact. In the context of the ongoing war with Russia, every detail—down to the paint on a fighter jet—can play a role in shaping battlefield perception. The updated look of the Su-27 not only differentiates Ukrainian aircraft from their Russian counterparts but also underscores Ukraine’s commitment to modernizing its fleet and adapting to the evolving demands of air warfare.

The effectiveness of the camouflage on the Su-27 with the new “air superiority gray” color scheme cannot be analyzed without comparing it to the camouflage and combat characteristics of Russian and other allied fighter jets. In this context, Russian Su-27s, as well as other fighters like the MiG-29, also rely on specific color schemes designed to optimize their concealment under certain conditions.

For example, Russian aircraft traditionally use greenish-brown and gray tones that help them blend with the natural environment at lower altitudes, but not necessarily at higher altitudes, where lighting and atmospheric conditions change.

High altitudes create entirely different requirements for camouflage. For Russian aircraft, these traditional color schemes might not offer the same level of effectiveness in combat operations at altitude, giving an advantage to the new camouflage scheme on Ukrainian Su-27s.

The shift to lighter and more neutral tones, such as those in “air superiority gray,” not only aligns with Western practices but also makes these aircraft harder to detect under typical high-altitude conditions, considering the cleaner air and less cloud cover.

This comparison could have strategic significance for the aircraft’s tactical maneuverability. For example, if Ukrainian Su-27s are more difficult to detect and can operate more securely in high-cloud environments, this would provide them with important advantages when confronting Russian fighters, which might not have similar camouflage technologies or tactics for high-altitude operations.

The ability to hide better at higher altitudes makes these aircraft more agile, reducing the likelihood they will be spotted before they manage to engage the enemy from greater distances.

Of course, one can also look at the new camouflage scheme from another angle – atmospheric conditions. The atmospheric conditions at different altitudes play a key role in the effectiveness of military aircraft camouflage. The air at higher altitudes is not uniform and influences not only flight dynamics but also creates different opportunities for hiding or detecting targets.

At lower altitudes, for example, clouds and atmospheric humidity play a major role in detecting aircraft. In these conditions, traditional camouflage patterns, which are either lighter or darker shades, often blend with the natural environment, especially during cloudy weather and various meteorological phenomena.

However, at higher altitudes, the situation is significantly different. The air at these levels is clearer and more stable, with fewer clouds and lower humidity. In this context, light gray camouflage patterns, such as “air superiority gray” tones, blend much better with the blue sky and clouds.

Such camouflage greatly reduces the aircraft’s visibility from the ground or from the air, making it more difficult for enemy pilots to visually track the jet during combat.

The atmospheric conditions associated with air layers also affect the distances at which radars can detect targets. At higher altitudes, signals often travel through cleaner air, giving an advantage to those operating at these levels.

The combination of these two factors—appropriate camouflage and radar visibility advantage—allows aircraft equipped with such camouflage to maneuver with less likelihood of being noticed in the early stages of aerial combat.

***

Follow us everywhere and at any time. BulgarianMilitary.com has responsive design and you can open the page from any computer, mobile devices or web browsers. For more up-to-date news, follow our Google News, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, and Twitter pages. Our standards: Manifesto & ethical principles.