Hobby Master 1/72 Su-33 Flanker D Red 71 279th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment Russian Navy 2016

The Russian Navy's 279th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment (279th KIAP) operated the Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker-D aboard the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov during its historic 2016-2017 deployment to the eastern Mediterranean. Based at Severomorsk-3 with the Northern Fleet, the regiment formed the core of the carrier's fixed-wing air wing, embarking approximately ten Su-33s alongside MiG-29KR fighters. Beginning on November 15, 2016, the Su-33s flew the type's first-ever combat missions, conducting strike sorties against targets in Syria using upgraded Gefest SVP-24 navigation and bombing systems that enabled accurate delivery of conventional 500 kg bombs. After an arresting gear failure led to the loss of one Su-33 during carrier recovery operations, the remaining aircraft continued combat missions from Khmeimim Air Base until the task force returned to Russia in early 2017.