The Su-27S (NATO reporting name Flanker) is a single-seat highly-maneuverable fighter aircraft built by Sukhoi Design Bureau as the Soviet response to the U.S. F-14 and F-15 and entered service in 1985. The primary role of the Su-27 was to provide defense against American bombers, USN ships and provide Soviet bomber escorts. There have been many improvements over the years resulting in numerous variants of the Su-27. The export variant, the Su-27SK was sold to China and eventually developed into the license-built Shenyang J-11.
In 1994 in an effort to modernize the Vietnamese Peoples Air Force (VPAF) they ordered twelve Su-27SK Flankers from Russia. In May 1995 the first two aircraft arrived with the remainder arriving in 1996. A new order for two additional Su-27SKs was placed in 1996. The original twelve aircraft equipped the 937th Fighter Regiment / 370th Fighter Division based at Phan Rang AB. In 1998 Su-27SK 6007 was lost in a crash. Later all the Su-27s were transferred to the 935th FR at Bien Hoa.