Sukhoi Su-35

Sukhoi Su-35. The Sukhoi Su-35 is a single-seat, twin-engine supermaneuverable multirole fighter developed by the Russian aerospace company Sukhoi and derived from the Sukhoi Su-27 air superiority fighter. Designated a "4++ generation" aircraft by its manufacturer, it is intended as an interim solution bridging the capabilities of legacy Soviet Air Force designs and the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57. The modernized Su-35S variant, which entered service with the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2014, features significant advancements in avionics, radar, and engine technology, enhancing its effectiveness in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

Development and design

The Su-35's lineage traces directly to the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, with its development initiated in the 1980s under the leadership of chief designer Mikhail Simonov. The initial prototype, known internally as the T10M and later designated Su-27M, first flew on 28 June 1988 from the Zhukovsky Airfield near Moscow. This early model was intended to incorporate advanced technologies like a digital fly-by-wire system and a new radar, but the project was hampered by the dissolution of the Soviet Union and subsequent funding shortages. A major redesign effort in the 2000s, led by Sukhoi Design Bureau, resulted in the definitive Su-35S variant, which abandoned the canard foreplanes of earlier prototypes in favor of a reinforced airframe and thrust-vectoring nozzles. Key design features include the powerful Saturn AL-41F1S turbofan engines, which provide supercruise capability, and the sophisticated Irbis-E passive electronically scanned array radar developed by Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design. The aircraft's airframe is constructed with extensive use of titanium alloys and composites to reduce weight and increase durability, while its cockpit features modern liquid-crystal displays and a K-36D-3.5 ejection seat.

Operational history

Following state acceptance trials, the Su-35S was formally introduced into the Russian Aerospace Forces in February 2014, with the first operational unit being the 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment based at Dzemgi Airport in the Russian Far East. The fighter saw its first major combat deployment during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War, operating from Khmeimim Air Base to conduct air superiority patrols and provide cover for other Russian aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-34 and Sukhoi Su-24. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Su-35S aircraft have been extensively used for beyond-visual-range air combat, employing missiles like the R-77-1 and R-37M, and for conducting Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses missions. The type has also been involved in several international exercises, including participation with the People's Liberation Army Air Force in joint drills. One Su-35S was reportedly lost over Ukraine in April 2022, with its pilot, Major Krasnoruchev, being killed.

Variants

The primary variants of the Su-35 family are the original Su-27M/Su-35 and the modernized Su-35S. The Su-27M, which carried the Su-35 designation for export, featured canard foreplanes, a new N011 Bars radar, and upgraded Saturn AL-31FM engines; a small batch was built for the Russian Knights aerobatic team. The definitive Su-35S, sometimes referred to as the "Super Flanker," is a fundamentally redesigned aircraft without canards, incorporating the Irbis-E radar, AL-41F1S engines with Klimov thrust-vectoring nozzles, and a heavily modernized cockpit and avionics suite. A two-seat combat trainer variant, the Su-35UB, was developed and flew in 2000, but did not enter series production. An export-oriented model was marketed to several countries, including a dedicated version for the Indonesian Air Force under a contract that was later suspended.

Operators

The primary operator of the Su-35 is the Russian Aerospace Forces, which had over 110 Su-35S aircraft in service as of 2023, with deliveries ongoing from the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant. The only confirmed international operator is the People's Liberation Army Air Force of China, which received 24 aircraft under a 2015 contract valued at approximately $2.5 billion. A contract for 11 aircraft with the Egyptian Air Force was reported, though its status remains unclear. Other nations, including Algeria, Iran, and Turkey, have been reported as potential customers in various media, but no firm orders have been announced. An agreement with the Indonesian Air Force for Su-35s was signed but was effectively canceled due to concerns over potential sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.

Specifications (Su-35S)

* **Crew:** 1 * **Length:** 21.9 m (71 ft 10 in) * **Wingspan:** 15.3 m (50 ft 2 in) * **Height:** 5.9 m (19 ft 4 in) * **Empty weight:** 19,000 kg (41,888 lb) * **Max takeoff weight:** 34,500 kg (76,059 lb) * **Powerplant:** 2 × Saturn AL-41F1S afterburning turbofan engines with Klimov thrust-vectoring nozzles * **Maximum speed:** Mach 2.25 (2,400 km/h, 1,490 mph) at altitude * **Combat range:** 1,600 km (990 mi) on internal fuel * **Ferry range:** 4,500 km (2,800 mi) with external fuel tanks * **Service ceiling:** 18,000 m (59,000 ft) * **Avionics:** Irbis-E passive electronically scanned array radar, OLS-35 infrared search and track system, Khibiny electronic warfare suite * **Armament:** 1 × 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 autocannon, 12 hardpoints for a mix of air-to-air missiles including the R-77-1 and R-37M, air-to-surface missiles like the Kh-59MK2, and various guided bombs.

Category:Sukhoi aircraft Category:Fourth-generation jet fighter aircraft of Russia Category:Multirole fighter aircraft