The Su-35S has become Moscow’s preferred fighter platform.
Russia is continuing to bolster its fighter fleet as its ongoing war in Ukraine rages on. The United Aircraft Corporation delivered a sixth batch of Su-35S fighter jets to Moscow earlier this month, according to Russian state-run media outlets. Russia’s aerial fleet in Kyiv relies heavily on the versatility provided by its Su-35 contingent, making this reported delivery more significant for the Kremlin. On November 1, Russia showcased its Su-35 fighters at the Nanchang Air Show, where its Russian Knights aerobatics squadron flew several domestic platforms over those in attendance. While Moscow does possess the more advanced fifth-generation Su-57 successor, it clearly still considers its Su-35 jets to be the leading fighters in its aerial strategy.
The Su-35 Flanker-E/M
The Su-35S is a heavily modified evolution of the classic Su-27 “Flanker” series. During the peak of the Cold War, Soviet engineers began to conceptualize a successor for the Sukhoi-produced platform that could better contend with the United States’ growing fleet of fourth-generation jets. Ultimately, the Su-35 platform became the designation for two improved variants of the older Su-27 air-defense fighter platform. By the late 1980s, the first Su-35 prototype, formerly known as the Su-27M, embarked on its maiden flight. The Su-35S, designated by NATO as the “Flanker-E/M,” has arguably evolved to become Moscow’s preferred fighter platform.
The domestically produced Sturn/UFA AL-31F 117S turbofan engines power the aircraft, enabling it to reach speeds in excess of Mach 2.25 (times the speed of sound). In terms of sensors and radars, the Su-35 features the N035 Irbis-E passive electronically scanned array radar, which represents an improvement from the radar incorporated into its Su-27 predecessor. Additionally, the Flanker-E/M is equipped with the L175 Khibiny-M electronic countermeasure system and the OLS-35 optoelectronic targeting system in its cockpit.
Su-35 Modifications and Capabilities
Over the years, the Russian platform has undergone several modification overhauls in order for it to remain a dominant player in the skies. One of the more important improvements incorporated into the Russian platform is a weapons-control system featuring a phased-array radar with pulse-Doppler tracking. This new N011 Bars system enables the Flanker to track targets below the horizon, allowing the 4.5-generation fighter to better interact with ground-based targets. Notably, this enhanced system is able to track 15 targets simultaneously and launch six missiles at the same time.
When it comes to weapons capabilities, the Su-35S is quite lethal. The Russian fighter can carry a host of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, including the Vympel R-27, Molniya Kh-29, and the long-range Kh-58 UShE. As detailed by Air Force Technology, “The Su-35 can be armed with a range of guided bombs, including the KAB-500Kr TV-guided bomb, KAB-500S-E satellite-guided bomb, LGB-250 laser-guided bomb, Kab-1500Kr TV-guided bomb and KAB-1500LG laser-guided bomb. The aircraft can also be armed with 80mm, 122mm, 266mm, and 420mm rockets.”
While the Su-57 may be technically superior to the Flanker-E/M on paper, the fifth-generation jet’s lack of combat experience has perhaps influenced its minimized use in the ongoing Ukraine war. Moscow will continue to field more Su-35S fighters to supplement its aerial needs.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Fasttailwind / Shutterstock.com
