Su-35

Versions of the Su-27, such as the Su-27M (T-10M) modernized fighters designed and produced on order from the Russian Air Force in the 1980s, had been demonstrated at international air shows under the name Su-35 since 1992. Their production was stopped due to a lack of financing in the 1990s. At the turn of the century, a review of the national Air Force’s needs for the foreseeable future, as well as global aircraft market forecasts, identified the requirement for a more radical modernization of the Su-27, building on the foundation that had previously been laid.

To make the airplane competitive compared to existing and future foreign fighters, it was required not only to significantly improve airborne equipment and weapons, but also to alter the airframe structure and power generation. As a result, the general concept of a new multi-purpose fighter – a thoroughly-modernized version of the Su-27 airplane – was generated by the middle of the first decade of the new century, retaining the name Su-35. Work on this project at Sukhoi Design Bureau was led by I. Demin. 

The Su-35 is a “4++” generation airplane that uses fifth-generation fighter technology. In 2009-2015, this technology created an advantage for the Su-35 over the other fourth-generation multi-purpose fighters offered on the global market. The new Russian fighter was designed so that it could fly and fight in conditions where "classic" (4+ generation) fighters were unable to engage in combat. It was envisioned that this “major modernization” would fill the gap between the Su-27 airplanes built or modified with “minor modernizations” until the production launch of fifth-generation airplanes, expected to enter the market within a decade.
 

The first flight model of the Su-35 airplane was assembled at the KnAAPO production site in August 2007. On the eve of the MAKS-2007 Moscow Air Show, it was transported on board an An-124 Ruslan heavy freighter to the Gromov airfield in Zhukovsky where, after its demonstration at the show, the final stage of ground tests continued prior to commencement of its flight testing stage. Tests of all five of the 117S-type engines from the test batch intended for installation on the Su-35 were completed successfully at a branch of NPO Saturn near Moscow in January 2008. Ground testing of airplane systems was completed by the middle of February.

The first flight of the new Russian fighter took place on February 19, 2008. The flight was piloted by Sergey Bogdan, Honored Test Pilot of the Russian Federation. The importance of the event was emphasized by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s and his then-future successor Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to the test site on February 20.

The key expected performance values were demonstrated and confirmed through flight tests. The second test item entered testing on October 2, 2008. Along with the new fighter’s entry into service and acceptance by the Russian Air Force, as well as its emergence on the global aircraft market, the aircraft continues to reinforce Russia’s position as one of the leading aviation powers of the 21st century.

The production of the Su-35 multi-purpose super maneuverable fighter of the 4++ generation (Su-35S in the Russian modification) is one of UAC’s priority programs.

The aircraft is supplied both for the needs of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and for export.

Su-35 is a 4++ generation aircraft that uses fifth–generation fighter technology. These new technologies will provide Su-35 with an advantage in the global market compared to other multifunctional 4th generation fighters. The new Russian fighter is designed in such a way that it can fly and fight in conditions where classic fighters (of 4+ generation) cannot perform combat operations.

The first flight sample of the Su-35 aircraft was assembled by August 2007. On the eve of the start of the MAKS-2007 air show, it was transported by an Antotov An-124 Ruslan transport aircraft to the airfield of Gromov Flight Research Institute in Zhukovsky, where after the demonstration at the air show the final stages of ground testing were continued before the start of flight tests. In January 2008, all five engines of the 117S type of the experimental batch intended for installation on Su-35 were successfully tested in the branch of NPO Saturn near Moscow. Ground testing of the aircraft's onboard systems was completed by mid-February.

The maiden flight of the new Russian fighter took place on February 19, 2008. The aircraft was piloted by Sergey Bogdan, Honored Test Pilot of the Russian Federation. The importance of the event was underlined by a visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the test site on February 20.

Flight tests confirmed the main expected flight characteristics of the aircraft . The second prototype aircraft joined the tests on October 2, 2008.

The Su-35 aircraft is designed to gain air superiority, destroy ground and surface targets day and night in simple and severe weather conditions at large distances from the home airfield. It is transitional to fifth-generation air complexes.

Su-35 operates many advanced technologies that are widely used on the 5th generation Su-57 fighter. The distinctive features of the aircraft are high flight performance, high speed and maneuverability, long-range information and aiming systems, a modern communication system and high-speed data exchange between the aircraft and ground control stations, and directly between aircraft, highly efficient long range guided air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, and a high performance jamming support and defense system. New engines with a digital control system and thrust vector control significantly improve the flight performance and maneuverability characteristics of the aircraft.

The maximum speed at the ground is 1400 km/h, and 2.25 M at an altitude, the ceiling is 18 thousand m, the maximum combat load is 8,000 kg.

A phased array antenna radar allows detecting aerial targets at a distance of up to 350 km, tracking up to 30 targets and simultaneously firing at up to 8 aerial targets in long-range air combat. An on-board OLS (optical-location station) allows detecting and tracking aerial targets at a range of up to 80 km.

A number of design solutions aimed at improving the operational and technical characteristics of the aircraft allowed to increase the service life of the airframe and reduce maintenance time simultaneously with implementing automated troubleshooting.