Combat aircraft

F

OUR Su-35S (NATO reporting

name ‘Flanker-E’) fighters

were deployed to Syria in late

January 2016 when Russia

strengthened its contingent’s

fighter escort capability after a

Su-24 bomber had been shot down by a

Turkish F-16 in November 2015.

In addition to R-27 and R-73 air-to-air

missiles, the Su-35S aircraft have been

seen operating with the new R-77-1

medium-range AAM that recently entered

service. They were seen sporadically

with 250kg (551lb) iron bombs. There

are no photographs showing guided

air-to-ground weapons, although Russian

sources claim that the Su-35S has used

them in Syria. The aircraft there typically

fly with Khibiny jamming pods.

Aircrews in Syria rotate with the aim of

giving combat experience to all the air

force’s Su-35S pilots. The Russian deputy

The Su-35S is the most advanced fighter in operational service

in Russia and has been used in combat in Syria, Russia’s shop

window on its latest technology.

REPORT Piotr Butowski

The Su-35 in its

element — high

and fast. The

N135 Irbis radar

has impressive

detection ranges,

coupled with

an advanced

infra-red search

and track system.

Dmitriy Pichugin

Su-35

ARMAMENT

The Su-35S can use all types of tactical

aerial missile currently in the Russian

inventory. These will be joined by

new weapons in the coming years.

New types of air-to-air weapons

that have recently entered service in

Russia include the long-range R-37M,

medium-range R-77-1 and short-

range R-74M missiles. Among the air-

to-surface weapons integrated with

the Su-35 are the new Kh-31PM and

Kh-58USh anti-radar missiles; Kh-35U

and Kh-59M2A anti-ship missiles;

‘universal’ Kh-38M air-to-ground

missiles with various seekers; and

250kg (551lb), 500kg (1,102lb) and

1,500kg (3,307lb) guided bombs.

GAME-CHANGING

‘FLANKER’

THE

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