minister of defence Yuri Borisov told
Russian TV in August 2017 that ‘in the
Syrian campaign the Su-35 received the
best marks’. He added, ‘It is not inferior
even to the rst-stage Su-57.’
In the Russian Air Force, the Su-35S is
positioned as a lower-cost addition to the
fth-generation Su-57 ghter, together
with the even less expensive Su-30SM.Development
Initially, the Su-35 program was funded
exclusively by the Sukhoi company
and its partners. The rst Su-35-1, ‘901’,
ew on February 19, 2008. The Russian
Ministry of Defense ordered 48 dedicated
Su-35S versions in August 2009 and
another 50 in December 2015. Tests
proceeded slowly due to problemsrelated to avionics integration. Although
deliveries to operational units had
begun in February 2014, the Su-35S
only recently successfully completed
the so-called second stage of state
evaluations, meaning that it fully meets
the requirements of the Russian Air Force.
The appropriate document was signed
on October 2, 2017. As of December
2017, the Russian Air Force had received
68 examples of the Su-35S (including
10 delivered in 2017) for two squadrons
at Dzyomgi and one squadron each at
Tsentralnaya Uglovaya and Besovets
air bases; the remainder are at the
evaluation centers at Akhtubinsk and
Lipetsk. The remaining 30 aircraft will be
delivered during 2018-20, at a rate of 10
per year.Su-35
UNDER
THE SKIN
The Su-35S is a heavy long-range
multi-role ghter, the crowning
achievement of the ‘Flanker’ family.
It retains the external appearance
of the classic Su-27 but has engines
with 19.6kN (4,409lb st) more thrust
and two tons of additional internal
fuel compared with its predecessor.
The Su-35 has a very powerful radar,
the N135 Irbis (Snow Leopard) that
employs a passive electronically
scanned array. Advantages of the
Irbis compared to its predecessor
— the Bars found in the Su-30SM —
include a wider range of operational
frequencies, a greater angular search
zone in azimuth of up to +/-125°
(due to an improved antenna and
double-step drive), increased
range thanks to a more powerful
transmitter) and improved resistance
to jamming, as well as ner resolution.
An interesting feature is the so-called
‘long-range detection’ mode: when
using the peak power output of 20kW
(standard power is 5kW) limited to a
narrow sector, the Irbis can detect a
ghter-sized target from 350-400km
(189-216nm) in a head-on or 150km
(81nm) in a tail-on position. Ranges
are half the speci ed distances
in normal search mode. The Type
4283MP IFF interrogator has an active
electronic scanning array (AESA)
located along the wing leading edges.
The Su-35’s electro-optical suite
includes two targeting sensors: the
built-in OLS-35 IRST for air-to-air, and
podded KOEP-35 system for air-to-
ground missions. Early aircraft use the
Ukrainian Sura-M helmet-mounted
sight; in later examples this has been
replaced by the Russian NSTs-T-04
device, originally developed for the
Yak-130 jet trainer.
The SOER missile approach warning
system has six mid-wave infra-red
sensors and two laser sensors
covering a complete sphere around
the ghter. Another sensor is the
L150-35 radar warning and missile
homing system that operates across
a very wide frequency range. The
L150-35 also indicates targets for
anti-radar missiles. In case a threat is
detected, countermeasures will be
activated including the L265M10-01
(or -02 for export) Khibiny-M ECM
system in two wingtip pods, and the
UV-50 dispensing system with 84
50mm decoys mounted in the ‘sting’
between the engine nozzles.Above left: The
large ‘Flanker’
radome houses
the large N135
Irbis (Snow
Leopard) radar
that employs
a passive
electronically
scanned array
with impressive
capabilities.
Dmitriy Pichugin
Below left:
Electronic
warfare is an
area where the
Russian military
has made huge
gains of late.
The Khibiny-M
ECM system is
carried in two
detachable
wingtip pods.
Dmitriy Pichugin
Below: Russia
has 98 examples
of the Su-35S
on order, and
numbers are
possibly set to
increase as the
Su-57 schedule
slips.
Piotr ButowskiFORCE REPORT // RUSSIAN FIGHTERS
90 May 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
88-90 Russian Fighters Su-35 C.indd 90 20/03/2018 10:55