Article Summary: The U.S. F-15EX Eagle II and Russia’s Su-35 are two of the most advanced fourth-generation-plus fighter jets, featuring enhanced avionics, radar capabilities, and electronic warfare systems. The Su-35, an upgraded Su-27 variant, boasts advanced infrared search-and-track, radar-absorbent materials, and high-speed agility.
Idea #1 – The F-15EX, however, integrates next-generation computing, AESA radar, and the ability to carry 12 missiles, including future hypersonic weapons. While both jets have similar thrust-to-weight ratios and speeds, the F-15EX may have an edge in sensor fusion and computing power.
Idea #2 – Ultimately, these fighters represent their respective nations’ commitment to upgrading legacy platforms for modern air combat.
U.S. F-15EX vs. Russia’s Su-35: A High-Tech Fighter Showdown
Comparisons of fighter jets from different nations are abundant. They are also meaningful, because the country with the most advanced, lethal, and effective stealth fighter is very likely to prevail in aerial combat and achieve air superiority in a large-scale conflict.
The relevant questions are many: Does the Russian Su-57 truly rival the U.S. F-35? Which platform operates with the longest-range, most accurate targeting sensors? Which jet integrates the fastest, most advanced computing technology? Will the United States or China operate the stealthiest, fastest, most advanced sixth-generation aircraft in the future?
The qualities that define a superior stealth fighter are not always observable to the eye. Variables such as heat-signature management, radar-absorbent materials, software, weapons, computing, mission systems, and targeting do more to determine a fighter jet’s power and stealth capabilities than does its visible external stealth configuration.
Su-35 vs F-15EX: A Fighter Showdown
Even in the era of stealth, there are other measures of a fighter’s viability. Take for example the U.S. fourth-generation-plus F-15EX Eagle II and its Russian equivalent, the Su-35.
While not fully stealthy, being fourth-generation planes, both the F-15EX and Su-35 contain radar-signature-reducing technologies, have slightly stealthy configurations. Their suites of advanced technologies likely make them far superior than standard fourth-generation aircraft.
The first category of impact is pure speed: Both the F-15EX and Su-35 are among the fastest aircraft in the world. The F-15EX is slated as being able to reach Mach 2.5, while the Su-35 is listed with an F-22-like speed of Mach 2.25.
Upgraded Fighters
The Russian Su-35 is a greatly upgraded variant of the high-speed, highly capable Russian Su-27, an aircraft that incorporates capabilities such as infrared search-and-track high-fidelity targeting technology, as well as electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, comparable to those found on the F/A-18 and F-22.
The Su-35 also uses Passive Electronically Scanned Array radar, a system that essentially tracks and “listens” to threats without emitting a signature itself and giving up its location.
Some of the best and most detailed available research on the Su-35 is collected in the 2020 book Famous Russian Aircraft – Sukhoi Su-27 and 30/33/34/35. This text, as cited in a Warrior Maven essay in 2024, describes how cutting-edge radar can track an aerial target at ranges up to 250 miles and simultaneously track as many as eight targets at once.
This seems similar to the F-15EX’s Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, which also tracks multiple targets at the same time.
The Russian book adds that the Su-35 is engineered with radar absorbent materials in “specific front-end locations such as the engine inlets and compressor.” The Su-35S also incorporates synthetic aperture radar.
Again this is comparable to the US F-15EX, which also operates with some radar-signature reducing attributes, advanced EW, and a new generation of high-speed computing called Advanced Display Core Processor II that performs as many as 87 billion functions per second. This computing may give the F-15EX an advantage.
Weapons
The F-15EX Eagle II carries 12 missiles. Its arsenal includes the AIM-120D and AIM-9x air-to-air missiles, as well as standard Joint Direct Attack Munition. Perhaps of greatest significance, the F-15EX will be armed with hypersonic weapons and added thrust-vectoring technology.
Thrust to Weight Questions
The F-15EX is quite similar to the Su-35 in terms of thrust-to-weight ratio, a key indicator in air-to-air combat. The Su-35 is listed by World Defence as having the highest thrust-to-weight ratio in the world at 1.30, but the F-15 is listed at 1.29, making the aircraft nearly identical.
Su-35: A Photo Essay
Su-35 Fighter from Russia.
Su-35 Fighter from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Su-35 Fighter from Russia.
Su-35. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Su-35: Image Credit: Creative Commons.
About the Author: Kris Osborn
Kris Osborn is the Military Technology Editor of 19FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
