Key Points and Summary: The Sukhoi Su-35S “Flanker-M” is Russia’s most advanced fourth-generation fighter jet, combining powerful engines, supermaneuverability, and sophisticated avionics. Originating from the Su-27 platform, the Su-35S integrates significant enhancements, including advanced Irbis-E radar, upgraded engines providing thrust vectoring, and extensive electronic warfare systems.
Key Point #1 – Despite lacking stealth capabilities, it excels in both air-to-air and ground-attack missions, carrying a broad array of advanced missiles and precision-guided weapons. Deployed in Syria and Ukraine, its combat effectiveness is proven, though modernization remains necessary to compete against fifth-generation threats.
Key Point #2 – The Su-35S stands as Russia’s interim answer while bridging to the future fifth-generation Su-57 stealth fighter.
Those 4 Words: One Really Dangerous Fighter
Su-35S: Why Russia’s Latest Flanker Fighter is Still a Game-Changer
The Russians have had a multitude of failed projects in the domain of fighter jets, the Flanker line is not one of those. The Sukhoi Su-35S, the newest in the Flanker line, a formidable multirole fighter jet, may just be the pinnacle of Russian aerospace engineering.
This aircraft, known for its agility, advanced avionics, and powerful engines, has become a cornerstone of modern air combat. Much like the F-15EX, the Su-35S takes an existing airframe and transforms it into an entirely new beast.
The Newest Member of the Flanker Family
The Flanker-M is an evolution of the Su-27 Flanker, a Soviet-era air superiority fighter. The development of the Su-35 began in the early 1980s, with the aim of creating a more advanced version of the Su-27. The initial prototype, known as the Su-27M, made its maiden flight in June 1988. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the project was rebranded as the Su-35 to attract export orders. The first production model, the Su-35S, took to the skies in February 2008.
The Su-35S was designed to serve as an interim solution while Russia developed its fifth-generation fighter, the Su-57. Despite its origins as a stopgap measure, the Su-35S has proven to be a highly capable aircraft in its own right, with significant improvements over its predecessors.
Not Your Average Flanker Fighter
The Su-35S retains the aerodynamic design of its predecessor, the Su-27, but with significant enhancements. The airframe is constructed using a combination of aluminum and titanium alloys, along with composite materials to reduce weight and increase durability.
The aircraft features a large, blended wing-body design with a high degree of aerodynamic efficiency, allowing for excellent maneuverability and stability at high speeds.
The Su-35S is powered by two Saturn AL-41F1S afterburning turbofan engines. These engines are capable of producing 19,400 pounds of thrust each in dry mode and up to 32,000 pounds with afterburner. This immense power enables the Su-35S to achieve a maximum speed of Mach 2.25 (approximately 2,400 km/h or 1,500 mph) at altitude. The aircraft has a service ceiling of 18,000 meters (59,000 feet) and a combat range of around 1,600 km (1,000 miles) without external fuel tanks.
The Su-35S is equipped with the N035 Irbis-E passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, which is one of the most advanced radar systems in the world. The Irbis-E can detect and track up to 30 airborne targets simultaneously at ranges of up to 400 km (250 miles) and engage up to 8 of them at once. The radar also has ground mapping capabilities, allowing the Su-35S to perform precision strikes against ground targets.
In addition to the radar, the Su-35S features a comprehensive suite of avionics, including a digital fly-by-wire control system, a heads-up display (HUD), and multiple multifunctional displays (MFDs) in the cockpit. The aircraft is also equipped with the L175M Khibiny-M electronic countermeasure system, which provides advanced electronic warfare capabilities to protect the aircraft from enemy radar and missile systems
The Flanker-M is armed with a wide array of weapons, making it a versatile platform for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The aircraft has 12 hardpoints for carrying external weapons and stores, with a maximum payload capacity of 8,000 kg (17,600 pounds). The Su-35S can carry a variety of air-to-air missiles, including the R-77 (AA-12 Adder) and R-73 (AA-11 Archer), as well as long-range air-to-ground missiles like the Kh-31P (AS-17 Krypton) and Kh-59MK2 (AS-22 Kluge).
For close-range combat, the Su-35S is equipped with a 30mm GSh-30-1 cannon, which has a rate of fire of 1,500 rounds per minute and a muzzle velocity of 860 meters per second (2,820 feet per second). The cannon is highly effective against both aerial and ground targets.
The Flanker-M has proven its capabilities in various operational scenarios. It has been deployed by the Russian Air Force in conflicts such as the Syrian Civil War and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The aircraft has demonstrated its effectiveness in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, achieving multiple air-to-air kills (take with a grain of salt) and providing crucial support for ground operations. While the Su-35S has also had its share of losses in Ukraine, it has performed reliably overall.
Su-35 over Ukraine. Image Credit: TASS/Russian state media.
In addition to its service with the Russian Air Force, the Su-35S has been exported to countries like China, with other bidders potentially on the list. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China has integrated the Su-35S into its fleet, using it as a transitional platform before the mass deployment of domestically produced J-20 stealth fighters.
The “Flanker-M” and its Future
As of 2025, the Su-35S remains a key component of the Russian Air Force’s fleet. Despite the emergence of fifth-generation fighters like the Su-57, the Su-35S continues to play a vital role in Russia’s air defense strategy. The aircraft’s advanced capabilities and proven combat performance ensure that it will remain in service for many years to come.
However, the Su-35S does face challenges in the modern battlefield. Its avionics and electronic warfare systems, while advanced, are not on par with those of newer fifth-generation fighters. Additionally, the aircraft’s lack of stealth capabilities makes it vulnerable to detection by modern radar systems. T
o address these issues, ongoing modernization efforts are essential to keep the Su-35S competitive in the evolving landscape of aerial warfare.
The Sukhoi Su-35S is perhaps the most advanced 4th-gen fighter plane in the Russian air force. With its powerful engines, advanced avionics, and supermaneuverability, the Su-35S has established itself as a formidable multirole fighter jet.
Su-35. Image: Creative Commons.
While it may not possess the stealth capabilities of newer fifth-generation aircraft, its proven combat performance and versatility ensure that it will remain a key player in modern air combat for the foreseeable future.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a 19FortyFive Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
William
March 9, 2025 at 6:52 am
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