Sukhoi Su-35

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Su-35

Type	Multirole fighter
Manufacturer	Sukhoi
Designed by	Mikhail Simonov
Maiden flight	May 1985
Status	Production
Primary user	Russian Federation Air Force
Unit cost	US $35 million

The Sukhoi Su-35 (NATO designation: Flanker-E) is an advanced fighter aircraft in the Russian Federation Air Force inventory.

A development of the Su-27, it was originally identified as the Su-27M. It was developed to counter the US F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Following flight tests from 1988, based on the 1985 experimental T10-24, the first prototype was publicly displayed in 1992 at the Farnborough Air Show. Flight testing continued and up to 1994 eleven prototypes were built. Intended to enter service around 1995, the first test flights of an improved Su-35, the Su-37, in 1996 and the transfer of existing Su-35 prototypes to this program appeared to suggest the end of the Su-35, but later the Su-37 aircraft were converted to Su-35 back again, and it's in production for selected units of the Russian Air Force. It shares much in common with the naval variant of the Su-27, the Su-33, notably the larger wings and the more powerful engines. Other changes from the Su-27 were canards, a larger nose, the greater use of carbon fibre and aluminium-lithium alloy in the airframe, and larger, squarer tail fins. The new nose holds an improved radar and the aircraft had many other upgrades to its avionics and electronic systems, including digital fly-by-wire and a rear-looking radar for firing Semi-Active Radar missiles.

A two-dimensional asymmetric thrust vectoring system was tested on the Su-35 and seems to be the basis for the development of the Su-37. A new type of 2D thrust vectoring engine, the 117S, is planned to replace the current AL-35.[1]

11 are in use in the Russian Air Force.