Sukhoi Su-35

Su-35
A Russian Knights Su-35 accompanied by Russian Airborne Troops
Role Multi-role fighter
National origin Soviet Union / Russia
Manufacturer Sukhoi
First flight May 1988
Status In production
Primary user Russian Air Force
Number built Su-27M/35: 15[1]
Su-35"BM" (from 2005): 3[2]
Unit cost Estimated at US$45 million[3] to $65 million[4][5]
Developed from Sukhoi Su-27
Variants Sukhoi Su-37
Sukhoi Su-35BM

The Sukhoi Su-35 (formerly Su-27M;[6] Cyrillic: Сухой Су-35, NATO reporting name: Flanker-E) is a Russian 4+ generation heavy class, long-range, multi-role fighter, that was developed from the original Su-27 fighter. Due to the similar features and components it contains the Su-35 is considered a close cousin of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, a modernized Su-30 variant for India.[7] The Su-35 has been further developed into the Su-35BM.[8] The Su-35 is in service in small numbers with the Russian Air Force with 12 in service as of 2008.[2]

Contents

Design and development

Su-27M/Su-35

The Su-35 is an advanced Su-27 derivative and was initially designated Su-27M. The Su-27M development began in the early 1980s.[9] A Su-27M prototype (T-10S-70) first flew in 1988. Changes from the Su-27 include canards, upgraded engines, new radar, and a digital fly by wire flight control system.[10] Other changes made were glass cockpit, aerial refueling probe, twin-wheel nose gear, more powerful radar, two additional underwing pylons, additional fuel capacity, and larger tail fins with horizontal carbon fibre tips.[11]

The first prototype was publicly displayed in 1992 at the Farnborough Airshow.[12] Sukhoi changed its designation for the fighter from Su-27M to Su-35 in 1993.[9] Ten prototypes Su-35s were built with four being converted Su-27s and the others being new-builds.[13] Three production Su-27Ms were completed in 1996 and delivered to Russian Air Force (VVS) that year for testing.[14] Five Su-35s have been used by the Russian Knights display team. In total 15 flight Su-35 (Su-27M) aircraft were produced, including a Su-35UB two-seat prototype.[1] Two of these Su-35s were modified into Su-37s in the mid to late 1990s.[15] The Su-35 has been nicknamed "Super Flanker".[1]

Modernization

Main article: Sukhoi Su-35BM

Sukhoi began modernising the Su-35 in the mid-2000s to provide a 4.5-type generation fighter making use of current technologies.[16][17][18] The modernized Su-35 will be interim design until the fifth generation PAK FA (T-50) enters service.[16] The modernized Su-35 has been referred to as "Su-35BM" (Bolshaya Modernizatsiya - Big Modernization) by some sources,[8][19] but Sukhoi simply refers to the fighter as "Su-35".[16] The modernised Su-35 is considered to be 4++ generation by Sukhoi.[16]

The new design has a reinforced airframe for longer service life and has a reduced radar signature from the front.[16] The modernized Su-35's new nose holds an improved passive electronically scanned array radar and the aircraft featured 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. In the 1990s, a two-dimensional asymmetric thrust vectoring system was first tested on the Su-35 and served as a basis for further development of the Su-37. For the Su-35BM, a new type of 2D thrust vectoring engine, the 117S, has been developed and replaces the current AL-31F or AL-35.[20]

Su-35BM at MAKS-2009

Contrary to the designs of the original Su-35 and Sukhoi's other recent machines - the Su-30MKI and the Su-37 - the new Su-35 omits the canard and speedbrake. The canards were needed to increase/maintain maneuverability due to the addition of more modern, and heavier hardware in the nose area, compared to the original Su-27. A disadvantage of the canards is they significantly increase radar returns and drag, thus decreasing efficiency, speed, range, and weapons-carrying capacity. The Su-35 uses composite materials and newer electronics to make the aircraft lighter, especially in the nose area. This allowed Sukhoi's designers to do away with the canards and their disadvantages while still keeping up high operational system characteristics. The lighter new design has actually allowed an increase in both fuel and weapons-carrying capacity as compared to earlier Su-27 fighters. To maintain maneuverability equal to or greater than canard-equipped fighters, the Su-35 uses fully-rotating vectoring thrust nozzles on its new powerful Saturn engines.[21]

The first modernized Su-35 was presented at the MAKS-2007 air show in August 2007. The new Su-35 version first flew on 19 February 2008. It is now in production with deliveries to customers to begin in 2009.[16] On 18 August 2009, the Russian Defense Ministry announced a contract for 48 Su-35S fighters along with 16 Su-27/30 fighters to be delivered by 2015.[22][23]

In July 2008, Russia has offered the Su-35 for sale to India,[24] Malaysia and Algeria.[25] The Brazilian Air Force,[26] Vietnam People's Air Force and Venezuelan Air Force[27][28] have expressed interest in purchasing Su-35s to replace their older fighters.The Su-35 is participating in Brazil's F-X2 contest. Anatoly Isaikin, general director of Rosoboronexport, declared on 6 October 2009 that the company will provide 120 fighters and a full transfer of technology.[29]

Variants

Su-35UB landing
Su-27M/Su-35 
Single-seat fighter.
Su-35UB 
Two-seat fighter and trainer.[30] Features taller vertical stabilizers and a forward fuselage similar to a Su-30.
Su-35S 
Single-seat fighter with upgraded avionics and various modifications to the airframe. This is production version ordered by Russia.[22][23]

Operators

 Russia

Specifications (Su-27M/Su-35)

Data from Gordon and Davidson,[31] Milavia.net[32]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Comparable aircraft

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sukhoi Su-27M (Su-35) "Super Flanker." Milavia.net, 12 April 2009. Retrieved: 14 September 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "SU-35 all-weather counter-air fighter." Warfare.ru. Retrieved: 18 July 2010.
  3. ↑ "$2.5 Billion Order Launches Su-35 Production." ainonline.com. Retrieved: 18 July 2010.
  4. ↑ "Sukhoi shows off its new super agile fighter." RussiaToday, 8 July 2008. Retrieved: 18 July 2010.
  5. ↑ "Russian Defense Ministry orders 64 Su-family fighters." rian.ru. Retrieved: 18 July 2010.
  6. ↑ Sukhoi Su-35 "4++ Generation Flanker." Milavia.net, 20 November 2008. Retrieved: 4 March 2009.
  7. ↑ Su-35 / Su-37 Super Flanker Multirole Fighter
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Su-35BM/T-10BM: The last Flanker." Aviapedia.com, 27 April 2007.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Eden, Paul. "Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker'". Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. London: Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1-90468-784-9.
  10. ↑ Frawley, Gerald. "Sukhoi Su-35 & Su-37". The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002/2003. London: Aerospace Publications, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2.
  11. ↑ Gordon and Davison 2006, pp. 29–33.
  12. ↑ Gordon and Davison 2006, p. 31.
  13. ↑ Gordon and Davison 2006, pp. 30–31.
  14. ↑ Gordon and Davison 2006, p. 33.
  15. ↑ Gordon and Davison 2006, pp. 34–37.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 Su-35 page, Sukhoi, Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  17. ↑ "Sukhoi plans further Su-27 derivative." Flight International, 6 September 2005.
  18. ↑ "Su-35, A Step from Fifth Generation." Take-off.ru, June 2007. Retrieved: 18 July 2010.
  19. ↑ "SU-35BM (Bolshaya Modernizatsiya - Big Modernization)." Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved: 18 July 2010.
  20. ↑ Chang, Andrei. "Analysis: China seeks new Russian technology." UPI Asia Online, 23 November 2007. Retrieved: 18 July 2010.
  21. ↑ Макиенко 2008, pp. 18–22.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "Sukhoi signs record $2.5 bln deal with Russian defense ministry." RIA Novosti, 18 August 2009. Retrieved: 18 July 2010.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Trimble, Stephen. "Russia signs $2.5 billion deal for 64 Sukhoi fighters." Flight International, 20 August 2009. Retrieved: 18 July 2010.
  24. ↑ Dikshit, Sandeep. "Russia offers to sell state-of-the-art strike fighter." The Hindu, 17 July 2008. Retrieved: 22 July 2008.
  25. ↑ "Russia keen to sell latest jet to Malaysia". The Star online, 21 July 2008.
  26. ↑ Brazilian Su-35
  27. ↑ Venezuelan Su-35
  28. ↑ Venezuelan Air Force Su-35
  29. ↑ http://www.defesanet.com.br/ru1/su-35.htm
  30. ↑ "Su-35UB Training and combat fighter specifications." airwar.ru. Retrieved: 18 July 2010.
  31. ↑ Gordon and Davison 2006, pp. 92, 97.
  32. ↑ "Sukhoi Su-27M (Su-35) Specifications." Milavia.net, 28 August 2008. Retrieved: 3 May 2009.
Bibliography
  • Crosby, Francis. "Sukhoi SU-35". Fighter Aircraft. London: Lorenz Books, 2002. ISBN 0-7548-0990-0.
  • Gordon, Yefim and Peter Davison. Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2006. ISBN 978-1-58007-091-1.
  • Макиенко, Константин. "Су-35: спасатель русской авиации". Профиль Июль 2008, pp. 18–22.
  • Williams, Mel. "Sukhoi 'Super Flanker' Family". Superfighters: The Next Generation of Combat Aircraft. Norwalk, CT: AIRtime Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-880588-53-6.

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