| Su-35 | |
|---|---|
| An Su-35S of the Russian Air Force demonstrating at the 2011 MAKS Airshow. | |
| Role | Multirole fighter |
| National origin | Soviet Union / Russia |
| Manufacturer | Sukhoi / KnAAPO |
| First flight | 28 June 1988 |
| Status | In production |
| Primary user | Russian Air Force |
| Number built | Su-27M/35: 15[1] Su-35S ; 2 series (excluding prototype aircraft) http://vz.ru/news/2011/12/2/543387.html |
| Unit cost | US$45 million[2] to $65 million (estimated)[3][4] |
| Developed from | Sukhoi Su-27 |
| Variants | Sukhoi Su-37 |
The Sukhoi Su-35 (Russian: Сухой Су-35, NATO reporting name: Flanker-E) is a single-seat, twin-engined supermaneuverability multirole fighter. It is a derivative of the Su-27 'Flanker', and was initially known as the Su-27M. More than a dozen of these were built with some used by the Russian Knights aerobatic demonstration team. The Su-35 had been offered to many countries, including India, Brazil and South Korea.
In the 1980s, Sukhoi was looking to upgrade its high-performance Su-27. The resultant Su-35 embodies aerodynamic refinements to give it more manoeuvrability, greatly enhanced avionics, longer range, and a more powerful engine. The first prototype, converted from a production Su-27, made its maiden flight in June 1988. The Su-35 was further developed into the Su-37, which has thrust-vectoring capabilities, and the Su-35BM, classed as 4++ generation fighter by its manufacturer. The new model entered into serial production as the Su-35S for the Russian Air Force in 2010.
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In the early 1980s, as the Su-27 was entering service with the Soviet Air Force, Sukhoi was looking to develop a follow on variant. This variant, originally designated the "Su-27M", would be much more agile and feature greatly improved avionics than the aircraft considered to be the best contemporary fighter.[5] It was also to carry more armament to improve its capacity as an air-to-ground platform.[6]
Known within the design bureau as the "T10-M", development began in the early 1980s.[8] The improved variant featured a host of changes regarding aerodynamic refinements, avionics and propulsion upgrades, construction methods, as well as increased payload carriage. High-strength composites and aluminium-lithium were used not only to reduce weight, but to boost internal fuel volume.[9][10] Distinguishing features are the canards, which improve airflow over the wings, eliminating buffeting and allowing the aircraft to fly at a very high angle of attack of 120°, i.e., past the vertical. The canards are governed by a new digital fly-by-wire flight control system.[5] It is outfitted with the Luylka Al-31FM engine, also found on the Su-34 tactical bomber. This powerplant is larger, more reliable, and with a thrust of 28,218 lbf (125.52 kN) is more powerful.[5]
Also new was the fire-control system, at the heart of which is the more powerful N-011 Zhuk-27 pulse-Doppler radar. The radar can track 15 aerial targets simultaneously and guide six missiles towards them. To exploit the improved radar, two additional underwing pylons were added.[11] In the aircraft "stinger" is the Phazotron N-012 rear-ward facing radar, which effectively provides the aircraft impunity from attacks from behind.[11] The aircraft can carry a variety of bombs and both air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles. Among the weapons it can carry include the R-27, R-73, R-77, Kh-29, Kh-59, Kh-31, KAB-500 and KAB-1500, along with napalm, dumb and cluster bombs.[11] The cockpit was modernised, equipped with multi-function colour LCD screens, and the pilot sits on the K-36DM ejection seat inclined at 30° to improve g-force tolerance.[11] Range is increased to 4,000 km (2,222 nmi) through additional fuel capacity;[12] with the fitting of an aerial refuelling probe, range can be further extended. The aircraft is characterized by its twin nose wheel – as a result of higher payload – and larger tail fins with horizontal carbon fibre square-topped tips.[10][13][14]
The Su-27M (T-10S-70) prototype first flew on 28 June 1988 at the hands of Sukhoi Chief Test Pilot Oleg Tsoi.[11][15] The first prototype differed slightly from later examples in: retaining standard Su-27 vertical stabilizers without the cropped top; lacking a fire-control system; having an unusual three-tone grey/blue camouflage scheme, along with minor differences.[11] Designated T10M-1 to T10M-10, the first 10 prototypes were built by KnAAPO in conjunction with Sukhoi, as the Soviet aerospace system was different from Western structure.[11] They slightly differed from another.[16] Four were converted Su-27s and the others being new-builds.[17] The second prototype started flight testing in January 1989, while the third followed in mid-1992.[7][11] The prototypes were used to validate the new flight-control system and canard fore-planes.[10]
In 1990, the first prototype was displayed to senior Ministry of Defence officials at Kubinka Air Base.[11] The aircraft's first flying demonstration came on 13 February 1992, before the leaders of the CIS republics at Machulishi, Minsk. Later in the year it made its public debut at the Farnborough Airshow.[11][18] The third prototype, T10M-3, appeared at the Dubai Airshow in 1993, by which time Sukhoi had re-designated its fighter the Su-35.[16][19] T10M-3 performed an aerobatic display, demonstrating its dogfighting capabilities and tricks, including the Pugachev's Cobra, to potential export customers. Viktor Pugachyov subsequently piloted the prototype in a mock fight with an Su-30MK.[16] The Su-35 performed at numerous air shows during the following years, including the 1993 and 1995 MAKS Airshows and the 1994 ILA.[16] In addition to Su-27 conversions, three production Su-35s were completed in 1996 and delivered to Russian Air Force (VVS) for testing.[20]
During the flight test programme of the Su-35, the aircraft performed manoeuvres such as the Pugachev's Cobra and tailslide. It was discovered that active controls during these performances could not be achieved. The 11th prototype Su-27M, T10M-11, was built by KnAAPO and delivered in 1995 for the installation of exclusive systems and equipments. The resultant aircraft was re-designated Su-37. With thrust vectoring capabilities, it made its first flight in April 1996.[21][22] A second Su-35 was modified into a Su-37 in the late 1990s.[23]
In total, 15 flight-capable Su-35 (Su-27M) aircraft were produced, including a Su-35UB two-seat prototype.[1][24] The original Su-35 never entered serial production due to a lack of funding,[20] and the Russian Air Force continued to use its Su-27 fleet. The Su-35's automatic control of canards and the Su-37's thrust-vectoring engine nozzles with some changes were applied to the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.[25]
From the mid-2000s, Sukhoi and its KnAAPO division further developed the Su-35 concept and improved it with additional cutting-edge technologies eyeing potential foreign sales,[7][26][27] marketing it as Su-35BM (Bolshaya Modernizatsiya, or "Big Modernization").[28][29] The experiences of 2008 South Ossetia war has also opened its prospects to replace ageing Su-27 fighters in the Russian Air Force's fleet. The modernized Su-35 will serve as an interim design until the fifth generation Sukhoi PAK FA fighter enters service.[30] The modernized Su-35 is considered to be 4++ generation by Sukhoi.[26]
The modernized Su-35 was presented at the 2007 MAKS Airshow. The new features of the aircraft include a reinforced airframe with a more extensive use of titanium alloys, thus increasing the airframes durability to some 30 years or 6,000 service hours,[7] a reduced radar signature from the front,[26] and an improved passive electronically scanned array radar. It is now capable of supercruise.[32] 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 homing missiles. The new Su-35 omits the canard and speedbrake; to maintain manoeuvrability equal to or greater than canard-equipped fighters, the Su-35 uses the new 117S engine with fully rotating vectoring thrust nozzles.[33][34]
The new Su-35 version first flew on 19 February 2008.[26] On 14 April 2009, a Su-35BM prototype crashed during a high-speed ground test. The test pilot escaped unharmed.[35] According to Sukhoi, the fighter's brakes failed during landing, resulting in the speeding aircraft going off the runway and the left engine catching fire.[36] On 18 August of the same year, the Russian Defense Ministry announced a contract for 48 Su-35S (Serial) fighters along with 16 Su-27/30 fighters to be delivered by 2015.[37][38] Sberbank agreed, in September 2010, to provide funding for the Su-35 program.[39] In November 2009, Sukhoi started manufacturing on the first serial aircraft.[40] On 14 October 2010, Sukhoi announced that the first production Su-35S had completed general assembly and that the first aircraft would be delivered to the Russian Ministry of Defense by the end of the year.[41] In May 2011, the first production model Su-35S was flown for the first time.[42] In 2009, Sukhoi estimated that the Su-35 would be manufactured at a rate of 24 to 30 aircraft each year from 2010 to 2020.[43]
Three production Su-27Ms were completed and delivered to Russian Air Force (VVS) in 1996 for testing.[20] Five Su-35s have been used by the Russian Knights display team.[1]
The Su-35BM was demonstrated at the 2009 MAKS Airshow on 18 August 2009. At the same show, the Russian Air Force signed a contract for the delivery of 48 Su-35S fighters by 2015, along with 12 Su-27SM and four Su-30M2 fighters, representing the first production order for the Su-35.[37][44] In January 2011, Russian Air Force planned to receive 50 Su-35s by 2015.[45]
South Korea was viewed in the early stages as a potential operator. Russia launched its Su-35 bid for South Korea's fighter procurement programme at the 1996 Seoul Air Show, and included the Su-37 in the proposal as well. For the bid, the proposed Su-35 would have used both a phased grid radar and AL-31FP vectoring-thrust engines; the aircraft would have been assembled in South Korea. The contract, worth roughly $5 billion, may have been partially financed through a debt reduction deal on money owed by Russia to South Korea.[46] In the end, the F-15K was chosen.[47]
Both the Brazilian Air Force, and Venezuelan Air Force have expressed interest in purchasing Su-35s to replace older aircraft.[48] On 23 May 2006, it was reported that Venezuela planned to purchase dozens of Su-30 and Su-35 fighters, and as many as 100 T-90 tanks; an order for 24 Su-35s was placed in October 2008.[49][50] The Su-35 participated in Brazil's F-X and F-X2 contests, the decision of which has been delayed several times.[51][52] In October 2009, Anatoly Isaikin, general director of Rosoboronexport, declared that the company would provide 120 fighters and a full technology transfer deal to Brazil.[53] In mid-2008, the Brazilian Air Force selected three finalists, none of them the Su-35,[54] however in January 2011, President Dilma Rousseff again postponed the acquisition.[55]
Since the early 1990s, an extensive sales arrangement of the Su-35 to China has been discussed; in 1995 Sukhoi officials announced their proposal to co-produce the Su-35 with China, on the condition that China agreed to purchase 120 aircraft.[56] However it has been alleged that the Russian Foreign Ministry had blocked both the sale of the Su-35 and Tupolev Tu-22M bombers over concerns regarding the arrangements surrounding Chinese production of the base Su-27.[57] In November 2010, it was reported that Rosoboronexport was ready to hold talks with China on the sale of advanced Su-35 fighters.[58][59]
In July 2008, Russia offered the Su-35 for sale to India, Malaysia and Algeria.[60] In late 2010, Libya was expected to sign a contract for the purchase of 12 Su-35s.[61][62] The civil war in Libya and the resulting military intervention caused Rosoboronexport to lose $4 billion in arranged contracts, including the Su-35.[63] Sukhoi approached US-aligned Australia in 2002, offering Su-30 family aircraft, and the Su-35 targeted as the prime "export" fighter.[64][65] Since 2008, other nations in the region have either acquired the Su-30 or exhibited interest in the Su-35 with Australia concerned that the RAAF F-35 will be "overmatched" if the Su-35 becomes the dominant opposition.[66] Indonesia is also interested in the Su-35BM as a replacement for its F-5 E/Fs.[67]
Data from KNAAPO,[69][70] Su-27 books,[12][71]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Avionics
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