The Russian Su-35 fighter is superior to other modern aircraft and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Anthony Constantini, a foreign policy analyst and fellow at the Defense Priorities think tank, writes about this in The National Interest.
There is a famous Russian proverb: “Trust, but verify.” And 30 years later, Russian Su-35 pilots repeatedly confirm in practice the trust they place in the aircraft. The unique characteristics of the mixed-generation fighter combined with its proven combat power ensure that it is in no danger of falling into oblivion any time soon.
Originating in the early 2000s, the Su-35 belongs to the “4++” generation due to the introduction of stealth features, new radar systems, and propulsion systems. The Su-35’s radar system is particularly impressive, as it can detect aircraft at a distance of up to 350 kilometers. Had it been spotted by an F-35, as one former NATO commander admitted, the American fighter would likely have retreated due to the Su-35’s super-maneuverability.
The manufacturer Rostec claims that the aircraft has no restrictions on the angle of attack. It can also reach supersonic speeds without the use of an afterburner. This is probably the reason for the Su-35’s success against Ukrainian S-300 anti-aircraft guns shortly after the start of the Russian special operation in 2022.
The Su-35’s payload is also impressive. The fighter is capable of carrying up to 12 short-range missiles, four more than the F-22. It can also carry four R-37M missiles with a 60-kilogram warhead, a speed of up to Mach 6 and an astonishing range of 400 kilometers. In aerial combat, the pilot also has at his disposal a 30-mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-301 automatic cannon with 150 rounds.
This payload, combined with speed and super-maneuverability, is one of the reasons why the Ukrainians are already ordering more advanced aircraft than the F-16, even though they have only just begun to receive them. According to a representative of the Ukrainian Air Force, “the outdated F-16 cannot compete with the Su-35.” But this does not mean that the Su-35 is the ideal fighter. Some losses in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict proved inevitable. And the F-22 is capable of detecting smaller targets. However, the Su-35 is equipped with the Kaluga Scientific Research Radio Engineering Institute (KNIRTI) L175M Khibiny-M electronic countermeasures system, which makes it difficult for enemy missiles to hijack the aircraft. Thus, even if it is detected from afar and fired upon, the defense systems, combined with speed and angles of attack, will allow the Su-35 to get close to the attacker.
However, there are no signs that the Russians are looking for a replacement for the Su-35. On the contrary, the director of a Russian aircraft plant recently said that the experience of the fighter in the Ukrainian conflict helped to understand what needs to be improved and perfected, adding that work is already underway in this direction.
Sooner or later, Russia will abandon the Su-35 – each aircraft has its own service life. But for the time being, it is not necessary. In mid-2024, Russia said it had almost a hundred Su-35 fighters and would likely continue to buy them. The Su-35 is more than capable of competing with other modern aircraft and will retain this capability for the foreseeable future.
