Russian Defense Ministry receives new Su-35S fighter jets.
The latest Gen 4++ aircraft have successfully wrapped up factory testing, demonstrating their mettle in various operational scenarios and making their way back to the home base, according to a recent report.
Vadim Babakha, the General Director of OAK, has highlighted that the company is aggressively pushing deliveries of combat aircraft equipment within the existing program. He emphasized the factories' unwavering commitment towards ensuring timely completion of the state defense order, recognizing its paramount importance.
As deliveries continue, Babakha also announced plans to expand production capacity and kickstart new facilities aimed at bolstering the nation's defense capabilities even further. The production lines are humming with activity, churning out fresh batches of Su-35S, Su-34, and Su-57 fighters.
The versatile Su-35S multirole fighter, a formidable evolution from the Su-27 era, is a rapid response fighter designed for air superiority and the annihilation of ground and maritime targets in any weathers conditions, day or night, from a distance.
Armed with two AL-41F1S turbofan engines, each delivering a monstrous 32,000 pounds of thrust, and featuring advanced three-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles, this fighter can handle extreme aerial maneuvers like the Pugachev’s Cobra and Kulbit with ease. It's so well-engineered that it can achieve supercruise - sustained supersonic speed (Mach 1.1) without the use of afterburners, and can reach a max speed of Mach 2.25 (approx. 2,700 km/h).
The Su-35S's cutting-edge Irbis-E (N035) radar system boasts an impressive detection range of up to 400 km and can simultaneously track up to 30 targets while concurrently engaging 8. Its synthetic aperture mode offers high-resolution ground imagery for pinpoint accuracy, while its OLS-35 optoelectronic targeting system facilitates infrared search and track capabilities.
For self-defense against radar and missile threats, the Su-35S is decked out with the L175M Khibiny-M electronic countermeasure system. To further reduce its frontal radar cross-section, the engine inlets and compressor stages are treated with radar-absorbent materials.
Equipped with twelve hardpoints, the Su-35S can carry up to 8,000 kg of weapons, including long-range air-to-air missiles, heavy anti-ship cruise missiles, and assorted air-to-ground precision munitions and guided bombs.
The Su-35S, often hailed as the "Super Flanker," earns its reputation for outstanding aerodynamic performance and combat effectiveness, making it a viable adversary even against newer stealth designs thanks to its advanced tactics. It's a primary air superiority asset for Russia and a sought-after asset in numerous other countries like China and Egypt due to its impressive operational reach and cost (estimated between $85-$104 million, depending on configuration and export status).
The expansion in production capacity, as announced by Vadim Babakha, will also incorporate new facilities aimed at manufacturing equipment for the aerospace industry and finance, such as the Su-35S, given its significance in the finance sector due to its high value and global demand. The production of Su-35S multirole fighters, which serve in the defense and finance sectors, are a testament to the industry's commitment to ensuring the nation maintains its competitive edge in both the military and financial arenas.
