Sukhoi Su-35

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Sukhoi Su-35


Su-35
Su-35 accompanied by Russian Airborne Troops
Role Air superiority fighter
Manufacturer Sukhoi
First flight May 1988
Status In production
Primary user Russian Air Force
Number built 12
Unit cost US $65 million (estimate)
Developed from Sukhoi Su-30
Variants Sukhoi Su-35BM

The Sukhoi Su-35 (formerly Su-27M) (NATO designation: Flanker-E) is a 4.5 generation heavy class, long-range, multi-role, air superiority fighter and strike fighter. Due to the similar features and components it contains, the Sukhoi Su-35 is considered to be a close cousin of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, a specialized version of the Su-30. It has been further developed into the Su-35BM. The Su-35 is in service in small numbers with the Russian Air Force with 12 in service as of 2008.


Design and development

The Su-35 is an advanced Su-27 derivative and was initially designated Su-27M. The Su-27M development began in the early 1980s. 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. Sukhoi changed Su-27M's designatation to Su-35 in 1993. Later Su-35 prototypes added glass cockpits and modified tailfins.

The first prototype was publicly displayed in 1992 at the Farnborough Airshow. Ten prototypes Su-35s were built with four being converted Su-27s and the others being new-builds. The prototypes were built through 1994, with service slated for 1995. The Russian Air Force received three Su-35s for evaluation in 1996.

Subsequently, the first test flights of an improved Su-35, the Su-37 "Flanker-F", began in 1996 and the transfer of existing Su-35 prototypes to this program appeared to suggest the end of the Su-35 development. Instead, the Su-37 aircraft were eventually reconverted to Su-35s.

The Su-35 shares larger wings and more powerful engines with the Su-27K naval variant and later the Su-33. Other changes from the Su-27 and Su-30 were canards, a larger nose, the greater use of carbon fibre and aluminium-lithium alloy in the airframe, along with larger, "square-off" tail fins.

Modernization

Sukhoi began modernizing the Su-35 in the mid-2000s to provide 4.5 type generation fighter making use of current technologies. The modernised Su-35 will be interim design until the fifth generation PAK FA (T-50). The first modernised Su-35 was recently presented at the MAKS-2007 air show in August 2007. The new Su-35 version first flew on 19 February 2008. The version is now in production with deliveries to customers to begin in 2009. The modernised Su-35 has been referred to as "Su-35BM" (Bolshaya Modernizatsiya - Big Modernization) by some sources, but Sukhoi simply refers to the fighter as "Su-35".

The new Su-35 omits the canards and speedbrake flap from the original Su-35 design. The new design has a reinforced airframe for longer service life and has a reduced radar signature from the front. The modernised 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. 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, has been developed and replaces the current AL-35 or AL-31F. The Su-35 radar has an average power output of 5 kW and a peak output of 20 kW. When the H035 radar was tested on Su-30MK No. 503, the detection range was as far as 290 kilometers with 1 kW power output. The radar system can track up to 30 aerial targets and engage up to 8 of them simultaneously. Or 4 ground targets together with mapping and aerial space tracking. Can detect aerial targets with effective echoing ratio as small as 3 m2 on 400 km distance.

In July 2008, Russia has offered the Su-35 for sale to India, Malaysia and Algeria. The Venezuelan government has shown interest in acquiring several Su-35.

Variants


Su-35UB landing.
Su-35
Single-seat fighter.
Su-35UB
Two-seat fighter and trainer. Features taller vertical stabilizers and a forward fuselage similar to a Su-30.
Su-35BM
Single-seat fighter SU-27SM2 export designation is Su-35BM with upgraded avionics and various modifications to the airframe.

Operators

Russia
  • Russian Air Force

Specifications (Su-35)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 21.9 m (72.9 ft)
  • Wingspan: 15.3 m (50.2 ft)
  • Height: 5.90 m (19.4 ft)
  • Wing area: 62.0 m² (667 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 17,500 kg (38,600 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 25,300 kg (56,660 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 34,500 kg (76,060 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2× Saturn 117S with TVC nozzles turbofans
    • Dry thrust: 8,800 kgf[24] (86.3 kN, 19,400 lbf) each
    • Thrust with afterburner: 14,500 kgf (142 kN, 31,900 lbf) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.25 (2,700 km/h, 1,680 mph) at altitude
  • Range: 3,600 km (1,940 nmi) ; (1,580 km, 850 nmi near ground level)
  • Ferry range: 4,500 km (2,430 nmi) with external fuel tanks
  • Service ceiling 18,000 m (59,100 ft)
  • Rate of climb: >280 m/s (>55,100 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 408 kg/m² (84.9 lb/ft²)
  • Thrust/weight: 1.1

Armament

  • 1× 30 mm GSh-30 cannon with 150 rounds
  • 2× wingtip rails for R-73 (AA-11 "Archer") air-to-air missiles or ECM pods
  • 12× wing and fuselage stations for up to 8,000 kg (17,630 lb) of ordnance, including:
    • Air-to-Air Missiles
      • AA-12 Adder (R-77)
      • AA-11 Archer (R-73)
      • AA-10 Alamo (R-27)
    • Air-to-Surface Missiles
      • AS-17 Krypton (Kh-31)
      • AS-16 Kickback (Kh-15)
      • AS-10 Karen (Kh-25ML)
      • AS-14 Kedge (Kh-29)
      • AS-15 Kent (Kh-55)
      • AS-13 Kingbolt (Kh-59)
    • Bombs
      • KAB-500L
      • KAB-1500 laser/TV Guided Bomb
      • FAB-100/250/500/750/1000

Avionics
Passive phased antenna array.


 

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