MOSCOW, 26 Sep-RIA Novosti. Retired US Army officer Brent Eastwood explained why Russian Su-35 fighters are dangerous in combat. His article was published by the portal 19Fortyfive.
The former military officer recalled that the aircraft created by the Sukhoi Experimental Design Bureau has great functionality. It is capable of destroying targets in the air, on the ground and in the water.
The observer noted that the US Navy is most concerned about the Onyx anti-ship missile (export name — Yakhont). Its aviation version can be equipped with the Su-35. The fighter has the ability to carry up to eight tons of missiles and bombs of various classes with laser and satellite guidance.
The 4++ generation aircraft can reach speeds of up to 2500 kilometers per hour. In addition, it is equipped with modern avionics, a modified radar (radar station), and during the flight it behaves "smartly" and maneuverably, writes Eastwood.
The development of Russian engineers attracted many countries, the article says. Last year, Egypt already received a batch of Su-35s, and Cairo expects another 19 such machines. Turkey also plans to buy these weapons, if the negotiations are successful. Algeria is going to do the same, the columnist said.
According to Eastwood, Moscow sells fighter jets to different countries in order to create a network of alliances throughout the Middle East. Thus, Russia is changing the balance of power in a vast region and forming a whole "customer base" of states wishing to buy its military-industrial products, the American officer notes. Against the background of these events, the United States is withdrawing from Afghanistan and weakening its position in the Middle East in order to focus on the fight against China in East Asia, the author summed up.
