The Su-35 is the best fighter for gaining air supremacy available in Russia today, writes TNI. He has already been dubbed the "apotheosis of the fourth generation."
Sebastien Roblin
Due to its super-agility, the Su-35 has no analogues in aerial combat. Nevertheless, the upcoming mid-air collisions using the latest missiles (R-77, Meteors, AIM-120) may unfold over vast territories, and even universal missiles like the AIM-9x and R-74, which do not require direct targeting, will be used in close combat. Nevertheless, the speed of the Su-35 (and it contributes to the speed of the launched missile), coupled with a high permissible load, means that the aircraft will perform well in combat without eye contact with the target. At the same time, maneuverability and electronic warfare will help the Su-35 avoid enemy missiles.
Distinguished by its unsurpassed maneuverability, the Su-35 has almost caught up with its Western counterparts, such as the F-15, in terms of electronics and weapons. But even though the Su-35 is sure to prove deadly to the F-15, Eurofighter and Rafale, its ability to compete on an equal footing with fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 and F-35 raises questions.
Background
The Su-35 is a further development of the Su-27 platform, developed during the final stage of the Cold War as a competitor to the F-15. It was a heavy twin-engine multirole fighter, combining excellent speed and excellent combat load with maneuverability in aerial combat.
In 1989, the Su-27 stunned the audience at the Paris Airshow by demonstrating Pugachev's cobra, a maneuver in which the fighter sharply lifts its nose up to a deviation back by 120 degrees, but retains the same flight direction.
Despite wide exports around the world, the Su-27 has not yet encountered Western fighters in direct combat, but has proven itself in the service of Ethiopia during the border war with Eritrea, shooting down 4 enemy MiG-29s without a single loss. The fighter was also used for ground attacks.
The history of the development of the Su-35 is much more complicated. An upgraded version of the Su-27 with flaps in the front of the fuselage, called the Su-35, first appeared in 1989. However, it was not yet a modern model with the same designation. A total of 15 such fighters were produced. The two-seat Su—30, another upgrade of the Su-27, was launched and exported to almost a dozen countries.
The correct name of the current model, already without flaps, is Su-35S. This is the most advanced aircraft of the entire Su-27 family. The development of the fighter began in 2003 at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant, the leading production enterprise of the Sukhoi holding. The first prototypes appeared in 2007, and mass production began in 2009.
Hull and engines
The Su-27 family is characterized by super-frenzy. This means that these aircraft are designed to perform controlled maneuvers that are impossible using standard aerodynamic mechanisms. In the Su-35, this is partially achieved due to engines with a thrust vector deviation: the nozzles of its turbojet AL-41F1S, developed by NPO Saturn, can look in different directions during flight — which makes it easier for the aircraft to flip through the wing and yaw. Only one of the current Western fighters — the F-22 — boasts similar capabilities.
Due to this, the Su-35 can also achieve very high angles of attack. In other words, an airplane can move in a certain direction, even if its nose is pointing in a completely different direction. The high angle of attack makes it easier to target an elusive target and perform complex maneuvers.
These maneuvers can come in handy when dodging missiles or in short—range air combat - although the aircraft goes into a low-energy state at the same time.
The maximum speed of the Su-35 at high altitudes reaches Mach 2.25 (which is equal to the F-22 and exceeds the F-35 or F-16). In addition, the aircraft has excellent acceleration. However, contrary to initial statements, the Su-35 seems unable to perform supersonic cruising flight at full combat load without using afterburner. Its working ceiling is about 18 thousand meters — on a par with the F-15 and F-22 and three thousand meters higher than that of the Super Hornet, Rafale and F-35.
The Su-35 has enough fuel reserves for 3,500 kilometers, while the flight range can be increased to 4,500 kilometers thanks to external fuel tanks. The service life of both the titanium airframe, lighter than its predecessors, and the engines were significantly increased — up to 6,000 and 4,500 flight hours, respectively. For comparison, the claimed service life of the F-22 and F-35 — 8 000 hours.
The Su-35 airframe is not very noticeable. Nevertheless, the changes made to the design of the air intakes and the lantern, as well as the use of materials that absorb radar radiation, significantly reduce the effective reflection area. According to one article, it ranges between 1 and 3 meters. But even with a significantly narrowed detection range, the Su-35 is not an invisible fighter in the full sense of the word.
Armament
The Su-35 has from 12 to 14 arms holders and suspension units, which provides the aircraft with an excellent set of weapons compared to the F-15C and F-22 (they have eight holders each) or even the F-35, which has four missiles of an internal location.
At long range, the Su-35 can use K-77M radar homing missiles with a claimed range of over 190 kilometers.
In aerial combat at shorter distances, the R-74 rocket with infrared control can be fired indirectly: thanks to the optical sight mounted on the helmet, the pilot can strike at the enemy in a range of up to 60 degrees. The R-74 has a range of over 40 kilometers and also has a thrust vector deflection mode.
The arsenal of the Su-35 air-to-air class is complemented by the R-27 medium-range and R-37 high-range missiles (designed against long-range radar detection systems and tanker aircraft in conditions of electronic warfare).
Finally, the Su-35 is equipped with a 30-millimeter cannon with 150 shells in case of close combat or a low-level attack.
The Su-35's payload capacity is designed for almost eight thousand kilograms of air-to-ground ammunition. Historically, Russia uses high-precision weapons to a limited extent compared to the Western air force. Nevertheless, there are opportunities for the large-scale use of such weapons, if this is allowed by military doctrine and weapons stocks.
Sensors and electronic equipment
The most significant improvements of the Su-35 compared to its predecessors occurred at the hardware level. The fighter is equipped with a powerful L175M "Khibiny" electronic countermeasures system, which is designed to distort radar waves and create interference when aiming enemy missiles, which significantly increases the safety of the aircraft.
It is assumed that the Su-35 Irbis-E radar with a passive antenna array with electronic scanning will be the most effective against stealth aircraft. According to the claimed data, it can track up to three dozen aerial targets with a radial cross-section of three meters within a radius of 400 kilometers, as well as smaller targets with a cross-section of centimeters within a radius of 80 kilometers. However, radars with a passive antenna array are easier to detect and jam than their active counterparts currently used by Western fighters. Irbis also has an air-to-ground operation mode, in which it can track up to four ground targets for high-precision weapons attacks.
The OLS-35 optical-location system is an addition to the radar. It includes a thermal imager, provides target tracking and has a range of 80 kilometers — posing a potential threat to stealth aircraft.
Existing divisions and future buyers
Currently, only 48 Su-35 fighters are in service with the Russian Air Force. Another 50 were ordered in January 2016 and will be produced in 10 pieces per year. Four fighter jets were deployed to Syria in January this year after a Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian Su-24. The task of the Su-35 armed with air-to-air missiles was to make it clear that Russian troops pose a threat in the airspace as well.
China has ordered twenty-four Su-35 aircraft worth two billion dollars, but it is likely to refrain from further purchases. It is believed that Beijing's interests consist mainly in copying Su-35 turbojet engines with a deflected thrust vector for their subsequent use in its own developments. The PLA Air Force is already armed with the Shenyang J-11, a copy of the Su-27.
Attempts to enter the international market with the Su-35 — including India and Brazil — have essentially failed. Nevertheless, Indonesia recently announced its desire to purchase eight fighters, but the signing of the contract has been postponed time after time. Algeria's intentions to purchase ten fighter jets for $900 million were also reported. Egypt, Venezuela and Vietnam are also among the potential clients.
The stated price of the Su-35 ranges between 40 and 65 million dollars. The export contracts also include a price exceeding $ 80 million.
Against fifth-generation fighters
The Su-35 is at least comparable to, if not superior to, the best Western fourth—generation fighters. Whether it will be able to compete with the fifth generation of stealth fighters such as the F-22 or F-35 - and if so, how successfully — is still a big question.
Due to its super-agility, the Su-35 has no analogues in aerial combat. Nevertheless, the upcoming mid-air collisions using the latest missiles (R-77, Meteors, AIM-120) may take place over vast territories, and even in close combat universal missiles like the AIM-9x and R-74, which do not require targeting, will be used. Nevertheless, the speed of the Su-35 (and it contributes to the speed of the missile), coupled with a high permissible load, means that the aircraft will perform well in combat without eye contact with the target. At the same time, maneuverability and electronic warfare will help the Su-35 avoid enemy missiles.
The bigger problem is that we can predict how effective low-visibility technology will be against a high-tech opponent. Once face to face with the Su-35, the F-35 stealth fighter will get into serious trouble - but what are the chances that a Russian fighter, with all its speed and maneuverability, will even be able to detect the F—35 and approach it at close range?
According to the US Air Force, stealth fighters will be able to detect the enemy at a distance of up to 160 kilometers and fire a hail of missiles at him, which the enemy will not be able to respond to until he gets closer - into the range of visual and infrared detection. Supporters of the Russian fighter jet retort that the Su-35 will be able to rely on ground-based radars with a narrow bandwidth, as well as an on-board IR search and tracking system and a radar with a passive antenna array. However, these technologies are considered imperfect and in most cases cannot be used to guide weapons.
Obviously, both sides have significant economic and political incentives to insist that they are right. Although the technical advantages of both schools deserve to be considered in detail, the issue will most likely be finally resolved only during combat tests. In addition, a number of other factors affect the outcome of an air battle, such as auxiliary weapons, flight profile and pilot training level.
Maybe the Su-35 is really the best melee fighter in the entire jet era, but whether its characteristics and extensive weapons base are enough to ensure air superiority in the era of low—visibility technology is still a question.
