The Sukhoi Su-35, known as Flanker-E, is a Russian all-weather fighter aircraft. It is based on the Soviet Su-27 Flanker, which was developed furing the Cold War. When this fighter was upgraded into the Su-27M in 1987, it would be called Su-35 from 1995. The difference between the two jet aircraft is that Su-35 has more powerful engines, which gives it twice the payload capacity of its predecessor. The Flanker-E has also more advanced avionics and more hard-points to carry more missiles and bombs.
The Su-35 was introduced into service on February 20, 2014. Produced by Sukhoi Design Bureau, approximately 150 aircraft have been delivered to the Russian Air Force so far, as of 2023, most of them in the Su-35S variant, which has a new weapons control system. Its N035 Irbis-e passive electronically scanned array radar, with pulse Doppler tracker, empowers it to detect enemy targets beyond the horizon as it has a range of about 600 km. Its tailboom is fitted with a Phazotron NIIR defense radar. Meanwhile, its fuselage has an increase in titanium and aluminum alloys.
Specifications
Type: Multi-role fighter
Length: 21.9 m (71 ft, 10 inch)
Wingspan: 15.3 m (50 ft, 2 inch)
Wing Area: 62 square meters
Height: 5.9 m (19 ft, 4inch)
Power Plant: two Saturn AL-41F1S afterburning turbofan engines
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.25 at high altitudes; Mach 1.2 at low levels.
Ceiling: 18,000 m (59,000 ft)
Crew: 1.
Below, the Sukhoi Su-27M, now officially known as Su-35, on a Russian military base.
The Su-35, Flanker-E, taking off from the runway of airbase in the Ural region.
