Sukhoi Su-35

The Sukhoi Su-35 (formerly Su-27M) (NATO reporting name: '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

 Su-27M/Su-35

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. Other changes made were glass cockpit, aerial refueling probe, twin-wheel nose gear, more powerful radar, two additional underwing pylons, additional fuel capacity, and larger tail fins with horizontal carbon fibre tips

The first prototype was publicly displayed in 1992 at the Farnborough Airshow. Sukhoi changed its designation for the fighter from Su-27M to Su-35 in 1993. Ten prototypes Su-35s were built with four being converted Su-27s and the others being new-builds. Three production Su-27Ms were completed in 1996 and delivered to Russian Air Force (VVS) that year for testing. Five Su-35s have been used by the Russian Knights display team. In total 15 flight Su-35 (Su-27M) aircraft were produced, including a Su-35UB two-seat prototype. Two Su-35s were modified into Su-37s in the mid to late 1990s.^[ The Su-35 has been nicknamed "Super Flanker".

 Modernisation

Sukhoi began modernizing the Su-35 in the mid-2000s to provide a 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) enters service.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-31F or AL-35. The modernised Su-35's 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 eight.

The new Su-35 reverts back to a canard-less configuration, contrary to the designs of Sukhoi's other recent machines- the Su-30MKI and the Su-37. The canards were needed to increase/maintain maneuverability of the planes despite the addition of more modern, significantly heavier (than Su-27) hardware in the nose area. The disadvantage of canards is that they significantly increase drag, thus decreasing efficiency, speed, range, and weapons-carrying capacity. The Su-35 uses composite materials and newer on board electronic packages to make the insides of the aircraft significantly lighter, especially in the nose area. This allowed the designers at Sukhoi to do away with the Canards and their disadvantages while still keeping up high operational system characteristics. The lightness of the new design has actually allowed an increase in both fuel and weapons-carrying capacity as compared to earlier Su fighters. To maintain maneuverability equal to or greater than canard-equipped fighters, the Su-35 uses fully-rotating vectoring thrust nozzles on its new powerful Saturn engines

In July 2008, Russia has offered the Su-35 for sale to India,Malaysia and Algeria. The Brazilian Air Force, and Venezuelan Air Force have expressed interest in purchasing Su-35s to replace their older fighters.

 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 Su300.

Su-35BM 

Single-seat fighter with upgraded avionics and various modifications to the airframe.

Operators

 Russia

• Russian Air Force

Specifications

 Su-27M

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: 18,400 kg (40,500 lb)
• Loaded weight: 25,700 kg (56,660 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 34,000 kg (75,000 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Saturn/Lyulka AL-31FM turbofan
  • Dry thrust: 7,600 kgf (74.5 kN, 16,750 lbf) each
  • Thrust with afterburner: 12,800 kgf (126 kN, 28,200 lbf) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.35 (2,500 km/h, 1,553 mph) at altitude
• Range: 4,000 km (2,160 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,100 ft)

Su-35, 2000s version

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 turbofan
• • Dry thrust: 8,800 kgf (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(2,410 km/h, 1,500 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: 1.14

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.