Sukhoi Su-35

infobox Aircraft
name = Su-35
type = Air superiority fighter
manufacturer = Sukhoi


Russian Airborne Troops
caption =
designer =
first flight = May 1988
introduced =
retired =
status =In production
primary user = Russian Air Force
more users =
produced =
number built = 12 [http://www.warfare.ru/?lang=&catid=255&linkid=1606 SU-35 all-weather counter-air fighter] , Warfare.ru.]
unit cost =US $65 million (estimate) [ [http://www.russiatoday.ru/business/news/27178 RussiaToday : Business : Sukhoi shows off its new super agile fighter] ]
developed from = Sukhoi Su-30
variants with their own articles = Sukhoi Su-35BM

The Sukhoi Su-35 (formerly Su-27M) [http://www.milavia.net/aircraft/su-35/su-35.htm Milavia Aircraft Sukhoi Su-35 Super Flanker] Retrieved: 23 November 2007.] (NATO ) 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. [ [http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=88 Su-35 / Su-37 Super Flanker Multirole Fighter] ] It has been further developed into the Su-35BM. [http://www.aviapedia.com/fighters/su-35bmt-10bm-the-last-flanker Su-35BM/T-10BM : The last Flanker] , Aviapedia.com, April 27, 2007.] 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.Eden, Paul. "Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker'". "Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft". Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1904687849.] 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.Frawley, Gerald. "Sukhoi Su-35 & Su-37". "The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002/2003". Aerospace Publications, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2.] Sukhoi changed Su-27M's designatation to Su-35 in 1993. Later Su-35 prototypes added a glass cockpits and modified tailfins.

The first prototype was publicly displayed in 1992 at the Farnborough Airshow. Eleven prototypes were built through 1994, with service slated for 1995. Subsequently, the first test flights of an improved Su-35, the Su-37 "Flanker-F", 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 is now in production for the Russian Air Force and was recently presented at the MAKS-2007 International Aviation and Space Salon in August 2007.

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. The 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 average output of the Su-35 Radar is 5 kW and a peak output of 20 kW. [ [http://www.upiasiaonline.com/Security/2007/11/23/analysis_china_seeks_new_russian_technology/7924/ Analysis: China seeks new Russian technology] Retrieved: 24 November 2007.]

Variants

;Su-35 : Single-seat fighter.;Su-35UB : Two-seat fighter and trainer. [ [http://www.airwar.ru/enc_e/fighter/su35ub.html Su-35UB Training and combat fighter specifications] , airwar.ru] 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

;RUS
*Russian Air Force

;Potential operators

In July 2008, Russia has offered the Su-35 for sale to India, [cite news | first=Sandeep | last=Dikshit | coauthors= | title=Russia offers to sell state-of-the-art strike fighter | date=17 July 2008 | publisher= | url =http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/17/stories/2008071755201400.htm | work =The Hindu | pages = | accessdate = 2008-07-22 | language = ] Malaysia and Algeria. [ [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/21/nation/21873047&sec=nation "Russia keen to sell latest jet to Malaysia"] , The Star online, 21 July 2008.] The Venezuelan government has shown interest in acquiring several Su-35. [http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=13081489&PageNum=0]

pecifications (Su-35)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet

ref=KNAAPO Su-35 page, [http://www.knaapo.ru/eng/products/military/su-35.wbp Sukhoi Su-35] , KNAAPO.] Su-35 booklet, [http://www.knaapo.ru/media/eng/about/production/military/su-35/buklet_Su35_ENG.zip The Su-35 Fighter booklet] , KNAAPO.] Gordon and Davidson,Gordon and Davison 2006, p. 92.] MAKS 2007 Su-35 display [http://www.aviapedia.com/photos/v/airshows/maks2007/P1010006.jpg.html Sukhoi Su-35 on MAKS 2007 data board] ]
crew=One
length main=21.9 m
length alt=72.9 ft
span main=15.3 m
span alt=50.2 ft
height main=5.90 m
height alt= 19.4 ft
area main=62.0 m²
area alt=667 ft²
empty weight main=17,500 kg
empty weight alt=38,600 lb
loaded weight main=25,300 kg
loaded weight alt=56,660 lb
max takeoff weight main=34,500 kg
max takeoff weight alt=76,060 lb
more general=
engine (jet)=Saturn 117S with TVC nozzles
type of jet=turbofans
number of jets=2
thrust main= 8,800 kgf [ [http://frontierindia.net/npo-saturn-finishes-endurance-tests-for-s-117-engine-meant-for-su-35 "NPO Saturn finishes endurance tests for S-117 Engine meant for Su-35"] , Frontier India, February 11, 2008.]
thrust alt=86.3 kN, 19,400 lbf
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=14,500 kgf
afterburning thrust alt= 142 kN, 31,900 lbf
max speed main=Mach 2.25
max speed alt=2,700 km/h, 1,680 mph
max speed more=at altitude
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
cruise speed more=
range main=3,600 km
range alt= 1,940 nmi
range more=; (1,580 km, 850 nmi near ground level)
ferry range main= 4,500 km
ferry range alt= 2,430 nmi
ferry range more=with external fuel tanks
ceiling main=18,000 m
ceiling alt=59,100 ft
climb rate main= >280 m/s
climb rate alt= >55,100 ft/min
loading main= 408 kg/m²
loading alt= 84.9 lb/ft²
thrust/weight=1.1
more performance=
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. Avionics allows to track up to 30 aerial targets and to 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.

Aircraft lifecycle is 6000 hours or 30 years in service. 117S engine is the major modification of AL-31. It has 1000 hours service period, 1500 hours first overhaul period and 4000 lifetime period. Aircraft controls use a HOTAS design.

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Sukhoi Su-30
* Sukhoi Su-35BM
* Sukhoi Su-37
similar aircraft=
*Eurofighter Typhoon
*F-15E Strike Eagle
*Sukhoi Su-30MKI
lists=
*List of fighter aircraft
*List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS
see also=
*4th generation jet fighter

References

;Notes;Bibliography
* Crosby, Francis. "Sukhoi SU-35". "Fighter Aircraft". London: Lorenz Books, 2002. ISBN 0-7548-0990-0.
* Gordon, Yefim and Peter Davison. "Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker", Specialty Press, 2006. ISBN 978-1-58007-091-1.
* Williams, Mel. "Sukhoi 'Super Flanker' Family". "Superfighters: The Next Generation of Combat Aircraft". Norwalk, CT: AIRtime Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-880588-53-6.

External links

* [http://www.knaapo.ru/eng/products/military/SU-35.wbp JSC "KNAAPO" Su-35 page]
* [http://www.sukhoi.org/eng/planes/military/Su-35/ Su-35 page on Sukhoi.org]
* [http://www.aviapedia.com/designer/sukhoi/official-photos-of-the-brand-new-su-35 Su-35 photos on Aviapedia.com]
* [http://www.fighter-planes.com/stealth2.htm Stealth design SU-35]
* [http://www.warfare.ru/?lang=&catid=255&linkid=1606 SU-35 all-weather counter-air fighter- Russian Military Analysis]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/su-35.htm SU-35 page on Globalsecurity.org]
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=GbWHZC0g9lQ Su-35UB video]