Su-35S in flight (Photo : Tass)
China expects to take delivery of 24 Sukhoi Su-35S multi-role air superiority fighters later this year or by early 2017. This jet is considered by Russia as the best generation 4.5 jet fighter in the world, and superior even to the U.S. F-15 Eagle and F/A-18 Hornet.
China is the first foreign customer for this high-tech fighter whose NATO reporting name is Flanker-E+. The deal is worth about $2 billion to Russia.
Russian military sources said the Su-35S bound for China will include many modifications indicated by the Chinese. It said these modifications, among which were the aircraft displays, were jointly designed by China and Russia.
The arrival of the modified Su-35S caps over a decade of often difficult negotiations in which the deal was cancelled and re-negotiated again and again. The deal was closed in November 2015 when Rostec, the Russian state corporation responsible for military export sales, clinched the sale with China.
The long-range Su-35S has a maximum range without external fuel tanks of 3,600 kilometers and 4,500 km with external fuel tanks, which allows the jet to easily make the round trip from Hainan to Manila. Its maximum speed is 2,500 km/h.
It has gained fame for its incredible maneuverability, due mostly to its two Saturn 117S (AL-41F1S) afterburning turbofans with 3D thrust vectoring nozzles.
Reports said a key reason for China's acquisition of the Su-35 is its thrust-vectoring engine. Despite developing fourth generation fighters, China still lags behind Russia and the West in higher performance fighter engines.
There is speculation China won't order more Su-35S' but will instead focus on advancing its domestic fighter programs, especially its fifth generation fighters such as the Chengdu J-20 heavy stealth fighter.
As for weapons, the Su-35S has 12 external bays for guided air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles and bombs, and two bays for electronic warfare pods. It has a maximum combat load of 8,000 kg. The jet is also armed with a GSh-30-1 30 mm autocannon with 150 rounds.
