Posted on 09/05/2024 6:34:22 PM PDT by Alter Kaker
Su-35: Russia’s High-Tech Fighter Struggles in Ukraine Conflict
The Su-35 “Flanker-E” was Russia’s attempt to keep pace with their American and Chinese great power rivals. On paper, it’s a powerhouse. In practice, the Su-35 has had a mixed record. This is not because the Russians are incapable of building competitive warplanes.
They’ve got those.
It is more likely because the Su-35 is a Russian warbird that incorporates many Western military components, making the production of these birds difficult as well as the fact the Russians have had to use the Su-35 in ways the plane was not designed to be used. The Su-35 Explained
Here's what we know: the Su-35 is a fourth-generation aircraft. What that means is that it is basically a hybrid between the fourth-generation birds that have existed since the 1970s and the newer, fifth-generation warplanes. This plane is equipped with a state-of-the-art avionics package, it has stealthier capabilities than most fourth-generation warplanes. It can carry a robust suite of weapons into battle. The Su-35 is fast and has a decent range.
Su-35
Moscow envisioned using the bird as a long-range combat platform. In the age of advanced anti-aircraft capabilities, Russia’s military wanted a platform that could launch over-the-horizon strikes on distant enemy targets. But war is the ultimate test. The Ukrainians have innovated tactics to deploy against the Russians, degrading Russia’s obvious advantages in the air war. Phased Away Tracking Radar to Intercept Target (PATRIOT) missile batteries and other anti-aircraft systems have been brought to bear in ways that have forced the Russians to deploy the Su-35 in lower-altitude, closer-range ways. The Enemy Gets a Vote
Of course, the Russians are not the only country that has had to adapt to a dynamic combat environment. For example, in the Second World War, despite being designed to fly at higher altitudes, American and British bombers over Europe were made to fly lower and slower to ensure the accuracy of their bombs. While that was eighty years ago and technology has certainly evolved since those gruesome days of world war, the logic of war remains the same as it always has.
That logic is simple: the enemy always gets a vote.
Therefore, Ukraine has managed to negate the inherent strengths of the Su-35 as an “over-the-horizon” warplane. That doesn’t mean the Su-35 is a slouch. It just means it cannot—and has not—operate to its fullest capabilities because the kind of war it is fighting is fundamentally different from the kind of war it was designed to fight.
Even the manufacturer of the Flanker-E, Komsomolsk-on-Amur has stated that the warplane is not performing as advertised in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The Ukrainians have downed multiple variants of this airplane, and they don’t appear to be abating in their aims to destroy these aircraft.
Su-35
What’s more, Russia needs to have air support flying in at closer ranges and lower altitudes, meaning that the Su-35 will never perform optimally. The Su-35 in Perspective
Still, the Russians have many other warplanes at their disposal, and they’ve been able to handle their own against the innovative Ukrainians in combat. Sure, the Ukrainian military has surged into Russia, taking a 621-mile area, but the Ukrainian forces are spread thin.
The Russians, recovering from the initial shock of the Ukrainian offensive, are likely readying a massive counterattack. Whether the Russian counterattack deploys the Su-35 or not remains to be seen.
Sorry.
Didn’t mean to offend.
I’m not either.
But there are plenty of them around on FR.
Not offended I just thought you might have intended that for someone else!
Russian standards for spares and maintenance don’t help.
yup
“And the Chinese have more nukes than the Rooskies do and they are more likely to work when they push the button”.
China has around 500, Russia has around 6000.... try to keep up.
Yep
You mean the Biden war of attrition /money making machine for the DNC is now over?
The Rushans are lewwwwwzing?
This is not because the Russians are incapable of building competitive warplanes. They’ve got those
—
Name one.
Article is filed with pity for the poor SU-35, the airshow wonder.
The massive counter attack will happen right after they mobilize, which Putin will not and cannot do.
My mistake. Thanks for correcting me.
But, your snippy little comment at the end (”try to keep up”) just lost you a fan as I have always generally agreed with “Desert Rhino”.
No information - data - just opinion. Ukraine-cope
Hard to see China trying that.
China’s largest row crop producing region is located right next to Russia. Furthermore Russia’s largest Soybean producing Oblast is located right next to that. That oblast is primarily farmed by Chinese renters.
Russia could devastate both crop producing regions leaving China with a crop sourcing crisis. Even if China eventually secures both areas, China would be extremely vulnerable. China could not meet its needs with its primary supplier, Brazil. China would need supplemental US soybean production AND upwards of 67% of the entire US corn production.
Why are you calling to your wife for her to bring your boyfriend?
Do you really want to show your wife’s boyfriend how many articles you spam with comments on FR?
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