Posted on 05/04/2011 4:36:21 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Advanced Russian jet fighter enters production
May 3, 2011, 13:10 GMT
Moscow - The first production version of a fighter jet that promises to fill a critical gap in Russia's air defences has carried out a successful flight, the Interfax news agency reported Tuesday.
The Sukhoi-35S fighter completed a one-hour test flight Monday above the eastern city of Komsomolsk-Na-Amure without incident, a Sukhoi spokesmen said in a report by Interfax.
The Kremlin ordered 48 of the aircraft in 2009 as part of a 2.5- billion-dollar deal.
The flight marked the first time Russia's current top-line fighter was built start-to-finish in a factory. This and subsequent units will be delivered to the Russian air force, officials said.
The Sukhoi-35 is an upgraded version of the Su-27 fighter jet. Long a mainstay of the Russian air force's fighter arm, the Su-27 first flew in 1992. The first prototype Su-35 flew in 2009.
The Kremlin currently operates about a dozen Su-27 airframe aircraft upgraded to Su-35 capabilities, each modified by hand. Improvements include advanced avionics, more-powerful engines and better maneuverability.
The Su-35's designers say the plane is comparable or superior to any fighter in the world, with the exception of the US-built F-22.
Venezuela, India, Libya and China have expressed interest
(Excerpt) Read more at monstersandcritics.com ...
This is a beautiful looking aircraft but those external “hard points” will sure light up the RADARS!
Another invincible Russian jet that will never see combat.
The best fighter in the world .... for shooting down airliners.
It is a pretty airplane.
I read somewhere that the last IAF top-up order for 42 Su30mki’s was for the Su35 spec aircraft. Considering that the mki’s avionics is not russian, is there much of a change in the basic airframe?
The engines are different, the airframe is lighter (more composites) and nose section is modified for a newer radar and IRSTS set. Though in the same category by weight/role, it’s a different aircraft in many ways. So little by way of commonality.
While it’s likely that there is some Indian interest (the Russians have been hawking it), I presume that the IAF is looking at the SU-34 strike variant for its strategic strike requirement (40 aircraft).
(Smoke generators for show purposes?) '-)
It is not the stuff winning and not the stuff losing battles.
People like to point at Israely-Arab and Gulf wars as an example for failure of Soviet technology but it is just wrong.
As for stuff it is also not fair to compare a T-72 to an A1. They belongs to different eras. Just like Iraqi or Syrian Mig-21/23s were outdated comparing to most US legacy fighters Israel and coalition used.
I think if you are to put a T-90 vs M60, or a latest Flanker vs a F-4 the Soviet will win.
ECM pods.
“with the exception of the US-built F-22.”
And we stopped making them after building only a handful so no sweat there.
What is more spooky is the Russian SU-50. That will be cranking off the production lines really soon.
It fact that Su-35 sell is part of the deal to finance a retooling at KNAAPO factory for mass-producing Su-50 since 2015.
In fact, not SU-50 but T-50 or PAK-FA.
It is not yet known how Sukhoi will finally designate it.
I have seen it designated the “SU-50 Firefox” as far as the NATO callsign is concerned. It is likely also called “SU-50” by Sukhoi.
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