Russia’s MiG-35, comically dubbed a fourth-generation “+++” fighter, is an overrated “paper tiger” that has been a non-factor in the Ukraine war. With only a handful of aircraft in service, the program is a failure, plagued by significant drawbacks. It lacks its intended advanced AESA radar, its missiles are outmatched, its engines are aging, and its electronic warfare suite is subpar. Instead of a revolutionary dogfighter, the MiG-35 is a symbol of the Russian aviation industry’s inability to deliver on its ambitious promises, making it another costly and ineffective platform.