Rightardia News was covering the Victory Day parade in Moscow when we ran into old old Cold War adversaries, Boris and Natasha of Rocky and Bullwinkle fame. Boris and Natasha were married right after the Berlin Wall fell and Ronald Reagan 'defeated communism.'
Ah, those were the good old days,” the couple lamented. They were both very proud of a new Russian fighter, the Sukhoi Su-35.
Boris Godunov said that The Sukhoi Su-35, formerly known as Su-27M or NATO Flanker-E is a 4.5 generation heavy, long-range, multi-role, air superiority fighter. The Su-35 is in service with the Russian Air Force with 12 operational aircraft as of 2008. The Su-35 will be interim design until the fifth generation PAK FA (T-50) enters service.
The Su-35 is an advanced Su-27 derivative and was initially designated Su-27M. The Su-35 initially had canards (winglets), improved engines, a newer and more powerful radar, and a digital fly by wire flight control system. It has an improved glass cockpit, an aerial refueling probe, twin-wheel nose gear, greater fuel capacity, and larger tail fins with horizontal carbon fiber tips.
The first prototype was publicly displayed in 1992 at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK. Sukhoi changed its designation for the fighter from Su-27M to Su-35 in 1993. Ten prototypes were built with four being converted Su-27s and the remainder being the Su-35s In total 15 flight Su-35 (Su-27M) aircraft were produced, including a Su-35UB two-seat trainer prototype. The Su-35 has been nicknamed the "Super Flanker".
Modernization
Sukhoi began modernizing the Su-35 in the mid-2000s to provide a 4.5 type generation fighter making use of current technologies. The first modernized Su-35 was recently presented at an air show in August 2007. The new Su-35 version first flew on 19 February 2008. The version that is now in production will be delivered to customers in 2009.
The newest Su-35 omits the canards and speed brake flap from the original design. The new design has a reinforced airframe for longer service life and also has a reduced radar signature from the front. The modernized Su-35's new nose holds an improved passive electronically scanned array radar and many other upgrades to its avionics, electronic systems and a rear-looking radar for firing semi-active radar missiles.
The modernized Su-35's Irbis-E radar has an average power output of 5 kW and a peak output of 20 kW. When the H035 radar was tested on Su-30MK No. 503, the detection range was as far as 290 (180 miles) kilometers. The radar system can track up to 30 aerial targets and engage up to eight at one time.
The new Su-35 reverted back to a canard-less configuration, contrary to the designs of Sukhoi's other recent machines. The canards were added to increase/maintain maneuverability of the planes despite the addition of more modern, significantly heavier (than Su-27) hardware in the nose area. The disadvantage of canards is that they significantly increased drag, thus decreasing efficiency, speed, range, and weapons-carrying capacity. The Su-35 uses composite materials and newer on board electronic packages to make the insides of the aircraft significantly lighter.
Thus, the designers at Sukhoi to do away with the canards while still maintaining operational system characteristics. To maintain maneuverability equal to or better than canard-equipped fighters, the Su-35 uses fully-rotating thrust nozzles on its new powerful 117S Saturn engines.
According to Ria Novosti in 2008, Russia has offered to sell the Su-35 to India, Malaysia and Algeria. The Brazilian Air and Venezuelan Air Forces have expressed interest in purchasing Su-35s to replace their older fighters. Latin American countries showed a big interest in purchasing Russian-made weaponry during a recent arms show in Brazil, stated an official from Russia's state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport. Sukhoi plans to export at least 160 Su-35 fighters to several countries.
Latin America Aero and Defense (LAAD) is the largest and most important biennial event for the Armed Forces and defense industries of Latin American countries. This year it was held on April 14-18 in Rio de Janeiro. Russian aircraft are cost competitive and have been technically superior to American aircraft in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. .
The Su-35 Flanker-E is participating in an ongoing tender for the delivery of over 100 fighters to the Brazilian Air Force. Russia will also start deliveries of 12 Mi-35 Hind attack helicopters to Brazil by the end of 2009.
Ria Novosti also reported a prototype of the advanced Su-35 Flanker multi-role fighter plane burst into flames during take-off at a testing ground in Russia's Far East, a spokesman for the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft plant said on April 27.
Boris said said the accident could have been caused by a faulty fuel pump.
Natasha noted that the super Flanker is equipped with a 30-mm cannon with 150 rounds, and can carry up to eight metric tons of combat payload on 12 external mounts. She gave me a brochure that provided the following specifications.
Basic information:
type | air superiority fighter\manufacturer | Sukhoi
General characteristics:
crew | 1 person\length | 72\' 10"\height | 21\' 1"\wingspan | 49\' 8"
Performance:
range with maximum load | 2485 miles\2160 nmi (nautical miles)\maximum weight | 74 960 lb (pounds)\37.5 short tons\operational ceiling | 59 060 feet
History:
number of aircraft built: 155
“Well, what do you think of our new aircraft?” said Boris and Natasha in unison.
Rightardia News loved the aircraft. “But what about your pilots, we asked them. Can they keep up with our American top guns?
“Sure, said, Natasha, They train like Amerikanski. We don't use Ground Control Intercept anymore. Our pilots always hated being vectored in by ground pounders. We have simulators for them to practice on, too.
Boris and Natasha promised they would show me the new Russian assault rifle the next time we met.
sources: Wikipedia, Wolfram Alpha and Ria Novosti
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