Sukhoi Su-35S Flanker-M: The Last Flanker

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Sukhoi Su-35S Flanker-M: The Last Flanker

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Hi and welcome to my (reworked) 3rd suggestion, which is about the Su-35S, hope you like it. :popcorn:

First of all:

  • Feel free to share more Information and / or correct me if something is wrong
  • Discuss respectfully, any aggressive kind or verbal abuse will be reported, the Forum rules also apply here

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Background History

The Su-35 designation was originally used for the highly modernized Su-27M (T-10M) programme of the late Soviet era. First displayed internationally as the Su-35 in 1992, the aircraft featured canards, improved avionics, upgraded engines and multirole capability. Although numerous prototypes were built (701–712), only three serial production aircraft (Red 86, 87 and 88) entered service. Prototype 711, fitted with thrust-vectoring AL-31FU engines, became the Su-37 demonstrator, while 710 later served as a testbed for the AL-41F-1S engine. Following the cancellation of the T-10M programme in 1996, most aircraft were retired or preserved as museum exhibits.
At the turn of the century, a review of the national Air Force’s needs for the foreseeable future, as well as global aircraft market forecasts, identified the requirement for a more radical modernization of the Su-27, building on the foundation that had previously been laid. To make the airplane competitive compared to existing and future foreign fighters, it was required not only to significantly improve airborne equipment and weapons, but also to alter the airframe structure and power generation. As a result, the general concept of a new multi-purpose fighter – a thoroughly-modernized version of the Su-27 airplane – was generated by the middle of the first decade of the new century, resulting in the T-10BM demonstrators and later the production Su-35S - geniually retaining the name Su-35. Work on this project at Sukhoi Design Bureau was led by I. Demin.
Designed as a “4++ generation” fighter, the aircraft incorporated a from front to back redesigned airframe, reduced weight through use of composite materials, modern digital avionics, the new N035 Irbis-E Radar and AL-41F-1S engines with thrust-vectoring. The first prototypes were Su-35-0, #901, #902 and #904; with #904 later being lost in an accident. The Su-35S entered Russian service as an interim high-end fighter bridging the gap between upgraded Flankers and fifth-generation aircraft. The Su-35S has not been succesfully exported yet. Only China, Russia and potentially Iran are known operators of the Su-35S(E). Another export candidate is Indonesia, who may receive eleven Su-35SE soon, ordered in 2018.

Armament of the Su-35S

The Su-35S’s armament is identical to that of the Su-30SM2, which is already in the game. The 30mm GSh-30-1 with a 150-round magazine remains the primary armament, while the air-to-air and air-to-ground missile arsenal has been slightly expanded; new R-77M and R-37M missiles for medium- to long-range engagements, as well as the Kh-58UShKE and new Kh-31PM/AM missiles with improved seekers and new engines for an increased range of up to 250 km.

Air-to-Air Missiles

  • 6x R-73
  • 6x R-74M

  • 4x R-27ET
  • 8x R-27ER

  • 6x R-37M
  • 10x R-77M
  • 12x R-77-1

Dumb-/Guided- Rockets / Bombs

  • 120x S-8
  • 30x S-13
  • 6x S-25

  • 10x FAB-500
  • 32x OFAB-250-270

  • 8x KAB 500Kr / -S
  • 3x KAB-1500Kr / -LG / -S
  • 8x UPAB-500
  • 3x UPAB-1500

Air-to-Surface Missiles

  • 2x Kh-59M
  • 6 x Kh-38MT / ML

  • 6x Kh-31PD / PM
  • 6x Kh-58UShKE

  • 6x Kh-31AD / AM
  • 4x Kh-59MK

Other / Pods

  • 1x T220
  • 1x APK-9

  • 2x L265M10R
  • 2x L175M

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Specifications, Electronics and Internal

In practical terms, nearly every aspect of the Su-35S was redesigned compared to earlier Flanker variants. The cockpit, airframe, engines, avionics and mission systems were all extensively modernized. While retaining the Su-27’s basic aerodynamic layout, the aircraft incorporates the N035 Irbis-E radar, the Type 4283 wing-mounted AESA IFF / ESM arrays, the L150-35 radar warning receiver and missile approach warning as well asl laser warning systems. The use of radar-absorbent materials (RAM) further reduces the aircraft’s radar signature.
The cockpit received a complete digital redesign centred around two large MFD-35 colour displays measuring 230 x 305 mm, supplemented by additional multifunction displays and the IKSh-1M wide-angle head-up display with a 20 x 30-degree field of view.
Target detection capabilities were further enhanced through the OLS-35 IRST, which surpasses the earlier OLS-27M and OLS-30 by incorporating a television channel and a more powerful laser rangefinder with a range increased from approximately 10 km to 20 km.

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 21.93 m
  • Wingspan: 14.70 m
  • Height: 5.9 m
  • Max. takeoff weight: 34500 kg
  • Powerplant: 2x Saturn AL-41F-1S
    • dry thrust: 86,3 kN
    • afterburner thrust: 137 kN
    • full afterburner thurst: 142,2 kN
  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.25
    • 1450km/h at sea level
    • 2284km/h at altitude
  • Service ceiling: 15.250 m
  • Rate of climb: >280 m/s
  • Maximum g-load: +9g / -3g

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Thanks for your time, hope you liked it :salute:
[Will add more if there are some (more) important / declassified things]
[PM or comment if a Link or Picture isn´t working]

Sources:

Links

Sukhoi/KnAAPO Su-35BM/Su-35-1/Su-35S Flanker
Su-35 Flanker-E Multirole Fighter - Airforce Technology
Suchoi Su-35S: Neue „Flanker“ für Russlands Luftwaffe
Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E / Super Flanker) Multirole Heavy Combat Fighter Aircraft
http://roe.ru/eng/catalog/aerospace-systems/engines/al-41f-1s/
Su-35S Flanker-E Multirole Fighter | Thai Military and Asian Region
Russian Defense Ministry receives last three Su-35S fighters under 5-year contract - Military & Defense - TASS
http://roe.ru/esp/catalog/las-fuerzas-aeroespaciales/combatientes/su-35/
MILAVIA Aircraft - Sukhoi Su-35 (Su-27BM) "4++ Generation Flanker"
Su-35S – Su-27 Flanker Family
Su-35BM – Su-27 Flanker Family
Su-27M (Su-35) – Su-27 Flanker Family
https://www.deagel.com/Sensor Systems/OLS-35/a001926
Sukhoi 35 - The Super flanker - Full Afterburner
View topic - Su-35S with Ka band antenna on RWR. • F-16.net
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/stealth-no-more-russias-su-35-fighter-might-be-able-track-f-22-raptor-53137
https://www.keymilitary.com/article/world-class-flanker
Assessing the Tikhomirov NIIP L-Band Active Electronically Steered Array
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Assessing-the-Tikhomirov-NIIP-L-Band-Active-Steered-Kopp/9447f71a2b5af42b1f042961e7cea9e820e6ed5a
https://tostpost.com/business/26196-characteristics-of-the-su-35-su-35-specifications-photos-of-the-fighte.html
https://issuu.com/aviationlive/docs/to15/35
A ameaça Sukhoi Su-35S, o Flanqueador E+ – Tecnomilitar
Sukhoi 35 - The Super flanker - Full Afterburner
https://www.key.aero/article/sukhoi-su-35-ultimate-flanker
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9089567
http://sukhoitributeenglish.blogspot.com/

PDF Document - The Military Balance 2021
PDF Document - Interview with Yuri Bely
PDF Document - Russian and Chinese Combat Air Trends

Book / Other:
-Sukhoi Su-27 - Yefim Gordon - Midland Publishing 2007
-Su-27 The History of the Fighter - Andrei Fomin - Publishing 2004
-Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E - Russia´s 4th ++ Generation Super-Manouverbility Fighter - Hugh Harkins - Publishing 2015
-Su-57 Felon (Modern Military Aircraft Series 2) - Piotr Butowski - Publishing 2022

33 Likes
2

Better change to Iran it seems

6x

7 Likes
3

image

Two-seater advanced Flanker alert.

2 Likes
4

+1

1 Like
5

But I’m not sure that Sukhoi Flanker two-seat in this image it might be Su-27PU (Su-30) or Su-30M2

1 Like
6

The spine has a higher wall against the wso seat rear visibility is reduced in two seaters. Single seat the pilot has more visibility and the back was is not as high. Additionally if you zoom in you can make out the center canopy bow.

Of course, all highly speculatory.

7

Can Fox-3 be fired via electro-optical? I saw this done in DCS, wasn’t sure if it’s a actual possibility.

1 Like
8

That is a really great question.

I do not believe so at range because the radar on missile has no optical seeker to handshake and pass over the data and translate to a radar picture.

I believe that is fake in DCS. Unless its some advanced hybrin IR missile.

Let me explain a little better, a fox 3 as you know is a radar missile.
Its seeker is an actual radar and fire control. It does not turn on until it is launched and enters the terminal phase or when fired in ACM Active, where the radar on the missile is switched on while it’s still on the aircraft and it becomes a glorified sidewinder and locks close range targets.

Without its radar or the host aircrafts radar to launch and guide it, all it has after launch is inertial guidance which is capable of hitting targets but non maneuvering.

Maybe really advanced fox 3 missiles have electro optical compatibility, but I will have no idea if they do. But then again, they would no longer be active homing missiles and more of an advanced IR missile like the python 5.

9

While Rafale, F-15J (only tested) and maybe Eurofighter (I am only aware of these atm) are able to guide missiles with IRST Data (likely with some backup help from Radar, subject for more research), I don’t remember reading that Flankers were able to do that.

1 Like
10

Is there any possibility that the aircraft onboard IRST would track the target and update target information via datalink to the missile until it’s in terminal phase? That seems to be how the R-77 could be fired with IRST lock in DCS.

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11

I do not believe brother because IRST cannot determine range. You need a signal to bounce off the target. IRST is line of sight, very susceptible to range and weather as its literally a camera.

Radar is always superior. Additionally, advances in TWS can mask the launch of a Fox 3 . Its much harder IRL than WT to know you been attacked by the Aim54 and other active missiles fired from the Flanker.

I believe it is fake in DCS. Then again, I am not an expert.

1 Like
12

IRST has LRF and it posible to use radar+irst at same time with radar determining range and IRST angular coordinates. And for fox-3 going active from the rails you need only angular coordinates.

13

A laser range finder must produce an actual electromagnetic signal and “laze” a target. That means it is susceptible to be warned by active protection systems.

IRST is not detectable as its purely a receiver, a camera.

Can you show me where the camera itself produces a laser?

So an IRST on the Russian platforms not only is a camera, but also produces a laser beam to determine range? Very high tech. Regardless a laser range finder will give away position against advanced missile warning receivers.

Additionally. Lasers are still highly susceptible to distance and weather. Radar is always superior and why they keep cramming them in the nose of fighters.

I am very skeptical this is a real thing. But open to anything.

14

If the IRST has a range finder then why is the radar needed at the same time?

The statement is contradicting as you first mention it has a LRF, but then say you must use the radar in conjuction with IRST.

using a radar and LRF completely negates the advantage of the IRST. Which is to target without alerting the opponent they are being targeted.

It is a passive system, like IR seeker missiles.

15

A fox 3 that is active on the rail means the radar is on. That is the definition of going active.

The radar of the missile is already on and therefore giving off an RWR warning.

16

Becouse range of LRFs are much lower than range of radars

2 Likes
17

Original question was about launching fox-3s via IRST (the same way you can fire fox-2 via irst - give angular data to seeker where should it look).

1 Like
18

With what data though? The fox 3 cannot visually detect a heat source. How is that data translated to the fire control of the R-77. It does not haven an IR seeker along with a radar afik.

Additionally, unless the IRST keeps the target lazed, the missile is blind unless it turns its own radar on or uses the data from the firing aircrafts radar.

It can use inertial guidance but in the terminal phase the radar goes on regardless. Thus giving off an RWR.

You go me confused so I am genuinely asking how btw. I am only sarcastic with Mig23.

19

Are any of these fox 3s GPS guided? I was thinking that may be a possibility. Just to assist until the terminal in which a radar must still go on.

20

Wdym? It’s literally what it’s supposed to do.

IRST locks on targets, calculates its angular coordinates in the coordinate system relative to the aircraft, FCS transfers angular coordinates to fox-3 seeker where to look (like it does with fox-2), so it looks at same point where IRST looks and locks by its seeker.
I’m not saying that it is a thing with R-77 or anything else, I don’t know for sure, just that I don’t think it’s imposible to do so.

3 Likes