The SU-35 aircraft is known as a multi-role fighter, which has the ability to show its best qualities in confrontation with an air enemy. It can also deliver powerful high-precision strikes from long distances on targets on land, at sea and in the air.
The SU-35 fighter (according to the NATO version of Flanker-E +) is
an airship with super-maneuverability. It was created on the basis of the T-10S Sukhoi Design Bureau platform. MIG-35 and SU-35 - aircraft generation 4 ++. This is not the last word of military equipment, but close to that.
The term “Generation 4 ++” shows that the performance characteristics of the SU-35 are almost at the level of the fifth generation. To assign the aircraft to the fifth generation did not allow the lack of stealth characteristics and a phased active array.
The SU-35 aircraft appeared as a result of a deep modernization of the SU-27, a machine with excellent flight parameters. Multilateral modernization led to the creation of a new fighter. Innovations affected the design, equipment, capabilities and goals.
The beginning of the way
Prototype SU-35 "Russia" made its first take-off in the spring of 1985. The new aircraft retained its resemblance to the SU-27, but significantly changed its aerodynamic characteristics.
Describe aircraft weapons can only be in superlatives. This is a record number of missiles for fighters - 14. The total combat load of the vehicle is 8 tons.
History
2006 was the year of release of the installation batch of machines. The premiere prototype was released in 2007. A year later, the first flights began. By March 2009, the novelty had already made one hundred flights.
At the MAKS-2009 air forum, the Air Force signed a contract with the manufacturer for 48 cars until 2015. Based on the results of the contract, the country's military department plans to conclude a similar contract until 2020.
In 2010, information appeared on the results of preliminary tests that proved the machine's compliance with the required parameters for super-maneuverability and the availability of on-board equipment.
The first six SU-35S as part of the serial production of the Ministry of Defense received in 2012. After 2 months, his state tests started.
Further news items look like this:
- 2013 - 12 pcs.;
- 2014 - 12 pcs.
Features
As already mentioned, the SU-35 fighter is a modernized Su-27. Airplane braking during landing is carried out by deflecting rudders to the sides.
The SU-35S aircraft has AL-41F1S engines with a controlled thrust vector. The engine was developed by the scientific and production company Saturn. The engines comply with the conditions that must be met for the most modern fighters. Although the aircraft has an old control system, it allows it to move without afterburning at a speed above the speed of sound.
The resource of the aircraft is thirty years or 6000 flight hours.
Glider
SU-35, whose technical characteristics are similar in design to the device with its predecessor SU-27, is rightly proud of its flight characteristics.
Its difference from its predecessor is that its edge is processed with special materials. In addition, the cabin lamp has a special conductive spraying. There is no braking plate and horizontal tail.
Engines
Like other units, the power plant has undergone changes in the SU-35. Engine specifications meet the requirements for the fifth generation of aircraft.
In addition to the main jet engines of the AL-41F1S aircraft, which it has two, the SU-35 is equipped with an additional gas turbine engine with a capacity of 105 kilowatts, TA14-130-35. It is intended for use in an additional power plant, which allows consumers with power up to 30 kVA to be supplied with alternating current 200V and 115V and to condition the cabin and compartments.
Technical specifications
- The crew is 1 person.
- The wing area reaches 62 m².
- The sweep angle of the wings is 42 °.
- Length, m - 21.90.
- Height, m - 5.90.
- The wingspan is 14.75 m.
- An empty aircraft has a mass of 19 tons, a working take-off mass of 25 tons, a maximum mass of 34 tons, a fuel load of 11 tons.
- Engines: turbojet weighing 1520 kg, having an afterburner and a controlled thrust vector, AL-41F1S. Thrust: 2 × 8800 kgf; afterburner: 2 × 14 500 kgf.
Flight parameters
Designers ensured the super-maneuverability of the SU-35. Technical characteristics of the aircraft and its flight parameters are given below:
- Max speed at low altitudes - 1400 km / h.
- Speed at high altitudes - 2500 km / h.
- Flight range: at an altitude of 3.6 km - 4500 km, at an altitude of 200 m - 1580 km.
- Mileage: with a parachute for braking, normal take-off mass, the use of brakes - 650 m, take-off run with full afterburner - 450 m.
- The ceiling is 20 kilometers.
- Rate of climb - 280 m / s.
- Wing load: maximum take-off weight - 611 kg / m², normal - 410 kg / m².
As we can see, the speed of the SU-35 is very decent.
Armament
- The combat load is 8 tons.
- 12 places of suspension weapons.
The aircraft has several types of weapons:
- small arms;
- guided air-to-air missiles;
- unguided missiles and bombs;
- guided air-to-surface missiles.
Of the small arms and cannon armament, the aircraft has a built-in automatic single-barrel gun GS-301 of 30 mm caliber of increased rate of fire. The gun is located on the right half of the wing and has an ammunition of 150 rounds.
The SU-35 missile and bomb weapons are located on launching devices, ejection devices and beam holders.
Arms suspension locations:
- wing consoles - 6 pcs.;
- wingtips - 2 pcs.;
- engines - 2 pcs.;
- center section - 2 pcs.
From air-to-air armament, an aircraft can carry 8 R-27 medium-range missiles with radar or thermal homing heads. You can still use up to 10 homing missiles RVV-AE with radar heads or up to 6 short-range missiles R-73, with thermal homing heads.
The air-to-surface armament may include 6 X-29T, X-29L and S-25LD homing missiles with laser heads. In addition to missiles, the aircraft can be armed with adjustable bombs. To combat enemy ships, X-31A anti-ship missiles are used.
Unguided air-to-surface weapons can reach 8 tons. The number of bombs can reach 16 pcs.
Avionics
SU-35, the technical characteristics of the radar which provide him with air supremacy, is capable of detecting targets even at long range.
Parameters of the radar station:
- The diameter of the phase antenna array, cm - 0.9.
- It works in the frequency range - 8-12 GHz.
- Viewing angle - 240 °.
- The number of transceivers is 1772.
- Operating power - 5000 watts.
- The maximum power is 20,000 watts.
- Targets are found for heading courses with scattering areas of 3 m² at a distance of 350-400 km, with an effective scattering area of 0.01 m², a distance of 90 km.
- At the same time 8 targets are fired.
- At the same time, target designation and detection of 30 targets in the air or 4 on the ground.
Radar N035 Irbis is capable of detecting targets with a scattering area of 3 m² at a distance of up to 400 km. The radar station is strengthened by an optoelectronic integrated system and an optical radar station.
In addition to the electronic countermeasures already available at the SU-35, group electronic defense stations can be involved.
A holographic indicator, which is located on its windshield, and two displays operating in multi-screen mode are installed in the pilot's cabin.
In addition, there is a complex L-150-35, warning about exposure.
The optical location station allows you to accompany 4 air targets at a distance of up to 80 kilometers. Infrared sensors carry out a missile attack warning.
For electronic warfare, the fighter is equipped with containers.
Combat equipment
The SU-35 is armed with air-to-air guided missiles. They can be of different types in range and guidance method. Ground and surface targets, the pilot can hit missiles with television guidance, aerial bombs of controlled and uncontrolled type.
Particularly impressive is the noise-resistant radar of the aircraft. It makes it possible to find air chains at a distance of 400 km. Ground detection range - 200 kilometers.
Comparison with F-35
The manufacturer defines the SU-35 as a 4 ++ machine, that is, having a number of properties inherent in the fifth generation. The ability to shoot down stealth aircraft gives the fighter its super maneuverability. SU-35 technical specifications somewhat different .
The propulsion system of the aircraft makes it possible to make complex maneuvers. Piloting SU-35 makes it possible to perform both the “Pugachev cobra” and the “Frolov chakra”.
European experts are somewhat skeptical of over-maneuverability, believing that in real combat low visibility is much more important than increased maneuverability. Stealth - a characteristic that a fighter possesses initially. Many experts believe that compliance with stealth requirements was the main requirement of F-35 customers. Since it has low visibility, it does not need high maneuverability.
However, on the other hand, despite the great importance of stealth technology for a fighter, it is not an invisible cloak. Knowledge of conducting air battles is constantly updated. First-generation military and post-war aircraft used altitude, high speed, maneuverability and combat power as priority tasks. For next generations, the requirements have changed somewhat: the speed of the SU-35 became the main one, then - maneuverability.
Experts praised the maneuvers performed by the SU-35 fighter at the Paris air show. Of course, they do not mean a definite victory in the air, but the flight path, which cannot be predicted, can cause malfunctions of enemy missile guidance programs. At the same time, the SU-35 itself is capable of releasing short-range missiles with a maximum probability of hitting an enemy aircraft.
F-35 to the maximum extent is dependent on its low visibility and tries to avoid collisions in close air combat ("stabbing" is contraindicated to him). Close combat gives significant advantages of the SU-35. The Russian machine has a large arsenal of weapons, a high flight range. But the main hobby of the SU-35 is its super maneuverability, which legends make up. This characteristic has become a business card of these aircraft. The cost of the SU-35 for the Russian Armed Forces is approximately $ 40 million.
Buyers SU-35
Soon, an order from the Ministry of Defense for these fighters is possible. In addition, four more foreign customers are interested in airplanes.
Aircraft can be delivered to China, Vietnam, Venezuela and Indonesia. 24 units can be delivered to China. Another 60 aircraft await the rest of the country.
Until 2020, the number of cars produced can be brought up to 96 units. Currently, the completion of the contract for 48 fighters for the Russian Air Force. The press reported that it is planned to order an additional batch of machines.
conclusions
Thus, we can conclude that the SU-35 is an unusually efficient machine. Perhaps the best created in Russia. At the same time, assessing the prospects of the SU-35 in the fight against the Raptor without their collision in a real battle is very difficult, since it is not known what will outweigh the stealth and electronic filling or super maneuverability.