Russia’s Su-35S gets ready for service

The major newsmaker of MAKS-2009, Sukhoi’s Su-35 multirole fighter, is on display at this year’s show once more. Two years ago this aircraft, developed initially as a pure export program, managed to attract the interest of the Russian Air Force when Sukhoi received an order for 48 Su-35S jets.

The first production Su-35S for the Air Force took off at Sukhoi’s facility in Komosomolsk-on-Amur in May 2011 and is expected to be handed over to the military this year. Deliveries of the 48 jets are planned for completion by 2015. Sukhoi expects that the Su-35 will stay in service with the Russian Air Force alongside the fifth-generation T-50 (PAK-FA) fighter for at least a decade.

Sukhoi has been testing two Su-35 prototypes since 2008. According to the company, the Su-35 has reached a speed of 1,400 km/h at low altitide and 2,400 km/h at high altitude. The confirmed flight ceiling is 18,000 m. The Su-35 has now completed all its initial flight tests and has moved on to joint evaluation trials. Sukhoi expects to intensify the flight testing schedule by introducing more Su-35 development aircraft this year.