MOSCOW, February 13 (Itar-Tass) — The Sukhoi company regards countries of Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America as potential customers of the Su-35 fighter jets, the press service of the Sukhoi Aircraft Holding told Itar-Tass on Monday.
“The Su-35 jets are planned to be supplied to countries of Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America that are interested in rearming their Air Forces. The conclusion of new contracts allows Russia to maintain high competitiveness on the global market of combat aircraft until the appearance on the market in 2016-2025 of the fifth-generation fighter,” the holding sources said.
The design and manufacture of the super-manoeuvrable multirole fighter of the 4 ++ generation Su-35 (Su-35s in Russian modification) are among priority programs for Sukhoi.
The Su-35-1 and 2 fighters are undergoing joint state tests. The first series Su-35S-1 jet, and earlier this year - the Su-35S-2 jet have also joined the tests simultaneously. The third and fourth series aircraft will join the state tests shortly. Preliminary flight tests have been performed on the Su-35-1 and 2 jets during which the main design flight and technical characteristics of the onboard equipment and the super manoeuvrability parameters were confirmed, the characteristics of stability and controllability, as well as the work of the propulsion and navigation systems were checked.
It is reported that the jet’s maximum near ground speed is 1,400 kmph and at high altitudes - 2,400 kmph, the ceiling - 18,000 metres. The range of detection of the “air- to-air” targets is more than 400 km. “It by far surpasses the similar parameters of the aircraft in service. The jet’s airborne radar can detect and track several targets at ranges exceeding 80 km,” according to Sukhoi.
More than 400 flights have been performed on the fighters within the test flight program. The analysis of the work done already makes it possible to conclude that the Su-35/Su-35S have much better flight characteristics than their analogues in service.
“The characteristics shown by the national fighter suggest that its potential surpasses the capabilities of all tactical fighter aircraft of the ‘fourth’ and ‘four plus’ generations of the Rafale and EF 2000 types, as well as the modernised fighters of the F-15, F-16s, F-18, F-35 types and allow it to counteract the American F-22A.”
In accordance with the 2009 state contract on the supply to the RF Ministry of Defence of 48 Su-35s jets in 2015, the company’s plant in Komsomolsk-on Amur developed their serial production. “The technology used in the Su-35s design allows Russia in a relatively short period of time to carry out partial modernisation of the country’s Air Force and quickly master the next generation equipment,” the Sukhoi Holding stressed.