MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. Ukraine's Air Force currently lacks the resources to effectively counter Russia's Su-35 fighter jets. Even the F-16 fighters received from partners are not capable of competing with them, according to Yury Ignat, the chief of the communications department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command.
"If we had airplanes capable of countering the Su-35, that would be one thing. However, today, even the F-16s we have from our partners are not advanced enough to compete with the Su-35 in a one-on-one scenario," he stated in a video posted on the Novosti Live platform's Telegram channel.
Ignat emphasized that confronting the Su-35 requires a comprehensive strategy, which includes the deployment of ground-based air defense systems and electronic warfare capabilities. He also noted back in November 2023 that Ukraine is seeking more modern variants of the F-16 fighter jets to better counter the Russian Su-35s.
Su-35 fighter overview
The Su-35 (NATO reporting name: Flanker-E+) is Russia's multirole, super-maneuverable fighter, featuring thrust vector control and classified as a "4++" generation aircraft. Within the Russian Air Force, it is designated as the Su-35S. The aircraft is designed to establish air superiority by engaging both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles with guided missiles, excelling in both long-range and short-range maneuvering combat. Additionally, it is equipped to hit surface and ground targets using a variety of weapons, under all weather conditions, including ground infrastructure protected by air defense systems, and can operate at considerable distances from the airfield.