More than 300 flights have been performed in the network of Su-35 fighters’ flight test program. At present the Su-35-1 and Su-35-2 aircraft has been delivered to the 929 State Proving Flight Center for joint state testing, Sukhoi Company reports. AEX.ru
The first serial Su-35S1 is also taking part in the program. The preliminary flight testing carried out using Su-35-1 and Su-35-2 has confirmed the general performance of avionics and super-maneuverability characteristics, the stability and controllability have also been verified along with performance of powerplant and navigation system. The maximum flight speed is 1400 km/h (near the ground) and 2400 km/h – at the altitude the ceiling is 18 km. The acquisition range in air-to-air mode is over 400 km. It is significantly excels the similar parameter of the jets, which are operated at present in Russia. The board radar allows detecting and tracing several targets at the distance of more than 80 km. The system is ready for testing for operational use.
The analysis of completed work allows making a conclusion that Su-35/Su-35S has better aircraft performance than currently operated vehicles, and the installed equipment helps solving a wide range of problems specified by the mission need. The claimed characteristics allow leaving behind all the fourth- and 4+-generation fighters (like “Rafale” and EF 2000, modernized F-15, F-16, F-18 and Mirage 2000), and counteract the F-22A and F-35A fighters.
The technology advance, implemented during the development of fifth-generation PAK FA fighter has also been used during the development and testing of Su-35. It helps decrease costs and accelerate the fighter’s development, thus the air forces will be able to put it into operation sooner, the company explained.
Su-35 is a deeply modernized super-maneuverable multi-role 4++-generation fighter. The fifth-generation technologies have been used during its development providing its superiority over the same class fighters. Among the key features of the aircraft are: the new avionics based on digital management information system, aircraft equipment integration system, new active phased antenna array with a long range of target acquisition, increased number of tracked and beaten targets (tracing of 30 and attack of 8 air targets, and tracing of 4 and attack of 2 ground targets), new engines with increased thrust and turning thrust vector. Su-35 has a wide weapon list of long, medium and shorter-range. It is capable of carrying controlled air-launched anti-radar, anti-ship, general-duty weapons, glide bombs and uncontrolled air-launched weapons. The radar visibility of the jet has been decreased several times as compared to the fourth-generation fighters due to electrocoating of aircraft canopy, application of electromagnetic wave absorption coating and decrease of the number of protruding sensors. The jet’s endurance is 6000 flight hours; the operational endurance is 30 years, the service life limit of engines with vectored nozzle – 4000 hours.