Rosoboronexport and Chinese Ministry of Defense have preliminarily agreed on delivery of 24 Su-35 fighters, Lenta.ru reports with reference to Vedomosti.

According to a source, close to the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), the negotiations on delivery terms may take place during visit of the Russian Minister of Defense, Sergey Shoigu, to China in late November. The contract may be signed in 2013-2014. The first jet may be delivered to the customer after 2015. The contract’s value is assessed at over $1.5 billion.

The representatives of Rosoboronexport and Sukhoi Holding Company were not available for comment.

A source close to the Russian military-industrial sector reported in March 2012 that China has agreed to purchase 48 fighters. It was reported later that the parties have failed to agree on the scope of delivery. China wanted to acquire only four fighters. Russia believes that sale of such a small batch is not of economic benefit mostly due to concerns that China may copy the jets. For instance, Beijing violated the terms of agreement with Moscow on licensed production of 200 Su-27s. Chinese party has manufactured just 105 jets and then switched to assembly of their clones – Chinese J-11 fighters.

The multi-role Su-35 4++-generation fighteris a vast modernization of Su-27. Its maximum flight speed is 2,500 km/h, range - 3400 km. Its combat radius is 1,600 km. It is equipped with 30-mm cannon and has 12 mounting points for missiles, bombs, etc.

Russian air forces should take the delivery of 48 fighters by 2015. It was reported in early November that Sukhoi may demonstrate the jet at the airshow in Zhuhai in 2014.