MOSCOW – China is likely to go in for more Russian Sukhoi Su-35S jets.
Russia is awaiting China’s response to its offer of a second batch ofSu-35S, a 4++ generation single-seat, twin-engine fighter which canreportedly detect and track United States of America’s F-35 Lightning IIstealth aircraft.
China received its 24th Su-35S fighters (NATO reporting name: Flanker-E)worth $2.5 billion from Russia in April 2019 following which the latterdecided to sell more jets.
“We are expecting a response from China on our offer to purchase modernweapons and military equipment manufactured in Russia, including additionalbatches of Su-35S fighter jets,” Russia’s Federal Service forMilitary-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) was on Thursday quoted as saying bySputnik News at the Army 2019 International Military-Technical Forum at thePatriot Expocentre in Moscow.
China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) 6th Aviation Brigade atthe Suji Air Force base in Guangdong has been armed with the Su-35S. Chinais the only country other than Russia to operate the Su-35S.
Russia claims the Su-35S jet is a quantum leap from Sukhoi’s Su-27 fighterand is just behind the 5th Generation Su-57 stealth aircraft, which theRussian Air Force has started to deploy, in terms of technology.
The +9 g capable Su-35S is a supermanoeuvrable fighter with thrustvectoring engines. The jet is 21.9 metres long with a wingspan (withwingtip pods) of 15.3 m, height 5.9 m. While the Su-35S has an empty weightof 17,200 kilogrammes, the maximum takeoff weight is 34,500 kg.
The plane can internally carry 11,500 kg of fuel and is powered by twoSaturn AL-41F1S afterburning turbofans which can generate a dry thrust of86.3 kN (19,400 lbf) each. The thrust with afterburner is 142 kN (31,900lbf) each.
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Capable of a maximum speed of Mach 2.25 (2,400 kmph/1,490 mph), the Su-35Scan supercruise at Mach 1.1+ (1,250 km/h; 775 mph) at medium altitudes andat sea level it can reach a speed of Mach 1.13 (1,400 kmph; 870 mph).
The Maximum range of the jet at altitude is 3,600 km (2,240 miles) while atsea level it is 1,580 km (980 miles) with a combat radius of around 1,600km (932 miles). The ferry range is 4,500 km (2,800 miles) with two externalfuel tanks and its service ceiling is 18,000 metres (59,100 feet).
The aircraft can climb at a rate of more than 280 metres per second(greater than 55,000 feet per minute). The thurst to weight ratio of 1.13at 50% fuel and 0.92 with full internal fuel.
Its armament includes one internal 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1autocannon with 150 rounds along with 12 hardpoints. The wingtip rails havetwo hardpoints while there are 10 weapons’ carrying positions under thewing and fuselage with a capacity of 8,000 kg (17,630 lb) of missiles andbombs.
The fighter can carry a mix of air-to-air, air-to-surface, anti-ship,anti-radiation missiles. It can carry TV-guided, laser-guided andsatellite-guided bombs too.
