3. Russian Sukhoi Su-35S Flanker-E fighter jet
Price tag – US$40 million to $65 million (estimated) per unit
The Sukhoi Su-35 is a single-seat with a twin-engine. These engines have thrust vectoring, allowing the aircraft to climb at a greater rate than its predecessor, the first Soviet-time Su-27. It’s a super maneuverable multirole fighter, designed by Sukhoi and built by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO).
Su-35 Flanker-E cockpit
The cockpit has a central control column and is fitted with a Zvesda K-36D-3.5E zero-zero ejection seat which allows the pilot to eject at zero speed and at zero altitudes.
The aircraft has a quadruplex, digital fly-by-wire control developed by the Avionika Moscow Research and Production Complex JSC (MNPK Avionika).
The cockpit is fitted with two 230mmx305mm high-resolution MFI-35 liquid crystal displays with a multifunction control panel and a IKSh-1M head up display with a wide 20°x30° field of view.
The pilot has two VHF/UHF encrypted radio communications systems and a jam-resistant military data link system between squadron aircraft and between the aircraft and ground control. The navigation system is based on a digital map display with a strap down inertial navigation system and global positioning system.
Compared to the Su-27 design from which it is derived, the front fuselage diameter of the Su-35 has been increased to accommodate the larger 900mm-diameter antenna of the Irbis-E radar.
High-strength, low-weight, composite materials have been used for non-structural items such as the radomes, nose wheel, door and leading-edge flaps. Some of the fuselage structures are of carbon fiber and an aluminum-lithium alloy.
Weapons
The aircraft has 12 hardpoints for carrying external weapons and stores.
Each wing has four hardpoints – one on the wingtip and three under-wing stations. There are two hardpoints on the underside of the fuselage on the centerline and one under each engine.
Missiles
The aircraft’s air-to-air missiles can include the Vympel R-27 (Nato designation AA-10 Alamo), the Vympel radar-guided medium-range R-77 (AA-12 Adder) and the Vympel short-range infrared-guided R-73E (AA-11 Archer).
The aircraft’s air-to-surface missiles include the Molniya Kh-29 (AS-14 Kedge) tactical missiles, the Kh-31P (AS-17 Krypton) anti-radiation missiles and the long-range Kh-58UShE (AS-11 Kilter) anti-radiation missiles.
The Su-35 anti-ship missiles include Kh-31A, the long-range Kh-59MK (AS-18 Kazoo), the long-range Kalibr and the NPO Mashinostroenia heavy long-range Yakhont missile.
Ordnance
The Su-35 can be armed with a range of guided bombs, including the KAB-500Kr TV-guided bomb, KAB-500S-E satellite-guided bomb, LGB-250 laser-guided bomb, Kab-1500Kr TV-guided bomb and KAB-1500LG laser-guided bomb.
The aircraft can also be armed with 80mm, 122mm, 266mm and 420mm rockets.
Guns
The Gryazev-Shipunov 30mm GSh-30-1 gun is fitted in the starboard wing root with 150 rounds of ammunition.
Sensors
The X-band multimode phased array Irbis-E radar is supplied by Tikhomirov Scientific-Research Institute of Instrument Design (NIIP), based in Zhukovsky. Irbis-E is a high-performance radar designed for the Su-35 aircraft.
The 900mm passive phased array antenna is mounted on a hydraulic actuator for mechanical steering. The electronic steering provides azimuthal and elevation coverage of 60°. With both mechanical and electronic scanning, the coverage is 120°.
The radar can detect low-observable and stealth aircraft, unmanned air vehicles and missiles with a radar cross section of 0.01m² at ranges to 90km. Radar modes include air-to-air, air-to-ground, air-to-sea, mapping, Doppler beam and synthetic aperture radar modes. It can detect and track up to 30 airborne targets with a radar cross section (RCS) of 3m² at ranges of 400km using track-while-scan mode.
Infrared search and track
The infrared search and track fire control system, OLS-35 IRST, includes an infrared sensor, laser rangefinder, target designator and television camera. The accuracy of the laser rangefinder is 5m CEP (circular error probability), to a maximum range of 20km against airborne targets and 30km against ground targets. The OLS-35 is a high-performance system with ±90° azimuthal and +60°/-15° elevation coverage.
The system’s acquisition range against a non-afterburning target is 50km forwards and 90km rearward. The Su-35 can also be fitted with a UOMZ Sapsan targeting and laser designation pod.
Su-35 countermeasures
The aircraft’s electronic warfare suite includes a radar warning system, radar jammer, co-operative radar jamming system, missile approach warner, laser warner and chaff and flares dispenser.
Engines
The aircraft is powered by two Sturn / UFA AL-31F 117S turbofan engines with thrust-vectoring nozzle control, each supplying 86.3kN thrust or 142.2kN with afterburn. The engines were developed jointly by Sukhoi, Saturn, and UMPO.
Performance
The aircraft can fly at a maximum speed of 2,390km/h. The normal and ferry ranges of the aircraft are 3,600km and 4,200km respectively. The maximum altitude is 18,000m. The Su-35 weighs around 18,400kg and the maximum take-off weight is 34,500kg.
Watch this video of Russian Sukhoi 35 and its variant
Watch this video Russian fighter jet performing COBRA maneuver
The technical team from the Department of National Defense (DND) will attend Russia’s International Military-Technical Forum “Army-2016” at the Kubinka Airfield in Moscow, Russia to check and possibly acquire a Russian-made fighter aircraft that can simultaneously perform multiple role missions that can be used as a multirole fighter aircraft for the Philippines. – JCE.
Our closest ally the US will not sell us any missiles for our jets and ships then why not go to Russia? They’re much cheaper but just equally capable. This is what I do not understand. We acquired FA50H from South Korea but we cannot even arm them with missiles without consent from the US. They donated WHECs but the weapons system has been stripped except for the 76mm gun. So ano ang pang depensa ng barko sa incoming anti-ship missile? Pati yung CIWS tinanggal din.
It is nice to have those high tech Western weaponry but kung ayaw ka naman pagbilhan eh di sa iba na lang bumili. It is not easy but I think it is time to switch to Russian weaponry, walang BS na kakabit.
Etong SU-35S nalang sana bilhin ng pinas atleast 12 units., kampante at proud na ko sa bansa naten.
Su30SME is comparable to Jas 39 Gripen that can perform cobra manuever which make more agile and manuaverability compare to other aircraft and i prepared this machine + a squadron of Su 35 with trust vectoring
I think the PH government and Russia shall have an agreement to have a plant in the Philippines that manufactures these “military Mecha” because I think the Philippines has raw materials to make such.
SU-35 for the Philippines is a great choice..