AHK Sukhoi connects its near future in the world fighter market with the Su-35 aircraft. This aircraft should take place between the Su-30MK and the fifth generation fighter.
The main volume of export deliveries of the Su-35 is projected for the period 2013-2020.
Export deliveries of the Su-35 are planned to the countries of Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. Among the first possible buyers of the Su-35 should be noted Libya, China and Venezuela.
In particular, a preliminary agreement was reached with Libya on the purchase of 12 Su-35 fighters. Negotiations are underway with Venezuela to supply 24 Su-35s.
As expected, the prospects for China's purchases of multifunctional Su-35 fighters will become clearer following a meeting of the Russian-Chinese intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation, which is scheduled for the end of the first decade of November.
For the first time, the substantive interest of the Chinese side in the Su-35 was shown at the MAKS-2007 salon. Several Chinese delegations visited the stand of AHK "Sukhoi" in order to clarify the technical parameters of the fighter. At the same time, it was reported that the parties began a preliminary study of issues on plans for possible deliveries of the Su-35 to China. At the same time, it was noted that, at least in the foreseeable future, the Chinese aircraft industry will not be able to create a Su-35 class combat aircraft.
During the Airshow China-2008 air show, the PLA Air Force Commander-in-Chief Colonel-General Xu Qiliang got acquainted with the capabilities of the Su-35 fighter at the Sukhoi stand. The commander-in-chief was interested in the range of the fighter, standard armament, avionics. Xu Qiliang highly appreciated the combat capabilities and performance characteristics of the aircraft.
The Sukhoi company plans to produce more than 200 multipurpose Su-35 fighters by 2020. This aircraft will lay the foundation for potential customers to operate a fifth generation fighter.
Obviously, not all potential customers who are armed with aircraft of the 3rd and 4th generations will immediately make a choice in favor of the 5th generation aircraft complexes, since they are very difficult to operate. To master them, a transitional product is needed, the role of which will be played by the Su-35.
According to TsAMTO, Algeria (12-24 units), Venezuela (24 units), Egypt (12-24 units), China (up to 48 units), Libya (12-24 units) may become possible customers of the Su-35..), Syria (24 units) and a number of other countries.
The Su-35 is a deeply modernized super-maneuverable multi-functional fighter of the 4 ++ generation. It uses fifth-generation technologies that provide superiority over fighters of a similar class. Distinctive features of the aircraft are a new avionics complex based on a digital information and control system that integrates airborne equipment systems, a new radar station (radar) with a phased antenna array with a long range of detection of air targets with an increased number of simultaneously tracked and fired targets (30 tracking and 8 attack air targets, as well as escorting four and attacking two ground targets), new engines with increased thrust and rotary thrust vector.
The Su-35 is distinguished by a wide range of long-range, medium-range and short-range weapons. It is capable of carrying anti-radar, anti-ship, general purpose, guided aerial bombs (KAB), as well as unguided AAS. The fighter's radar signature is reduced by several times compared to the fourth generation aircraft due to the electroconductive coating of the cockpit canopy, the application of radio-absorbing coatings and a reduced number of protruding sensors. The service life of the aircraft is 6 thousand flight hours, the service life is 30 years, the assigned service life of engines with a controlled nozzle is 4 thousand hours.
Serial deliveries to the RF Air Force are planned to begin in 2011. Work on the implementation of the state contract signed within the framework of the MAKS-2009 salon for the supply of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in the period until 2015 of 48 multifunctional Su-35S fighters began in the fall of 2009 at the Aviation Production Association named after V. I. Yu. A. Gagarin (KnAAPO).
During this time, in accordance with the approved schedule, the production of parts and components was organized, contracts were concluded with subcontractors for the supply of the necessary units, mechanisms and equipment. In the assembly shops of the plant, the detachable part of the aircraft wing was assembled, the piping systems were installed and the tail sections of the fuselage were docked, and work was done on the volume of the head section of the fuselage. As of early October 2010, the first production vehicle was in the final assembly shop and was being prepared for transfer to the KnAAPO flight test shop.
The transfer of the first serial Su-35S to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation should take place at the end of this year.
