Sukhoi delivers final batch of Su-35S fighter jets for 2018.

Sukhoi affiliate in Komsomolsk-on-Amur held a gala ceremony to hand over the final 2018 batch of Su-35S aircraft to the Defense Ministry. It included the hundredth jet, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said.

Russian Air Force Su-35S fighter jet
(Credit: UAC)

The ceremony was attended by Russian Defense Ministry representatives, Director of the plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur Alexander Pekarsh and enterprise staff, it said.

Participants said Su-35S has an excellent combat effectiveness and is a transition from the fourth-generation Su-27 to fifth-generation Su-57.

Pekarsh said it was a long way from the decision to produce Su-35S to the hundredth aircraft. "Designers and producers, Defense Ministry officers did a lot to create the fourth-generation aircraft," he said.

Batch production of Su-35S in Komsomolsk-on-Amur began in 2009 in the framework of a contract with the Defense Ministry to supply 48 jets by 2015. In December 2015, another contract was signed with Sukhoi to deliver 50 Su-35S by 2020.

In 2016 and 2017, the Defense Ministry received two batches of ten Su-35S each. Another ten aircraft were likely handed over in 2018. Thus, the total number of Su-35S in the Aerospace Forces does not exceed 78 jets (48 by the first contract and 30 jets produced in 2016-2018).

Another 24 Su-35 were produced for China in 2016-2018. Thus, a total of 102 Su-35 and Su-35S have been produced so far.

Su-35S (Flanker-E+ by NATO classification) is a deeply upgraded super maneuverable multirole fighter jet of generation 4++ designed with fifth-generation technologies. It is distinguished by a new digital avionic complex, a new radar with passive phased antenna array and increased number of simultaneously tracked and attacked targets, plasma-ignition engines of increased capacity and controllable vectoring. The engines correspond to fifth-generation power plants as they develop supersonic speed without a boost. Su-35S is a deep upgrade of Su-27. It has a reinforced glider and no frontal horizontal fins and brake flap. Braking at landing is done by turning rudders to different sides.

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