On April 12th, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), part of the Rostec conglomerate, announced the delivery of the first batch of Su-35S fighters in 2024 to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The fighters come from the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant (KnAAZ) managed by UAC, which has been the largest producer of combat aircraft for the Russian Aerospace Forces.
The delivery reflects the extensive modernization process that the company, and the Russian military-industrial complex in general, must undergo to maintain the pace of military equipment deliveries for the conflict in Ukraine. In this regard, the first deputy general director of the state corporation, Vladimir Artyakov, made the following statement: “Our aircraft manufacturers are facing the task of ensuring the production and delivery rate of new aircraft requested by the Russian Ministry of Defense. UAC specialists are also responsible for maintaining the serviceability and restoring airworthiness of combat aircraft.”
Meanwhile, UAC General Director Yuri Slyusar highlighted the investments made by the Government of the Russian Federation to expand the Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant. “The rapid adaptation of production to the growing production needs was made possible thanks to significant government investments in the development of the plant.” This only adds to the confirmation of Western suspicions about a Russian economy sustained by injections of state capital into the military-industrial complex.
Regarding the Su-35S fighter, also known as the Flanker E+ by its NATO designation, the following characteristics stand out: It belongs to the 4++ generation; it was designed with an air superiority platform but also has ground attack capabilities, for which it is equipped with a 30mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-301 cannon and 12 hardpoints distributed on wings and fuselage with a capacity of 8,000 kg, to carry a combination of bombs, missiles, and rockets as required; an IUS-35 control and information system and an Irbis-E PESA radar that allows it to detect targets between 100 and 400 kilometers.
It is also noteworthy for its ability to take off with a weight of 34.5 tons, a range of 3,600 kilometers, and a flight ceiling of 20,000 meters. In terms of speed, the Su-35S can reach maximum speeds of 2,300 km/h (Mach 2.2), achieved with 2 Saturn 117S engines. All these features have earned it approval from several air forces, including the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), which acquired 24 units in 2019, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, which acquired a similar number of fighters in negotiations that took place in 2023.
The exact quantity of Su-35S delivered is unknown, as specific contract data has not been provided by the company UAC or Rostec, compounded by the current trend of not displaying serial numbers of delivered aircraft in photographs published by the Ministry of Defense.
Images used for illustrative purposes, credits to: UAC, Rostec
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