Sukhoi unveils Supercruising Su 35-1 flanker

[nevidimka]

BY : FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL


Sukhoi expects to conduct the first flight of its all-new Su-35-1 single-seat multirole fighter within the near future, having unveiled the KnAAPO-built design at August's Moscow air show.

Launched in 2003, the Su-35-1 lacks the integral triplane configuration employed by India's Su-30MKIs, and its cleaner layout and improved propulsion system are believed to offer supercruise performance.

The new fighter has a lighter airframe than the legacy Su-27, due to its extensive use of aluminium, titanium and composite structures.

It also has a fully digital flight-control system incorporating engine and thrust vectoring control.

The Su-35-1 can carry over 2t more fuel than the Su-27 and has a ferry range of 4.500km (2,430nm) with external fuel tanks. Airframe life is quoted as 6,000 flight hours or 30 years, and Sukhoi general director Mikhail Pogosyan says the aircraft will be available for export delivery from 2010.

The Russian air force is expected to order several of the aircraft, which will also be promoted to nations such as China.

The aircraft was displayed with new weapons including NPO Machinostoyenia Yakhont and BrahMos PJ-11 supersonic missiles. The type is also believed to be equipped with a new air-to-air missile with a range of up to 200km.

The Su-35-1 is powered by two NPO Saturn Item 117S engines, developed from the Su-27's AL-31F under a joint project with Ufa MPO.

The new design uses a fully digital control system, swivel nozzle, enlarged fan and engine inlet for higher airflow, a redesigned turbine with improved cooling and has a design life of 4,000 flight hours.

The aircraft is also equipped with a Tikhomirov NIIP Irbis radar with an electronically scanned passive array antenna. A further development of the Su-30MKI's N-011M Bars sensor, with a more powerful transmitter and higher-speed processing, the design has a claimed detection range of more than 300km against airborne threats.

 

[Scorpion82]

Nothing really new here, except for the fact that the first flight has still not been conducted. It would be interesting to know if the designation Su-35-1 is just for this first prototype or a kind of general designation. BTW the aircraft was originally scheduled to be ready by 2009, now it is 2010. That was also reported before, but I'm excited if there will be further delays.

 

[Chrom]

Nothing really new here, except for the fact that the first flight has still not been conducted. It would be interesting to know if the designation Su-35-1 is just for this first prototype or a kind of general designation. BTW the aircraft was originally scheduled to be ready by 2009, now it is 2010. That was also reported before, but I'm excited if there will be further delays.

"First flight" here mean first flight of serial aircraft which will later go in production. Various prototypes flight for long time already.

 

[Scorpion82]

"First flight" here mean first flight of serial aircraft which will later go in production. Various prototypes flight for long time already.

No until now no prototype of the new Su-35 (T-10BM) has been flown. Some technologies were already tested aboard other Flankers, but these examples can hardly be seen as prototypes. This first prototype can be seen as a kind of series prototype, nonetheless changes might be possible if problems arise during the testing phase.

 

[Chrom]

No until now no prototype of the new Su-35 (T-10BM) has been flown. Some technologies were already tested aboard other Flankers, but these examples can hardly be seen as prototypes. This first prototype can be seen as a kind of series prototype, nonetheless changes might be possible if problems arise during the testing phase.

Then we possible disagree about word "prototype". You seems to think it is exactly the same aircraft what will go in production. It is not. My uderstanding it is more or less similar aircraft designed to work out concepts and bugs in the future systems and and airframe. There were already some prototypes flown with general name "su-35" with different engines and avionics, and reportedly 117S engine also was tested in flight already.

 

[Scorpion82]

Then we possible disagree about word "prototype". You seems to think it is exactly the same aircraft what will go in production. It is not. My uderstanding it is more or less similar aircraft designed to work out concepts and bugs in the future systems and and airframe. There were already some prototypes flown with general name "su-35" with different engines and avionics, and reportedly 117S engine also was tested in flight already.

No we don't disagree here, that's exactly what I mean and what I said. The so called "Su-35s" being flown with the KSU-35 control system, article 117S engines etc. were the T-10M-8 & 10 meaning Su-27M or better known as Su-35 (old Su-35!). These aircraft has nothing to do with the new Su-35 at all except that they were used to test some technologies as the Su-30MK2 (No. 503) was used for testing the Irbis radar.

 

[tphuang]

I have to agree with scorpiion here. Actually, it's kind of interesting that the Russians are making statements that their 5th generation plane will fly by 2009 when su-35 still haven't flown yet. The new Su-35 has been shown for a couple of years now. The Russians haven't placed any orders for it. China is not going to place any orders. India is not going to place any orders. I really wonder where their customers are going to come from.

 

[Awang se]

The new Su-35 has been shown for a couple of years now. The Russians haven't placed any orders for it. China is not going to place any orders. India is not going to place any orders. I really wonder where their customers are going to come from

i believe SU-30 is already a pinnacle of the SU-27 legacy. all other later variants do not differ greatly from the 30s. In fact, Su-30 can absorb any technological advancement available in SU-35/37. what Russia need really is not another version of SU-27, but a whole new 5th generation design. anything less will be a waste of taxpayers money.

ps: Prior to the purchase of SU-30MKM, Malaysia requested to have a look at SU-35. but the request was rebuff by Russia. one of the reason that i can think of is that SU-35 are still "incomplete". Knaapo probably waiting for an order from any country with well establish aviation industry like China or India in order to joint develope the 35s.

 

[Ozzy Blizzard]

I have to agree with scorpiion here. Actually, it's kind of interesting that the Russians are making statements that their 5th generation plane will fly by 2009 when su-35 still haven't flown yet. The new Su-35 has been shown for a couple of years now. The Russians haven't placed any orders for it. China is not going to place any orders. India is not going to place any orders. I really wonder where their customers are going to come from.

Thats a good point. I really dont see a market for this fighter. The russians should be (probably are) spending all their pennies on the PAK-FA. The russian air force wants its 5th gen, the indans want 5th gen and have the MKI for the moment, the chinese probably wont buy off the shelf russian designs for too much longer, in reality there is just no market for this fighter. the research should be discontinued.

Reguarding the PAK-FA, anyone know what its designation will be? SU 50 perhaps?

 

[weasel1962]

Re:

Deleted

 

[tphuang]

i believe SU-30 is already a pinnacle of the SU-27 legacy. all other later variants do not differ greatly from the 30s. In fact, Su-30 can absorb any technological advancement available in SU-35/37. what Russia need really is not another version of SU-27, but a whole new 5th generation design. anything less will be a waste of taxpayers money.

ps: Prior to the purchase of SU-30MKM, Malaysia requested to have a look at SU-35. but the request was rebuff by Russia. one of the reason that i can think of is that SU-35 are still "incomplete". Knaapo probably waiting for an order from any country with well establish aviation industry like China or India in order to joint develope the 35s.

nobody is going to pay for su-35 development. China is not even paying the Russians for 5th generation development. Looking at the recent Russian projects, you see nothing but empty promises. As for su-30 being the pinnacle, that's overstating it. In terms of flight performance, avionics and stealthiness, su-35 is markedly better. You are talking about a plane lighter than su-27, but uses an engine with 15-20% more thrust + 3D TVC vs a plane that is much heavier than su-27, no improvement in thrust + 2D TVC that has to be manually controlled by the second pilot.

 

[qwerty223]

Russian had been developing the flankers for long enough that they do not need a "prototype", most of the time "prototype" is an old airframe with new modification. Even supercruise need a new airframe, they got no problem to build and fly. In other words, flankers were always in the "serial production status".

 

[Awang se]

is there a problem integrating 3D TVC engine inside SU-30 airframe? and if i'm not mistaken, SU-35 are suppose to have a 2D TVC, not 3D. The only Russian aircraft with 3D TVC (available but not install) is MIG-35.

 

[Scorpion82]

AFAIK the Su-35-1 is new built and no upgrade of an earlier aircraft. Su-35 is significantly reworked, though it looks like a stoke Su-27, its airfrane is almost new with a lot of structural changes, new materials and some small external visibile changes. The aircraft is supposed to be leighter than the Su-27, but with a higher MTOW, has ~2 t more fuel, no airbrake and reworked radome and tailcone. There is a completly new integrated control system including FADEC and FBW designated KSU-35. The new AL-41F1A (article 117S) are almost new in many area with increased life span and reliability, 3-D TVC and significantly more thrust (8800 kg dry/14500 kg RH). The cockpit is completely new with no analogue back up instruments for the first time and OBOGS. A HMD is proposed as well and a completely new avionics suite based on the experience already gained with the development of the PAK FA ones. The Su-35 is therefore seen as transitional fighter and not just in terms to fil the gap between the Su-27SM and PAK FA, but the Su-35 is also a kind of test bed for many technologies to be integrated into the PAK FA.
Venuzuela and Brazil are maybe potential customers and the Su-35 is interesting to all those who won't get the PAK FA or advanced western designs. The PAK FA is said to be flow in 2009 for the first time, but until the aircraft will be ready for export it will probably last until about 2020. The Su-35 is planned to be ready for delivery by 2010 and will fill the gap on the market until the PAK FA will be available.

@Ozzy,

Reguarding the PAK-FA, anyone know what its designation will be? SU 50 perhaps?

Some time ago the aircraft was dubbed I-21, but I don't know if this is official and if it will be kept. I = Istrebitel = Fighter.

 

[eaf-f16]

Reguarding the PAK-FA, anyone know what its designation will be? SU 50 perhaps?

Probably not Su-50. The Su-27 was named T-10, was it called Su-10? No.

My guess is that they will probably re-use the Su-47 designation for the T-50.

Everybody has to remember that Russia isn't what it used to be. It needs a cheaper but a highly effective air-air fighter in case they can't afford to buy a hundreds of PAK-FA fighters while the US is buying up a hundreds F-35's and upgrading their nearly 200 strong F-22A fleet. It could very well be making this as a stop-gap fighter for when they retire their old Flanker fleet.

What I can't figure out is why the few nations that asked for Su-35's ended up buying Su-30's instead. Was this a secrecy issue?

 

[Scorpion82]

What I can't figure out is why the few nations that asked for Su-35's ended up buying Su-30's instead. Was this a secrecy issue?

Who asked for the Su-35 and ended up with the Su-30? Sukhoi is only starting to sish customers for the Su-35, because this aircraft is brand new.

 

[eaf-f16]

Who asked for the Su-35 and ended up with the Su-30? Sukhoi is only starting to sish customers for the Su-35, because this aircraft is brand new.

Venezuela said it wanted the Su-35 not Su-30 but ended up with an Su-30 anyway.

 

[Scorpion82]

Venezuela said it wanted the Su-35 not Su-30 but ended up with an Su-30 anyway.

Has Venuzuela ever requested the Su-35 before, if yes when? Venuzuela decided to buy Su-30MK2 off the shelf as they had an urgent need for new fighters to be delivered as fast as possible. AFAIK Venuzuela just recently expressed their desire to buy Su-35 in the future but not before. And in the case they were interested in the Su-35 before I think they were looking for the old Su-35 (Su-27M), not the new one.

 

[eaf-f16]

Has Venuzuela ever requested the Su-35 before, if yes when? Venuzuela decided to buy Su-30MK2 off the shelf as they had an urgent need for new fighters to be delivered as fast as possible. AFAIK Venuzuela just recently expressed their desire to buy Su-35 in the future but not before. And in the case they were interested in the Su-35 before I think they were looking for the old Su-35 (Su-27M), not the new one.

And what brought about this urgent need?

IIRC, when Venezuela first said it was interested in new Flankers it said Su-35 (the old one) not the Su-30. Yet, they ended up buying the Su-30 anyways. My question was why is this. Weren't they talking about the Su-35 before?

And I never saw any article about any nation expressing their interest in the new Su-35. I don't think Venezuela ever said anything about it.

 

[Scorpion82]

And what brought about this urgent need?

IIRC, when Venezuela first said it was interested in new Flankers it said Su-35 (the old one) not the Su-30. Yet, they ended up buying the Su-30 anyways. My question was why is this. Weren't they talking about the Su-35 before?

And I never saw any article about any nation expressing their interest in the new Su-35. I don't think Venezuela ever said anything about it.

Well the US arms sales embargo on Venuzuela back in early 2006 led to the decision to buy the Su-30MK2, as the F-16 fleet couldn't be supported anymore. The old Su-35 is dead for some years now. If Venuzuela had shown interest before they for sure wanted to buy them at a later time, but the Su-30MK2 had to be delivered very quickly.
I don't exactly know where I read it, but it was in some press releases, that Venuzuela is interested in buying the Su-35 as a kind of follow on to the Su-30MK2. As the old Su-35 is not longer offered on the market, the talk must be about the new Su-35.