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| Appearances of the Ukrainian Su-27 and Russia's Su-35 /Military Watch Magazine |
International-Military - Relations between Russia and Ukraine suffered a setback in 2014. Reporting from Military Watch Magazine, the overthrow of the government in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, led to a more pro-Western government and low-level hostility with its neighbors. There are many questions about the ability of the Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 to handle the modern Russian Su-35 fighter, should hostilities escalate.
Ukraine since 2014 is still trying to increase the number of warplanes that will be in service. The Ukrainian Air Force was one of the five largest in the world when the Soviet Union collapsed. Quoted from avionslegendaires.net, but in reality, Ukraine is very easy to be swept away by Russia with armed forces that have gathered at its land border with Ukraine. Then by adding aircraft based here and there, such as the Su-35.
then without forgetting the warships based in the Black Sea. Russia has what it takes to invade and annex Ukraine in just hours or even minutes. So when it comes to dealing, between the Russian Su-35 and the Ukrainian Su-27, which one is more formidable?
The Su-27 is widely regarded as the most capable fighter aircraft to be fielded by any air force during the Cold War. The Su-27 was also a heavyweight air superiority aircraft with a very long range, high payload and powerful sensor suite for a time that was then reserved exclusively for the Soviet Air Force.
But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the plane was offered by Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Uzbekistan. A common problem throughout the Ukrainian military is the lack of hardware. This is especially true in the air force where the Soviet-made Su-27 remains by far its most capable asset in the country.
Meanwhile, the Russian Su-35 remains a much more capable and capable fighter in all areas of performance compared to the Ukrainian Su-27. From nearly 30 years of research and development. The Russian Su-35 is still superior to the Ukrainian Su-27. Perhaps the most significant advantage of the Su-35 over the Su-27 is its avionics.
The Su-35 is also noted for its main radar's remarkable 120-degree maximum deflection angle, as well as for the integration of two additional L-band AESA radars. The Russian Su-35 with its additional L-band AESA Radar further optimizes it for electronic warfare and stealth target detection.
Its OLS-35 infrared search and tracking system also has a 180 percent detection range of the OLS-27 Su-27 at 90km compared to 50km. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that the Russian Su-35 has a higher situational awareness than the Ukrainian Su-27.
The former are active radar guided with modern electronic warfare countermeasures while much older designs use semi active radar guidance. The fact that the R-27 is manufactured in both Ukraine and Russia means Ukrainian industry may be able to improve the design even further compared to other missile platforms.
The Su-35's most remarkable air-to-air missile, the R-37M also has active radar guidance as well as more than triple the range of either the R-77 or the R-27 complimenting the far greater power of the fighter's sensor suite.
Large-scale aerial combat between Russian and Ukrainian forces remains unlikely. Partly because neither side was likely to escalate the situation to a hotter. But given the low availability levels in the Ukrainian Air Force, it is possible that the war will not occur.
If that happens and it does break then the Su-35 and Su-27 will likely fight each other. The US as well as Ukraine's Western partner is unlikely to be able to offer an upgrade compatible with this Su-27 airframe. Ukraine is also very unlikely to buy a heavyweight fighter equivalent to the Su-27. This effectively reduces the chances of posing a serious Ukrainian threat to Russia.