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| The Chinese Su-35 Fighter |
The aircraft, also called the Su-35 Flanker-E Multirole Fighter, was unveiled in Moscow in 2007. Dan began to make its first flight in 2008. And began mass production in 2010.
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Quoted from airforce-technology.com, the Su-35 has a length of 21.9m, a wingspan of 15.3m and a height of 5.9m. It has the capacity to carry a maximum payload of 8,000 kg and the aircraft can be operated by one person. The cockpit has a central control column and is equipped with a Zvesda K-36D-3.5E zero-ejection seat which allows the pilot to eject at zero speed and at zero altitude.
The aircraft has a quadruplex digital fly-by-wire control developed by Avionica Moscow Research and Production Complex JSC (MNPK Avionica). The cockpit is equipped with two MFI-35 high-resolution 230mmx305mm liquid crystal displays with a multifunction control panel and an IKSh-1M head-up display with a 20°x 30° wide field of view.
The rudder is equipped with a VHF/UHF encrypted radio communication system and a clock-resistant military data link system between squadron aircraft and between aircraft and ground controls. The navigation system is based on a digital map display with a strapdown inertial navigation system and a global positioning system.
As a fighter, this aircraft has several types of missiles including, Vympel R-27 (NATO designation AA-10 Alamo), Vympel radar-guided medium-range R-77 (AA-12 Adder) and Vympel short-range infrared-guided. R-73E (AA-11 Archer). In addition there are also tactical missiles, anti-radiation missiles, long-range missiles, to anti-submarine missiles.
The aircraft is powered by two Sturn / UFA AL-31F 117S turbofan engines with thrust-vectoring nozzle control, supplying either 86.3kN or 142.2kN of thrust with afterburn, respectively. The engine was jointly developed by Sukhoi, Saturn and UMPO. The total fuel capacity of this fighter is 14,350 liters.
The unrefueled range on internal fuel is 1,580km. This aircraft can fly at a maximum speed of 2,390 km/h. The normal range of aircraft and ferries is 3,600 km and 4,200 km, respectively. The maximum altitude is 18,000 m. The Su-35 weighs about 18,400kg and the maximum takeoff weight is 34,500kg.
Quoted from The Diplomat, the cost per unit of the Su-35 is estimated at around $85 million. Although at first Russia was worried about the actions that China wanted to take on the plane. Russia began sending multi-role combat aircraft intended for service in the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) told China on April 16, 2019.