File Photo Russia has delivered the first batch of four Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E advanced fighter jets to Chinese PLA Air Force (PLAAF).
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Russia has delivered the first batch of four Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E advanced fighter jets to Chinese PLA Air Force (PLAAF).
Even though not officially confirmed, the aircraft reportedly arrived on Sunday at a PLAAF pilot training base in Cangzhou, in Hebei province.
China had signed an agreement with Russia to acquire 24 of these multi-role four plus generation fighter jets at the end of 2015 for a cheap $2 billion, compared to its western analogues.
Negotiations took so long as Russia was initial reluctant to sell its top fighter jet, due to China's illegitimate reverse engineering nature.
China had earlier successfully built indigenous clones based on the Russian Su-27s acquired in the mid 1990s.
The super maneuverable Su-35 is an vastly improved design based on the Soviet era Su-27 Flanker, featuring upgraded avionics, more powerful engine, increased service life and reduced radar cross section (RCS).
The Su-35 outclasses all western fighter jets in performance except the U.S. F-22 Raptor, largely due to latter's stealth characteristics.
Powering the Su-35 is two Saturn 117S turbofan engine rated at 14,500 kgf (142 kN) each with afterburner. The engine is equipped with 3D thrust vectoring nozzle that makes the Su-35, the most maneuverable fighter jet in the world.
The Su-35S is equipped with the Irbis-E AESA radar that can detect and track up to 30 air targets at a range of up to 400 km.
Radar evading technologies incorporated reduces the RCS of the Su-35 in the X waveband and in the angle range of ±60°.
Service life of the airframe has increased to 6000 flight hours, while the engine life has improved to 4000 flights hours.
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With a maximum take off weight of 34,500 kg, the Su-35 can be armed with up to 8000 kg weapon payload including a wide variety of air to air and air to ground munitions, and sensors in its 12 hard points.
The aircraft has an incredible flight range of 3600 km on internal fuel load, free up hardpoints for weapons. It can reach a top speed of 2400 kmph at an altitude of 11 km, with a maximum service sealing of 18 km.
First flight of the Su-35 was completed in 2007 and its entered service with Russian Air Force in 2012, who currently have 58 in inventory.
