Key Points – In 2015, China became the first international customer for Russia’s advanced Su-35 “Flanker-E” fighter, purchasing 24 jets in a deal that initially puzzled analysts.
-The acquisition was a calculated, multi-faceted move. It provided the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) with a mature, highly maneuverable 4++ generation fighter to fill immediate capability gaps while its own J-20 and J-35 stealth fighters were still in development.
Su-35. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-Critically, it also gave China access to advanced Russian military technology, particularly the Su-35’s AL-41F1S turbofan engines, to inform and accelerate its own indigenous aerospace programs.
China Flies the Su-35 from Russia
In 2015, China announced publicly that it would purchase 24 Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jets from Moscow. This made China the first country to purchase Russia’s most advanced jets.
However, right off the bat a number of questions arose about the deal: why would China need Russia’s fighter when it is developing advanced fifth-generation fighters?
Furthermore, why would Russia sell its most advanced fighters to China after expressing concerns about China reverse-engineering its technology?
At the time the deal was made, there were a number of geopolitical, industrial, and economic factors that explained why the deal was necessary from both China and Russia’s perspective.
China: Russia’s First Su-35 Customer
China first agreed to purchase Russia’s Flanker-E back in 2015. The CCP placed an order on 24 Su-35 fighter jets, making it the largest aircraft deal between Russia and China to date. The first deliveries arrived at arrived at a flight training center of the PLAAF in Cangzhou City in Hebei province in 2016. The final deliveries were reported by Russian news outlets in 2019. The deal was significant as China was the first international buyer of Su-35 fighter jets. Since then, Algeria has purchased 24 fighters, and Indonesia has expressed interest in purchasing them.
However, the question remains, why would China show interest in Su-35? At the time of the deal, China was still in the process of developing its own fifth-generation stealth fighters, notably the Chengdu J-20 and the Shenyang J-35.
Su-35. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
These aircraft were not yet fully operational, and the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) needed a combat-ready platform that could enhance its air superiority in the short term. In this context, the Su-35, a highly maneuverable 4++ generation fighter, offered a mature and capable solution.
With its thrust-vectoring engines, long operational range, advanced radar systems, and large weapons payload, the Su-35 could immediately bolster China’s air combat capabilities while its indigenous fighters were still undergoing refinement.
Why China Wanted Russia’s Super Flanker
Beyond immediate operational needs, the Su-35 was also a valuable source of advanced military technology. China has a well-documented history of reverse engineering foreign military equipment, and the Su-35 provided access to several key technologies.
Among the most significant was the AL-41F1S turbofan engine, which was more advanced than China’s domestically produced WS-10 engines.
By studying the Su-35’s engine and aerodynamic design, Chinese engineers could accelerate the development of their own next-generation aircraft. This approach of acquiring foreign systems to inform domestic innovation has long been a cornerstone of China’s defense strategy.
The Su-35’s long range and advanced combat systems made it particularly well-suited for operations in contested areas such as the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. These regions are central to China’s national security interests, and the ability to project air power over long distances was a key consideration.
Su-35. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The Su-35’s capabilities enhanced China’s deterrence posture and provided a qualitative edge over many regional air forces, including those of Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. In scenarios involving potential conflict with the United States or its allies, the Su-35 added depth and flexibility to China’s air combat options.
The Geopolitical Factors Behind the Deal
Politics also played a significant part in the deal. The purchase of the Su-35 also served to strengthen the growing strategic partnership between China and Russia. Following the 2014 Ukraine crisis and the subsequent deterioration of Russia’s relations with the West, Moscow sought to deepen ties with Beijing. The Su-35 deal was a tangible expression of this alignment. For Russia, it provided a much-needed boost to its defense industry, particularly the United Aircraft Corporation and the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association.
For China, it demonstrated political solidarity with Russia and signaled to the West that it had alternative sources of advanced military technology. This diplomatic dimension of the deal underscored the broader geopolitical realignment taking place in the wake of Western sanctions on Russia.
Economic and Industrial Considerations
From a logistical standpoint, the Su-35 made perfect sense for the PLAAF. China already operated several variants of the Su-27 and Su-30, which share a common design lineage with the Su-35. This meant that the new aircraft could be integrated into existing maintenance and training systems with relative ease.
Pilots and ground crews familiar with earlier Russian models could transition to the Su-35 with minimal additional training, reducing the time and cost required to bring the aircraft into service. Moreover, acquiring a limited number of Su-35s allowed China to evaluate the platform’s performance and suitability without committing to a large-scale procurement.
The deal also aligned with China’s broader industrial strategy. While the country has made significant progress in aerospace manufacturing, certain technological bottlenecks, particularly in engine development, persist. The Su-35 provided a benchmark against which Chinese engineers could measure their own progress.
By analyzing the aircraft’s systems and performance, they could identify areas for improvement and innovation. This process of benchmarking and iterative development is a hallmark of China’s approach to military modernization.
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What’s important to note is that China’s acquisition of the Su-35 was never intended to create long-term dependence on Russian military hardware. The purchase was a calculated move to address short-term needs and support long-term goals.
The Su-35s were seen as a transitional asset, useful for filling immediate capability gaps, supporting training and doctrine development, and providing leverage in future negotiations with Russia or other suppliers. Chinese analysts have noted that the Su-35 is too expensive to replace older aircraft like the J-7 and J-8 on a large scale.
Instead, those roles are expected to be filled by newer domestic platforms such as the J-10C, J-16, and eventually the J-20.
About the Author:
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
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