Key Points and Summary – The F-15EX and Su-35 are top-tier 4.5-gen upgrades with very different philosophies. Boeing’s F-15EX leans into beyond-visual-range dominance: an APG-82 AESA, EPAWSS electronic warfare, IRST, heavyweight networking, and a massive missile load (up to 22 AMRAAMs, future JATM/hypersonics).
-Russia’s Su-35 emphasizes close-in lethality: Irbis-E radar, OLS-35 IRST, Khibiny ECM, and 3D thrust-vectoring that shines in dogfights. Neither is truly stealthy, but the EX pairs modest RCS reduction with superior EW; the Su-35 trades signature for agility and the long-reach R-37M.
Su-35. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-Likely outcomes: F-15EX rules BVR through sensors, EW, and volume of fire; Su-35 is nastiest inside visual range.
F-15EX vs. Su-35: Who Wins a Fight
The F-15EX Eagle II is a heavily modified version of the legacy F-15 Eagle. It replaces many of the aircraft’s avionics, enhances the airframe, and improves the flight controls on the aircraft.
Likewise, Russia’s Su-35 is a deep modernization of the Su-27 Flanker that incorporates many features that are currently on the Su-57 Felon. Both fighters are marketed as “4.5-generation fighters,” and both are comprehensive upgrades to legacy Cold War platforms, but which fighter is better?
Battle of the 4.5-Gen Fighters
The F-15EX is a modern evolution of the legendary F-15 platform, developed by Boeing to serve as a high-capacity, long-range, and networked fighter. It is designed to complement stealth aircraft like the F-22 and F-35, offering a robust and survivable platform for contested environments.
Its emphasis is on beyond visual range (BVR) combat, electronic warfare, and integration with unmanned systems. It is equipped with the Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) and other electronic warfare suites to improve its survivability in contested environments.
In contrast, the Su-35 is a heavily upgraded version of the Su-27, built by Sukhoi to serve as Russia’s frontline air superiority fighter. It prioritizes supermaneuverability, high-speed engagements, and electronic countermeasures, with a strong focus on kinetic performance and agility.
Su-35 Fighter from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The aircraft features many technologies found on the Su-57 Felon with a completely redesigned cockpit, weapons control systems, and thrust-vectoring to maximize agility.
Avionics
In terms of radar and sensor systems, the F-15EX is equipped with the AN/APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which offers a detection range of up to 450 kilometers. This radar can track multiple targets simultaneously and engage several at once, giving the F-15EX a significant advantage in BVR combat.
It also features the Talon HATE pod, which integrates infrared search and track (IRST) capabilities and advanced data links, allowing it to detect stealth targets and operate in a networked environment. The Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) provides cutting-edge electronic warfare capabilities, enhancing survivability against modern threats.
The Su-35, on the other hand, uses the Irbis-E radar, a powerful passive electronically scanned array (PESA) system with a detection range of around 400 kilometers. While impressive, it lacks the multi-target tracking and jamming resistance of AESA radars.
The Su-35’s OLS-35 IRST system is useful in radar-denied environments but has a shorter range and lower resolution than Western counterparts. Its electronic countermeasures are provided by the L175M Khibiny system, which is effective at disrupting radar-guided missiles but not as integrated or advanced as the EPAWSS suite on the F-15EX.
Engine Performance
When it comes to maneuverability and dogfighting, the Su-35 clearly excels. It is equipped with 3D thrust vectoring engines that allow it to perform extreme maneuvers such as Pugachev’s Cobra and other high-angle-of-attack tricks.
This gives it a distinct advantage in close-range engagements, where agility and instantaneous turn rate are critical. The Su-35’s aerodynamic design and thrust-to-weight ratio make it one of the most agile fighters in the world.
The F-15EX, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, arrives to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida March 11. The aircraft will be the first Air Force aircraft to be tested and fielded from beginning to end through combined developmental and operational tests. The 40th Flight Test Squadron and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron personnel are responsible for testing the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Karissa Rodriguez)
The F-15EX, while highly maneuverable for its size, does not feature thrust vectoring. It relies on its F110-GE-129 engines, low wing loading, and advanced avionics to remain competitive in dogfights.
The inclusion of a helmet-mounted cueing system and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles improves its close-combat effectiveness, but it still cannot match the Su-35’s raw agility in a visual-range engagement.
Weaponry and Stealth
In terms of weapons and payload, the F-15EX is unmatched. It can carry up to 29,500 pounds of ordnance across 23 hardpoints, including up to 22 AIM-120D AMRAAMs for BVR combat. It is also compatible with future weapons like the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) and hypersonic systems such as the AGM-183A.
Its versatility extends to air-to-ground missions, with the ability to deploy JDAMs, JASSMs, and anti-radiation missiles like the HARM.
The Su-35 carries a maximum payload of around 8,000 kilograms across 12 hardpoints. It uses a mix of R-77 and R-27 missiles for air-to-air combat, and its standout weapon is the R-37M, which has a range of up to 400 kilometers. This missile poses a serious threat to high-value targets like AWACS and tankers.
The F-15EX, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, arrives to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida March 11. The aircraft will be the first Air Force aircraft to be tested and fielded from beginning to end through combined developmental and operational tests. The 40th Flight Test Squadron and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron personnel are responsible for testing the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
The Su-35 also features a 30mm cannon and a wide array of guided bombs and rockets for ground attack missions.
In terms of stealth and survivability, neither aircraft is truly stealthy by fifth-generation standards.
However, the F-15EX incorporates radar-absorbing coatings and design features that reduce its radar cross-section to around 1 square meter, making it harder to detect than legacy fighters.
It relies heavily on electronic warfare and networked operations to survive in contested airspace. The Su-35 has a larger radar cross-section, estimated at around 3 square meters, and lacks stealth shaping. Its survivability is based on its maneuverability and electronic countermeasures, which help it evade missile threats.
In 4 Words: The Context Really Matters
In a one-on-one combat scenario, the outcome depends heavily on the engagement conditions. In a beyond visual range fight, the F-15EX would likely dominate due to its superior radar, missile loadout, and electronic warfare capabilities.
Its ability to detect, track, and engage multiple targets at long distances gives it a decisive edge. The Su-35’s R-37M missile offers a unique long-range strike capability, but it is limited by the aircraft’s sensor fusion and targeting systems.
In a close-range dogfight, the Su-35 would be the more dangerous opponent. Its supermaneuverability and thrust vectoring engines allow it to outmaneuver most adversaries, including the F-15EX.
However, the F-15EX would likely avoid such engagements, utilizing its superior situational awareness and standoff weapons to neutralize threats before they approach.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
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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