Key Points and Summary – Russia’s Su-35 “Super Flanker” is one of the fastest fighter jets in the world, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.25.
-However, its impressive performance on paper has not translated into combat success over Ukraine. Despite being touted as Russia’s best 4th-generation++ jet, the Su-35 has suffered numerous surprising losses.
-It has proven vulnerable to Ukraine’s evolving air defenses, especially American Patriot missiles, and has even been a victim of Russian friendly fire. This disappointing performance suggests the supposedly dominant aircraft is, in fact, “over-hyped.”
Enviable Speed of Russian Su-35 Has Not Translated Into Combat Success
The Su-35 air superiority fighter, like some other Soviet and post-Soviet era warplanes, is plenty fast. It can reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.25, or approximately 1,726 miles per hour. This speed is faster than the F-22, F-35, and F-16. However, the F-15EX can fly faster than the Su-35 at MACH 2.5.
As one can imagine, pilots love high-speed airplanes that can outfly enemy aircraft and air defenses. But the main issue is how the velocity of the Su-35 has translated into combat effectiveness?
First, let’s take a closer look at the fighter. The Flanker E or Super Flanker is a fourth-generation “+” or “++” jet that should have no losses against older Ukrainian fighter jets and more mature surface-to-air missiles. That MACH 2.25 top speed should be enough to survive against a modern threat environment.
How Super Is ‘Super Maneuverability ’?
The Russians are confident that the Su-35 boasts “super maneuverability” in addition to its high speed. The Su-35 was meant to challenge the F-15E Strike Eagle and F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. The Strike Eagle is a touch faster than the Su-35 and knifes through the air at a top speed of MACH 2.5. The Super Hornet can fly at a maximum velocity of MACH 1.6.
The Su-35 has two Saturn AL-41F1S (Izdeliye 117S) afterburning turbofan engines. These engines produce a thrust of 32,000 pounds. The Su-35 has an enviable rate of climb and good acceleration. The Su-35 also boasts three-dimensional thrust-vectoring control nozzles. Additionally, the fighter jet can operate in super cruise mode to conserve fuel.
Syria Deployment Was a Good Start
In combat, the figher has made a decent effort in the skies over Syria, marking its first deployment in 2016. Four were sent to Khmeimim Airbase. The mission was to execute air police missions to ward off Israeli and Turkish airplanes that ventured into Syrian airspace. While the Su-35 carried some air-to-ground munitions and bombs, it relied more on its air superiority abilities, with R-77-1 active radar-guided missiles.
All Was Well at the Beginning
The Su-35s were busy intercepting (peacefully) Turkish and Israeli fighters. These often left Syrian airspace and went home. These sorties were valuable for the Russian air force, which collected immense flight data and intelligence on enemy airplanes. Pilots gained valuable real-world experience, and the Su-35 was seen as an airplane to keep an eye on by Western intelligence analysts. The Su-35 demonstrated to potential export customers that it could hold its own and be a viable target for foreign purchases.
Dominant Air-to-Air Missile Gave Pilots Confidence
By the time the invasion of Ukraine was ready, the Russians thought that the Su-35 would dominate the air. The Su-35 pilots love the very-long-range R-37M “Axehead” air-to-air missile. The Mach 6 R-37M could reach out and touch enemy aircraft quickly with its hypersonic speed.
Disappointing Performance During War with Ukraine
Despite these advantages, the Su-35 has endured losses – perhaps as high as eight Flanker-E jets that were shot down by mid-2025, with the last Flanker-E being destroyed in June. This loss has been attributed to Ukraine’s ever-evolving air defense systems and the use of the American Patriot surface-to-air missile batteries. Some of the Su-35 losses could be attributed to friendly fire, which suggests that Russia is having trouble with friend-or-foe identification.
The fighter did not have to navigate such a layered defensive array in Syria, and the Russian air force may have been overconfident in the Su-35 by the time the Ukraine war rolled around. The Su-35 is certainly adept at stand-off missile launch, and its speed is enviable. However, it hasn’t always been able to outrun Ukrainian SAMs or even Russia’s air defense systems.
The Su-35 is supposed to be cutting-edge. The Flanker-E is capable of defending Russian borders, which is a critical mission, but that’s not what the Russians had in mind when facing the Ukrainian air force.
However, Vladimir Putin and his generals have not given up. New Su-35S airplanes are headed to the battle space. The pilots should be aware that the Su-35S is not invincible and must proceed with caution. Russia’s propaganda outlets still tout the Su-35S as the “best in class.”
However, the Ukrainians have used electronic warfare techniques to jam the Su-35S. This spoofing has taken a toll, rendering Russian sensors and radar on the Su-35S combat ineffective at times. Despite these difficulties in combat, the Russians are not afraid to build even more Flanker-Es, and the production lines will remain busy for the rest of the war.
Overall, the Su-35 started well in Syria. The airplane performed to expectations, but this was not an aerial shooting war. Ukrainians, on the other hand, have been resilient, and their air defenses, especially with American Patriot batteries, have punished the Flanker-E. Russia is undeterred. The country is focused on producing more warbirds that it believes can still dominate the air.
Therefore, the fighter will remain in the news as it continues to operate in contested airspace.
Although it may be somewhat over-hyped due to unexpected losses, Russian pilots have learned numerous lessons since the early deployment in 2022, and they will make adjustments to ensure the Su-35 remains a standout performer.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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