Russia’s Su-35 Fighter vs. America’s F-16 Fighting Falcon: Who Wins in Ukraine?

Su-35 Versus F-16: Which Fighter Wins?: How will the Russian Su-35 Flanker-E fighter match up to the imported American F-16 Fighting Falcons over Ukraine?

This showdown between the two warbirds is one to watch. Both airplanes have their strong points, and it will come down to the skill of the pilots to identify the ultimate winner.

Most importantly, how well will Ukrainian aviators adapt to the F-16s that have finally arrived in the theater?

Meanwhile, experienced Russian pilots may have the upper hand in a dogfight.

Let’s take a closer look at this rivalry.

F-16s Are Now In Ukraine

The first F-16s arrived in Ukraine last month. They have already been used favorably to eliminate Russian cruise missiles and drones. However, flying a Fighting Falcon requires months of intense training, and there could be a delay before Ukrainian pilots are ready to operate all of the famous fighters.

Bad News for Ukraine

Unfortunately, this transition has not been smooth; a Ukrainian-flown F-16 has already crashed in combat resulting in a total loss on August 26. Critics pounced on the news, claiming that the training of Ukrainian pilots had not gone according to plan.

This loss may give Russian pilots of the Su-35 hope. The Su-35 is a strong jet in its own right. It emerged from the shadow of the Su-27. The Flanker-E was created to be a strong dogfighter. Its agility is top-notch, and it can perform 9g maneuvers at a favorable angle of attack.

Su-35 Is One of the Russian Air Force’s Most Modern Jets

The Su-35 is a relatively new warbird, having been developed in the 2000s. Its first flight was in 2008, when intense testing occurred. A prototype crashed in 2009, but the Russian air force was undeterred and ordered 48 Su-35S fighters that year. Final delivery of that batch was completed in 2015.

The Su-35 is 72 feet long with a wingspan of 49 feet. The fighter has a blistering top speed of MACH 2.25 with a ceiling nearing 60,000 feet. The maximum payload is more than 17,000 pounds.

Pilots of the Su-35 Are Ready to Rock With These Features

The Flanker-E features a fly-by-wire system that further modernizes the jet. Two high-resolution liquid crystal displays adorn the cockpit for high visibility and situational awareness. Communications systems have also been upgraded for better ground control capabilities. Lower-weight composite materials allow for better speed and maneuverability.

The Su-35 has 12 hardpoints for weapons. Things get interesting because the Flanker-E can be armed to the gills. First are the air-to-air missiles that can be guided by radar and infrared. Then, you have air-to-ground missile options that can remove multiple targets, including enemy radar installations. Plus, the Su-35 can carry anti-ship missiles. Moreover, the Flanker-E can drop various precision-guided bombs and unguided rockets for close air support or ground strike missions.

Su-35 Versus the F-16

The match-up against the F-16 is interesting. The Su-35 is a bit faster than the F-16. The Su-35 has two engines versus one for the F-16. That means if one goes out in battle the Flanker-E can continue on with its mission.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, flies over Phoenix during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Nov. 7, 2021. F-16 pilots assigned to the 56th and 944th FW, which train U.S. Air Force F-16 pilots, performed a 4-ship formation flyover at the conclusion of the U.S. National Anthem at the Phoenix Raceway to kick-off the championship race. Luke AFB continually bolsters partnerships with various organizations around Arizona, gaining support from the surrounding community.

Which Fighter Has the Upper Hand?

Guy McCardle, the managing editor of Special Operations Forces Report (SOFREP), told Newsweek that both warbirds have plus-sides. “The F-16 features a frameless bubble canopy for better visibility and a side-mounted control stick to ease control and maneuvering,” McCardle said. “The Flanker has thrust-vectoring engines to help with maneuvering, a robust radar system capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously, and advanced countermeasures against enemy radar.”

The F-16 weighs less than the Su-35, but the Flanker-E has greater range and can carry more weapons. Meanwhile, the F-16 has a better radar system that can spot a Flanker-E quickly, giving it a greater ability to score a kill against it.

Of course, this all assumes that Ukrainian F-16 pilots are just as good as Americans. The Russian Air Force may keep the Flanker-E in ground strike mode since it is almost a fighter bomber instead of an air superiority model.

Hellenic air force F-16C Fighting Falcons fly alongside a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing Oct. 26, 2017, over the Mediterranean Sea. During this flight, the KC-135 participated in aerial refueling training with 22 F-16s. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tenley Long)

However, seeing how Ukrainians adapt to the F-16 will be interesting. Currently, with the latest crash, the F-16 will likely fly only defensive missions against Russian missiles and drones. But don’t underestimate Ukrainian pilots. The F-16 has many advantages and stacks up favorably against the Su-35.

I look forward to potential battles between the two.

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.