Published on August 14, 2025, 6:36 PM EDT – Key Points and Summary: Despite being touted as a top-tier “4++ generation” fighter, Russia’s Su-35 has suffered significant and unsustainable losses in Ukraine, highlighting the broader failure of its air force to achieve air superiority.
-With at least eight confirmed losses and Ukrainian claims of up to 25, the fleet of approximately 114 jets is being steadily degraded.
-The shootdown of an Su-35 by a Ukrainian F-16 using an AIM-120 AMRAAM has exposed the aircraft’s vulnerabilities.
-Plagued by what some experts call “overhyped” capabilities and an inability to replace combat losses, the Su-35’s performance has been a disaster.
Russia’s Su-35 Losses In Ukraine Highlight the Failure Of the VKS
Russia possesses approximately 114 Su-35S fighter jets. This number is based on the latest estimates from sources like the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA).
While some sources might cite slightly different figures, the consensus is that Russia’s Su-35 fleet is close to this number. However, it’s worth noting that Russia has had some losses of the aircraft in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Despite the claimed capability of a 4th-generation++ aircraft, the Su-35 and Russian aviation have suffered over the skies of Ukraine. The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) have failed to establish air superiority over Ukraine.
This failure has led to the deadly war of attrition and a stalemate where the number of casualties has soared.
At least eight Russian Su-35 fighter jets have reportedly been lost in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Some sources suggest the number could be higher, with unconfirmed reports estimating over 25 losses. Russia has lost about 100 combat aircraft since the “Special Military Operation” began three and a half years ago.
Ukraine shot down one Su-35 in June, in the Kursk region, reportedly by an F-16, with video evidence of the wreckage emerging. The losses, whether through Ukrainian fire, friendly fire, or accidents, highlight the challenges faced by Russia’s air force in the conflict.
This is exacerbated by Russia’s struggle to produce and replace aircraft.
Number Of Su-35 Losses Varies by Source
Multiple sources indicate at least eight confirmed losses of Su-35s. If that number is correct, it hasn’t reached critical status yet; however, unconfirmed reports suggest the number could be closer to 25 or even higher.
The Ukrainian military has claimed to have shot down 25 Su-35s since the invasion. While that number may be inflated, if it were close to that number, those would be near-catastrophic losses of nearly a quarter of Russia’s Su-35 fleet.
Impact on Russia’s Capabilities and Manufacturing
The Su-35 is an advanced fighter jet, and these losses, along with other aircraft losses, are impacting Russia’s air combat capabilities in the conflict.
The recent downing of a Su-35 in the Kursk region, claimed by Ukraine, is significant as it may represent the first air-to-air kill of a Su-35 by a Ukrainian F-16, according to some military analysts.
According to Oryx, an open-source intelligence tracker, Russia has lost numerous advanced aircraft, including Su-35s. The Su-35 was developed from the Su-27 to match Western fourth-generation fighters like the F-15 Eagle and F-14 Tomcat. It has seen production halted and restarted due to economic constraints following the collapse of the USSR, as well as Western sanctions.
Losses are attributed to Ukrainian air defenses, including potential engagements with F-16s and other systems. Friendly fire incidents and accidents have also been reported.
The Su-35: A 4th-Generation++ Fighter Or Just Overhyped
The Russians have struggled to replace their aircraft losses. In late June, however, it announced that the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) had delivered a fresh batch of Su-35s. The exact number is unknown.
Rostec’s first deputy CEO, Vladimir Artyakov, was quick to sing the praises of the Su-35S’s capabilities.
“The new fighter jets of generation 4++ have passed a full cycle of factory tests in various operational regimes and flew to the deployment airfield,” Artyakov said, who added that Russia’s pilots have praised the “Superflanker” as being the best of its class.
“The fighter jets display the best flying qualities, excellent characteristics of navigational complexes, and sights. The craft fulfilled all missions and bring the victory closer,” Artyakov said, according to Russian state media Tass.
However, in a post by the Aviation Geek Club writer Dario Leone, he excoriated the Su-35, calling it the most overhyped 4th-generation fighter aircraft.
“It’s marketed as ‘world-beating’ – something it doesn’t come close to,” Abhirup Sengupta, an aviation expert, said.
“Despite being marketed as 4++ gen, Su-35 has the least capable avionics suite among its competitors. It’s the only major 4th-generation aircraft without an AESA radar or any form of Sensor Fusion.”
“The Irbis-E is marketed as having a 350 km range against 3 m^2 target while in reality that’s only in cued-search in a tiny FoV. What’s rarely stated is that in normal volume search that range shrinks down to 200 km.
“More importantly, Su-35’s radar has a maximum targeting range of 250 km—even for a B-52-like target.
“There are many 4th gen. aircraft that have some aspect of them hyped up to a degree, but none come close to the extent of hype with Su-35 and Flanker family in general. Look beneath the propaganda, and they really don’t excel anywhere outside maybe air shows.”
Significance Of the F-16 Kill
The loss of the Su-35 in June to an American-made F-16 is noteworthy for several reasons. First of all, it was Russia’s first loss of the “Super Flanker” in air-to-air combat. All previous losses had been from surface-to-air missiles or ground fire.
Later reports noted that the F-16 received targeting data for the downed Su-35S, provided by a Swedish-made Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
In addition, the Su-35S was likely destroyed by an AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile). Designed to operate as both a beyond-visual-range (BVR) and within-visual-range (WVR), the AIM-120 employs inertial guidance and active radar homing for very accurate target acquisition. Its fire-and-forget capabilities also enable the launching aircraft to disengage immediately.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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