Key Points – Russia announced on June 25th that its air force has received a new batch of Su-35S “Flanker-E” fighter jets, its most capable multi-role combat aircraft.
-Russian officials praised the jet’s performance in Ukraine, highlighting its ability to use a broad range of weapons like the long-range, nuclear-capable R-37M missile and precision-guided bombs.
-However, despite being a fast and highly maneuverable 4++ generation fighter with advanced radar, the Su-35S has suffered significant losses in Ukraine.
-The new delivery aims to bolster Russia’s struggling air campaign and achieve the air superiority that has so far proven elusive.
More Russian Su-35S Fighter Jets Headed to Service in the War In Ukraine
Russia has acquired a new order of what could be its best fighter jet – the Su-35S. This batch of fighters will help the country strike back against Ukraine in an aerial campaign in which the Russian air force has struggled.
The new order announced on June 25 should help the invaders create air superiority in the skies over Ukraine – a level of aerial prowess that has proved elusive for Russia. The exact number of the latest delivery is undisclosed.
The Su-35S is a fourth-generation “++” fighter that is speedy and maneuverable. It is a multirole warplane that can outfight enemy aircraft and conduct ground strikes against military targets on land and sea.
The Su-35S is an all-weather 24/7 fighter that can deliver the deadly glide bombs against Ukraine that have proven so effective during the war.
Russia Believes This Fighter Is One of Russia’s Best
In a statement, Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec, said, “Military pilots highly rate the characteristics of the Su-35S. During the special military operation [war in Ukraine], the aircraft has proven itself as the best in its class.
It allows the use of a broad range of weapons at all altitudes and speeds and enables advanced piloting and combat tactics. These fighters demonstrate excellent flight performance and superior navigation and targeting systems. Our aircraft help complete assigned missions and bring us closer to victory,” according to Defense-Blog.com.
The manufacturer of the Su-35S, UAC/ Rostec, thinks that production of the fighter can become at least 30 percent more efficient due to economies of scale and a work force that is highly expert and experienced. The Russians believe that more Su-35S fighters will be ordered and delivered to the air force soon.
The Su-35S is approximately 17 years old and has undergone improvements over the years, including enhanced stealth capabilities, a new radar, and improved thrust-vectoring engines.
The Su-35S can reach full speed without afterburners.
Powerful Group of Armaments for Su-35S
The jet can carry an impressive combat payload with 12 air-to-air missiles, which is more than the F-22 Raptor.
The Su-35S can also deliver four longer-range, nuclear-capable R-37M missiles that have MACH 6 speed, with a 132-pound warhead and a range of 248 miles.
The Su-35S has also dropped a high number of KAB-500 precision-guided bombs during the war.
Radar, Engines, and Electronic Warfare Capabilities Are Top-Notch
The Irbis-E radar system is one of the best in Europe with a long range and ability to identify and track multiple targets at once. The Irbis-E is a highly modernized radar that gives the fourth generation ++ fighter the kind of qualities that make it a tough customer in aerial combat.
The Su-35S is a fast jet and can reach speeds over MACH 2. Its combat radius is 2,236 miles.
The Su-35S is also adept at electronic warfare capabilities to spoof and jam enemy radar. The Khibiny-M electronic warfare system is highly capable and is supposed to make the Su-35S more survivable.
At least that is what the Russians thought before the war started. The Su-35 family of warbirds has not enjoyed a great war.
In November 2023, the Ukrainians downed five Su-35s in just one month. This is due to the Ukrainians using their own electronic warfare jamming systems against Russian pilots.
Is This Russian Warbird Better Than the F-16?
Despite these losses, the Russians still claim that the Su-35S is better than the American F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Vladimir Putin has even boasted that the Su-35S has more warfighting capabilities than the F-35 despite its lack of full stealth mode.
The Su-35S is pilot-friendly with all the radar and electronic warfare improvements over the years.
This should have allowed it to have a better combat record over Ukraine. It is noteworthy that the Russians are going all in on the fighter and producing it in great numbers.
The more the Russian air force can send this warbird into combat the better.
Russia hopes to intimidate the Ukrainians with its defense industrial base that can churn out more warplanes for the invaders. If Putin continues to prosecute the war, the Su-35 will be a featured asset of the air force.
Moreover, the Su-35S should be seen as a tactical and strategic warplane with the nuclear-tipped R-37M missiles on board. Operationally, it has been deployed in numbers, but the fighter has not been able to grant the Russians a satisfactory level of air dominance over Ukraine.
Tactics, Operations, and Strategy with the Su-35S
Look for the defense industrial base to deliver more Su-35S airplanes to the theater. This will give the Russian air force more options when it comes to aerial combat, but Ukraine has been able to actively engage the Su-35 family and shoot them down at will.
Nonetheless, the Su-35S is likely the best fighter in the Russian fleet. It is versatile, fast, and intended to grant more survivability to pilots, but it hasn’t executed well during the war.
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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Mger Antonyan
September 27, 2025 at 7:59 pm
Believe in Zelensky and his team as you believe in God!!!! Even it is fake information!!!!!!!