The Su-35: How Russia's Super Flanker Evolved from a Cold War Prototype

Countries & Cities · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born from the Soviet-era Su-27, the Sukhoi Su-35 is a 4.5 generation fighter defined by its extreme agility and thrust-vectoring engines. Originally designed as an interim export solution, this supermaneuverable aircraft has since become a cornerstone of the Russian Aerospace Forces, seeing combat from Syrian skies to the Ukrainian front.

The Su-35's lineage traces back to the early 1980s, when the Sukhoi Design Bureau began developing the Su-27M. This early iteration, which first flew in 1988, introduced canards—small lifting surfaces ahead of the wings—to improve maneuverability. While the Soviet Union's dissolution halted mass production, these prototypes became essential test-beds for advanced technologies like thrust-vectoring engines and phased-array radar. By the 1990s, Sukhoi rebranded the aircraft as the Su-35 to attract international buyers, showcasing its capabilities at global airshows.

In 2003, Sukhoi launched a second, more comprehensive modernization program, internally designated T-10BM. Engineers removed the canards, finding that modern thrust-vectoring nozzles could provide superior control without the weight penalty. This version, the Su-35S, features the N035 Irbis-E radar, capable of tracking thirty airborne targets and engaging eight simultaneously. The cockpit was also completely redesigned to reduce pilot workload, replacing older cathode-ray tube displays with large liquid crystal screens and integrating Hands On Throttle-And-Stick (HOTAS) controls.

The Su-35S entered operational service in 2014, following a series of state joint tests that began in 2011. Its combat debut occurred in Syria in 2016, where it performed air superiority missions and intercepted foreign aircraft. Since 2022, the type has seen extensive use in the conflict in Ukraine. Despite its advanced capabilities, the aircraft has faced losses to both enemy air defenses—including MIM-104 Patriot systems—and, in at least one instance, a friendly-fire incident involving a Russian S-300 missile system.

While the Su-35 was initially conceived as an export-focused interim fighter to bridge the gap until the introduction of the Su-57, it has become a staple of the Russian fleet. The 100th serial Su-35S was produced by December 2018, and the aircraft continues to serve in various roles, including as part of the Russian Knights aerobatics team. It remains a testament to the evolution of the Su-27 family, blending legacy airframe design with modern avionics and propulsion.

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