Su-35: Russia’s Top Fighter Jet Takes a Beating

by Maya Carlin, Warrior Contributor, Weapons

Russia’s fleet of fourth-generation Su-35 fighter jets have monopolized headlines since the invasion of Ukraine. However, these “cutting-edge” airframes have garnered attention primarily for negative reasons. 

Industry experts and analysts widely concur that Moscow’s top-of-the line platform has not performed as expected in combat.

Nonetheless, an Su-35 fighter was scrambled over the Baltic Sea back in March to confront two U.S. strategic bombers veering towards the border. Although the two bombers ultimately flew away, 

Russia’s defense ministry said it sent the Su-35 jet over to “prevent a border violation.” Considering the jets’ lackluster track-record so far in combat, perhaps the remaining Su-35 fighters would be best put to use monitoring the border.

A brief overview of the Su-35 fighter

During the Cold War, the Russian defense company Sukhoi was tasked with developing a supermaneuverable airframe that could go up against America’s own fleet of fourth-generation fighters.

 The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and Grumman F-14 Tomcat were particularly threatening to the Soviet Union’s aging arsenal of jets.

The Su-35 became the designation for two improved variants of the older Su-27 air-defense fighter platform. By the late 1980’s, the first Su-35 prototype (formerly known as the Su-27M) took its maiden flight.