Sukhoi Su-35

Su-35/Su-27M
A modernized Su-35S of the Russian Air Force
Role	Multirole air superiority fighter
National origin	Soviet Union Russia
Design group	Sukhoi
Built by	Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO)
First flight	Su-27M: 28 June 1988 Su-35S: 19 February 2008
Introduction	2014
Status	In service
Primary user	Russian Air Force
Produced	Su-27M: 1988–95 Su-35S: 2007–present
Number built	Su-27M: 15 Su-35S: 58, 4 for export
Unit cost	US$40 million to $65 million (estimated)
Developed from	Sukhoi Su-27
Variants	Sukhoi Su-37

The Sukhoi Su-35 (Russian: Сухой Су-35; NATO reporting name: Flanker-E) is a designation for two separate, heavily upgraded derivatives of the Su-27 'Flanker' jet plane. They are single-seat, twin-engine, supermaneuverable multirole fighters, designed by Sukhoi and built by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO).

The first variant was designed during the 1980s, when Sukhoi sought to upgrade its high-performance Su-27, and was initially known as the Su-27M. Later re-designated Su-35, this derivative incorporated aerodynamic refinements with increased manoeuvrability, enhanced avionics, longer range, and more powerful engines. The first Su-35 prototype, converted from a Su-27, made its maiden flight in June 1988. More than a dozen of these were built, some of which were used by the Russian Knights aerobatic demonstration team. The first Su-35 design was later modified into the Su-37, which possessed thrust vectoring engines and was used as a technology demonstrator. A sole Su-35UB two-seat trainer was built in the late 1990s that strongly resembled the Su-30MK family.

In 2003, Sukhoi embarked on a second modernization of the Su-27 to produce what the company calls a 4++ generation fighter that would bridge the gap between legacy fighters and the upcoming fifth-generation Sukhoi PAK FA. This derivative, while omitting the canards and air brake, incorporates a reinforced airframe, improved avionics and radar, thrust-vectoring engines, and a reduced frontal radar signature. In 2008 the revamped variant, erroneously named the Su-35BM in the media, began its flight test programme that would involve four prototypes, one of which was lost in 2009.