Outside View: Sukhoi soars again -- Part 1

MOSCOW, July 22 (UPI) -- The first demonstration flight of the Sukhoi Su-35 combat aircraft on July 7, 2008, attracted much attention to this aircraft, which has been undergoing tests since February. The latest addition to the large T-10 -- Sukhoi Su-27 -- family is to become the interim fighter for the Russian air force before fifth-generation aircraft are launched into mass production.

The Sukhoi Su-35, more precisely the Sukhoi Su-35BM, is the second model of the T-10 family to carry that designation. The first Sukhoi Su-35 was manufactured 20 years ago, taking to the skies in 1988 under the designation Sukhoi Su-27M.

In 1991 it was decided to launch the Sukhoi Su-27M into mass production under the designation Su-35. The first serial aircraft took off in April 1992, though this model was never produced in large numbers. Because of the lack of funding between 1992 and 1995, only 12 Sukhoi Su-35s were delivered to the Russian air force. These aircraft have been used for tests and demonstration flights.

Soon the Sukhoi Su-37 was developed on the basis of the Sukhoi Su-35. Often confused with the experimental C.37/Su-47 aircraft, the Sukhoi Su-37 was equipped with thrust-vectoring engines, which was the main difference between this model and the Sukhoi Su-35. The No. 711 Sukhoi Su-37 prototype impressed specialists greatly by its outstanding maneuverability but remained one of a kind.

In the late 1990s the Sukhoi Su-35 was given a new lease on life, as the issue of rejuvenating the Russian air force was raised again. To avoid excessive growth of designation numbers, the new aircraft was given the designation Sukhoi Su-35BM -- "Big Modernization."

In 2008 the 117C engine was developed, enabling the designers to start the flight tests of the new aircraft, scheduled to be finished by 2010. The state armament program for 2006 to 2015, adopted in 2006, envisages mass production of the Sukhoi Su-35BM for the Russian air force, and the Russian Defense Ministry is expected to purchase 182 of these aircraft. In addition, technology developed within the Sukhoi Su-35 project will be used to upgrade the Sukhoi Su-27s to the Su-27CM2 standard.

The creation of the Sukhoi Su-35 is an important step for the Russian air force and the aircraft industry. Taking into account that a fifth-generation fighter would not be in mass production in Russia before 2015, the Sukhoi Su-35BM will help to close the gap, replacing the older Su-27s, which will be decommissioned starting from the next decade.

The technical characteristics of the Sukhoi Su-35 are high enough to fulfill this task.

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(Part 2: Sukhoi Su-35 vs. F-22 Raptor)

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(Ilya Kramnik is a military commentator for RIA Novosti. This article is reprinted by permission of RIA Novosti. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.)

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(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)