China may receive 10 Russian Su-35 jets in 2017

Feb. 2 (UPI) -- China may receive its second batch of 10 Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets by the end of 2017, according to Russian state media reports.

The Kremlin and Beijing signed off on the procurement of 24 jets in November 2015, and China received four of the planes in 2016. China expects delivery of the remaining 10 jets in 2018.

"The first four vehicles were supplied in late last year and the second batch of 10 jets will be delivered to the customer this year," the TASS news agency reports, quoting an unnamed source.

The Su-35 single-seat, twin-engine multirole fighter upgraded from the Su-27 Soviet-era aircraft. The modernized fighter is equipped with enhanced avionics and more powerful engines. Weapons include one 30mm GSh-301 cannon, unguided rockets, and various missiles and bombs.

While the armed forces of Russia and China are the primary Su-35 operators, the governments of Venezuela, Indonesia, Vietnam and Algeria have also expressed interest in buying the jet.