Russia receives its first Su-35S in 2025. Technical analysis of the delivery, the capabilities of the fighters and the production issues.

The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), under the aegis of Rostec, delivered the first batch of Su-35S fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) in March 2025. These 4++ generation aircraft, factory tested and validated by military technicians, incorporate digitally controlled engines and advanced weapon systems. Designed for air superiority and ground strikes, they offer an extended operational range of up to 3,600 km. Vladimir Artyakov of Rostec emphasizes their versatility, while Vadim Badekha of UAC announces an acceleration of production of the Su-34, Su-35 and Su-57, supported by investments in infrastructure and training. This delivery reinforces the modernization of the VKS, despite economic and industrial pressures.

Delivery of the Su-35S: a key step for the VKS

In March 2025, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) delivered the first batch of Su-35S fighters of the year to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS). These aircraft, manufactured at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant, underwent a full cycle of factory tests, including ground and flight tests in various operational conditions. Military technicians validated their conformity before their transfer to a designated base, the location of which remains confidential. This delivery is part of the national defense plan, aimed at maintaining Russian air capacity in the face of losses suffered, particularly in Ukraine, where more than 120 planes have been shot down since 2022 according to independent estimates.

The Su-35S, a modernized version of the Su-27, weighs 34.5 tons at takeoff and reaches a maximum speed of 2,500 km/h (Mach 2.25). Its annual production varies, but in 2024, four batches were delivered, or about 8 to 12 aircraft, with each batch typically consisting of 2 to 3 units. This rate reflects an industry under strain, with a unit cost estimated at 40 million euros, excluding armament. The consequences are direct: each delivery strengthens the VKS, but the pace remains insufficient to compensate for rapid combat losses, forcing prioritization of critical missions such as coverage of Su-34 bombers.
The impact goes beyond the battlefield. This delivery signals the resilience of Russian industry in the face of Western sanctions, which limit access to advanced electronic components. Delays in deliveries of proprietary parts, such as Irbis-E radars, underscore a persistent dependence on fragile supply chains.

Technical capabilities of the Su-35S: a versatile asset

The Su-35S stands out for its advanced technical characteristics, positioning it as a transition platform to fifth-generation systems. Its AL-41F1S engines, equipped with vectored thrust, each generate 142 kN with afterburner, compared to 122 kN for the Su-27’s older AL-31Fs. This improvement increases maneuverability, allowing for tight turns at 9 g, a tactical advantage in close combat. Digital engine control also optimizes fuel consumption, extending the range to 3,600 km without refueling, extendable to 4,500 km with external tanks.

The armament includes a 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon (150 shells) and 12 hardpoints for air-to-air missiles (R-77, R-37M) and air-to-ground missiles (Kh-29, KAB-500** bombs), totaling 8 tons of payload. The Irbis-E PESA radar detects targets at 350 km, although it is less powerful than the AESA radars of the F-35 or Su-57. These capabilities make it a versatile aircraft, capable of air superiority, ground attack and reconnaissance missions, even in bad weather, thanks to its infrared systems.

The operational consequences are significant. In Syria, from 2016, the Su-35S provided protection for the Su-34, shooting down drones and enemy fighters at long range. However, in Ukraine, their vulnerability to modern anti-aircraft defenses, such as the Ukrainian S-300s, has been exposed, with at least three confirmed losses in 2024. This duality – raw power versus limitations in the face of advanced threats – requires a reassessment of tactics and an increased reliance on electronic countermeasures.

Acceleration of production: ambitions and realities

Vadim Badekha, director of UAC, has announced a clear priority: to increase production of the Su-34, Su-35 and Su-57. In 2024, 14 batches of these models were delivered, i.e. around 25 to 35 aircraft, according to estimates based on past declarations. For 2025, UAC is aiming for a 20% increase, requiring massive investment. The cost of modernizing factories, such as the one in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, is around 1 billion euros over five years, financed by Rostec and the federal budget.

This acceleration is in response to a strategic emergency. The losses in Ukraine – around 10 Su-35S shot down since 2022 – require rapid renewal. However, the current capacity is capped at 30 aircraft per year for all models combined, far from the 200 Su-35s initially targeted by 2030. The bottlenecks include technician training – 10,000 hours per operator to master advanced systems – and the semiconductor shortage, exacerbated by sanctions. UAC is actively recruiting, with 2,000 new employees in 2024, but the skilled labor shortage persists.

The consequences are twofold. In the short term, the VKS maintains a credible force, but in the long term, Russia risks stagnating in the face of competitors such as the United States, which produces 100 F-35s annually. Exporting to customers such as Iran (24 Su-35S ordered in 2023) is becoming an economic outlet, generating around 1 billion euros, but it dilutes the resources available to the VKS.

Strategic issues: modernization under pressure

The Su-35S is at the heart of Russia’s modernization strategy. With 110 units in service by the end of 2022, it represents 20% of the VKS’s modern fighter fleet. Its production supports an industry employing 50,000 people at UAC and Rostec, but the challenges are immense. Sanctions limit access to foreign technologies, forcing costly localization – the price of composites for wings has jumped 30% since 2022.

On the military front, the Su-35S strengthens deterrence against NATO, but its shortcomings – lack of stealth and PESA radar – make it less competitive against the F-22 or F-35. In Ukraine, it excels in long-range strikes (up to 300 km with the R-37M), but its survival depends on coverage by ground-to-air systems such as the S-400. On the export market, its attractive price (40 million euros compared to 80 million for an F-35) is appealing, but delivery delays, as with Egypt in 2020, tarnish its reputation.

The geopolitical consequences are clear: Russia maintains an offensive posture, but its dependence on the Su-35S, in the absence of a mass-produced Su-57 (fewer than 20 operational units), reveals an unfinished transition to the fifth generation, weakening its position in the long term.

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