Su-35 Su-35 is a profound modernized variant of the Su-27 fighter aimed to enhance the aircraft combat efficiency when attacking aerial,...
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| Su-35 |
The super-maneuverable 4++ generation fighter employs fifth generation technologies.
Aerodynamically it is similar to the Su-27. But unlike the Indian Su-30MKI it has no canard fins and all the three channels will have electrically signaled control without mechanical cabling.
Among the Su-35 design features, worth of note is the absence of an overhead brake flap, a standard characteristic of the Su-27/Su-30. Its functions are performed by an active rudder.
The Su-35 chassis has been reinforced to absorb the increased takeoff and landing weight. For the same reason, the front bearing has two wheels.
The improved airframe, dramatically increases its service life to 6,000 hours, sufficient for 30 years of operation.
Composite materials have been used for non-structural items such as the radomes, nose wheel, door and leading-edge flaps. Some of the fuselage structures are of carbon fibre and aluminium lithium alloy.
The improved radar stealth reduces the reflectance of the Su-35 in the X radio waveband and in the angle range of ±60°.
The first experimental flight of Su-35 was completed in summer 2007 at Komsomolsk-na-Amure Aviation Production Association (KnAAPO) and made its debut at Russia’s MAKS-2007 air show.
Avionics
The aircraft has a quadruplex, digital fly-by-wire control - KSU-35 integrated flight control system, developed by the Avionika Moscow Research and Production Complex JSC (MNPK Avionika).
The core of the Su-35 cockpit instrumentation suite are two full-color multi-function liquid crystal displays of MFI type, a multi-function panel with a built-in display processor, a wide angle collimatory display on the windshield and a control and indication panel.
MFI multi-function displays with a built-in processor measure 9 x 12 inches (diagonal 15 inches) and have a resolution of 1400x1050 pixels. They are intended for reception, processing and production, in a multiple window mode, of graphic, numeric, alphabetic and symbolic information. They also present televised information received from onboard TV sensors and impose on it synthesized numeric, alphabetic and symbolic information. Besides, they produce and send video signals in a digital format to the video record unit. The multi-function panel with a built-in display processor presents the required information and issues commands by pushing the buttons on the button array at any time in flight.
The airborne collimatory display with a built-in processor monitors the space beyond the cockpit. The information is processed by control signals. The collimator angle of view is 20x30 degree.
The onboard systems and armament in the new cockpit of Su-35 are controlled by buttons and switches on the aircraft control joystick and engine control levers as well as by a button array on multi-function displays. Thus the HOTAS concept is realized on this aircraft.
The displays and some other avionics systems of Su-35 are developed by Instrument Design Bureau of Ramenskoye and affiliated companies of Tekhnokompleks Research and Production Association.
The aircraft's electronic warfare suite includes a radar warning system, radar jammer, co-operative radar jamming system, missile approach warner, laser warner and chaff and flare dispenser.
The cockpit is fitted with a Zvesda K-36D-3.5E zero-zero ejection seat which allows the pilot to eject at zero speed and at zero altitude.
The aircraft's electronic warfare suite includes a radar warning system, radar jammer, co-operative radar jamming system, missile approach warner, laser warner and chaff and flare dispenser.
The cockpit is fitted with a Zvesda K-36D-3.5E zero-zero ejection seat which allows the pilot to eject at zero speed and at zero altitude.
Radar
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| Irbis-E AESA Radar |
The core of the Su-35 armament is a new radar control system with a phased antenna array Irbis-E radar. It features unique capabilities in terms of the target detection range. The 900mm passive phased array antenna is mounted on a hydraulic actuator for mechanical steering.
This is a development V V Tikhomirov Research Institute of Instrument Production. In design,this is an X-waveband multi-role radar with a passive phased antenna array (PAA) mounted on a two-step hydraulic drive unit (in azimuth and roll).
The antenna device scans by an electronically controlled beam in azimuth and angle of elevation in sectors not smaller than 60°. The two-step electro-hydraulic drive unit additionally turns the antenna by mechanic means to 60° in azimuth and 120° in roll. Thus, in using the electronic control and mechanical additional turn of the antenna, the maximum deflection angle of the beam grows to 120°.
Irbis-E radar control system detects and tracks up to 30 air targets, retaining continuity of space observation and engaging up to eight targets. The system detects, chooses and tracks up to four ground targets in several map-making modes with various resolution at a range of up to 400 km, without stopping to monitor the airspace.
Irbis-E radar detects air targets with an absolute cross section of 3 m2 on a head-on course at a range of up to 400 km.
Powerplant
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| Massive Twin Lyulka AL-31F Engines |
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| 117S Engine |
The engines are substantially modified AL-31F production engines employing fifth-generation technologies. They use a new fan, new high and low pressure turbines, and a new digital control system.A provision is made for using a vectored thrust nozzle.
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| Two powerful 117S bypass turbojet engines All-axis thrust vector control |
The new engine produces 142 kN (32,000 lb) of thrust in afterburner and 86.3 kN (19,400 lb) dry thrust and a dry weight of 1420 kilogram.
The engine thrust has been enlarged by 2.5 tonnes when compared with the AL-31 engine, while the engine weight were reduced by 150 kilograms.This allows to supercruise i.e. move at a supersonic cruise speed without the use of afterburner.
Compared to today’s AL-31F engines, their capabilities will grow substantially, by 2 to 2.7 times. For instance, the between-repair period will grow from 500 to 1,000 hours (the operating period before the first overhaul is 1,500 hours). The designed period will vary between 1,500 and 4,000 hours.
The 117S engines will be co-produced by Ufa-based Motor Building Association and Rybinsk-based NPO Saturn Research and Production Association.
The first production 117S engines were delivered to KnAAPO in early 2007 for testing on the first experimental Su-35 aircraft.On February 19, 2008 the Su-35 aircraft powered with 117S engines successfully performed its first test flight.
Armaments
One internal GSh-301 30mm cannon with 150 rounds; up to 8,000 kg (17,640 lb) of ordnance carried on up to twelve external hardpoints, including air-to-air missiles, freefall and cluster bombs, unguided rockets, external fuel tanks, guided bombs and air-to-surface missiles. |
| R-73E |
The aircraft's air-to-air missiles can include the Vympel R-27 (Nato designation AA-10 Alamo), the Vympel radar-guided medium-range R-77 (AA-12 Adder) and the Vympel short-range infrared-guided R-73E (AA-11 Archer).
The aircraft's air-to-surface missiles include the Molniya Kh-29 (AS-14 Kedge) tactical missiles, the Kh-31P (AS-17 Krypton) anti-radiation missiles and the long-range Kh-58UShE (AS-11 Kilter) anti-radiation missiles.
The Su-35 anti-ship missiles include Kh-31A, the long-range Kh-59MK (AS-18 Kazoo), the long-range Kalibr and the NPO Mashinostroenia heavy long-range Yakhont missile.
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| 12 Hardpoints |
Fuel System
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| Fuel tank and fuel line plumbing |
Su-35 cutaway
