Russian site Avia said that Iran intends to buy 64 Su-35 “war gods” from Russia to form 5 air squadrons. The value of this deal is up to 10 billion USD.
Russian media reported that Iran intends to buy 64 “war gods” from Russia, which will allow the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to create 5 air squadrons.
“Iranian Air Force Commander Hamid Vahedi confirmed that the Islamic Republic is looking to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia. Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi added that the purchase of Su-35 is on the agenda of the country’s air force,” Avia reported.
The purchase of a large batch of Russian Su-35 generation 4++ fighters will give Iran an undeniable advantage in the region. This deal is expected to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia for up to 10 billion USD. Russian media said that, if approved, Iran could receive the first Su-35s by the end of this year.
The Sukhoi Su-35 (NATO designation: Flanker-E+) is a 4++ generation, twin-engine, long-range heavy fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi Military Aircraft Corporation based on the Su-27 Flanker design. from the Cold War era, to confront the American F-15 Eagle.
The first prototype was unveiled in 1992 at the Farnborough International Airshow (UK) and has been in service with the Russian Air Force since 1995.
In the mid-2000s, with advanced technologies, Sukhoi began to modernize the Su-35 into a 4.5-generation fighter. The Russian side said that the improvements in the external appearance, as well as the internal components, help the Su-35 have better combat performance.
Compared to the Su-27 and Su-30, the Su-35 has a larger nose; greater use of carbon fiber, and lithium-aluminum alloys in the fuselage structure, and wider and squarer tail fins; The airframe is largely made of lightweight titanium.
Su-35 uses a new 3-dimensional vector thruster Saturn AL-41F1S (also known as 117S) using advanced low-pressure turbine and high-pressure turbine technology combined with aTwo laser detectors on either side of the aircraft’s front end can detect laser projectors at a distance of 30 km. precise digital control system. SDU-D increases overall thrust by 16%.
The AL-41F1S engine nozzle can move in different directions, supporting the rudders, helping the Su-35 have an extremely narrow circle, able to avoid missiles as well as dominate in round combat.
However, it is not capable of flying at supersonic speeds; when accelerating, still has to use the afterburner mode.
The ceiling of the Su-35 is 18,000m, equal to the F-15 and F-22, and 3,500m higher than the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Rafale, and F-35.
Su-35 has 22% more fuel reserve than Su-27; can reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.25 at high altitude (equal to F-22 and faster than F-35, F-16). 1,700km combat radius without aerial refueling.
When carrying two extra fuel tanks, the flight range reaches 4,500km; Su-35 has the ability to refuel in the air, and radar reflectivity (RCS) is only 1-3 m2. The Su-35 has 12 weapon hangers that help them carry a total of 8 tons of weapons.
The Su-35 can use the R-77 Vympel missile with a range of up to 175km, equivalent to the US AIM-120 missile. Su-35 is also equipped with medium-range R-27 and long-range R-37 missiles used to destroy early warning aircraft (AWAC), electronic warfare (EW), and aerial refueling aircraft.
In close-range air combat, the Su-35 uses an infrared-guided missile R-73 Vympel capable of capturing targets with a sensor mounted on the pilot’s helmet; missile probes can “see” the target at an angle of 60°; 300m – 30km range; and a 30mm caliber cannon with 150 rounds of ammunition.
The IRBIS -E semi-active phased array radar equipped on the Su-35 has a 240° scanning capability, a detection distance of 400 km for strategic bomber targets, and 90 km for tactical aircraft.
Radar can lock up to 30 different targets, including 8 targets that can be locked almost continuously with enough accuracy to simultaneously destroy with medium-range air-to-air missiles with active probes.
This radar can fire two targets simultaneously with missiles with a semi-active probe. The Su-35 is equipped with the OLS-35 infrared search and track (IRST) system, which can track four infrared signals with different short wavelengths at once.
The maximum detection distance is 90 km (the tail of the target) and 50 km (in front of the target) which the enemy aircraft will not be able to detect so that it can silently attack the target without warning. no need to turn on the search radar.
An infrared missile alarm system with 6 sensors located in front of the fuselage covering all angles, can detect man-portable air defense missiles, air-to-air missiles, and surface-to-air missiles within range. vi 10km, 30km, and 50km, respectively.
Two laser detectors on either side of the aircraft’s front end can detect laser projectors at a distance of 30 km.
The Su-35 is also equipped with a powerful L175M Khibiny electronic jamming system to jam radar signals.
Currently, Russia has upgraded a number of Su-35s to the Su-35S standard with enhanced avionics upgrades to meet the needs of modern warfare.
