The Su-35’s major advantage in combat comes from its supermaneuverability, which few Western aircraft can match.
Western media reports on the ongoing Ukraine War have typically lionized the capabilities of the Ukrainian side, while downplaying the strengths of the Russians. Hence it has come as a surprise to some observers that Ukraine’s NATO-donated F-16s have mostly been ineffective against the Russian Su-35—with the spokesman of the Ukrainian Air Force even admitting candidly in 2023 that the F-16s were “outdated” and “cannot counter” the Russian fourth-generation++ warplane.
Russia Has Adapted, And NATO Has Not
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it was widely derided in the Western press for relying on inferior Soviet-era equipment. Indeed, the Russian army’s failures in the opening days of the conflict came at least in part from relying on such equipment against the modern munitions provided to Ukraine by NATO—most notably the Javelin missile.
But in all wars, adaptation is key—and Russia has spent the last three years remedying the inadequacies of their older Soviet equipment and augmenting it after many hard lessons learned in the killing fields of eastern Ukraine. War is a dynamic enterprise, and whatever systems are used at the start of a conflict—especially if that conflict drags on as the war in Ukraine has—means that the military must adapt their systems constantly based upon battlefield experience. Russia has done this. Ukraine, dependent on modern NATO systems, mostly has not—with predictable results in combat. Moreover, Moscow has married its war-time defense industrial base to the need for constant adaptation of equipment.
The Su-35 has been the beneficiary of these modifications from painful lessons learned in the killing fields. That’s even before the excellence of its overall design.
Former NATO Commander Says F-35s Would Flee Before Engaging Su-35s
The Su-35’s major advantage in combat comes from its supermaneuverability, which few Western aircraft can match. One former NATO commander opined that the vaunted F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation warplane would “likely retreat” if it detected a Su-35: though the F-35 would almost certainly be able to see the Su-35 first, the Su-35 would probably be able to evade any missiles the F-35 fired at it, before engaging in a dogfight that the Russian fighter would likely win. Indeed, the Su-35’s manufacturer insists that there are no angle-of-attack limits on the plane.
Hypothetical clashes between the F-35 and Su-35 are largely irrelevant to the Ukraine War, though. The fact remains that the Su-35 is a serious power player in the air, regardless of Westerners’ wishes.
As for payload, the Su-35’s armaments package is notable. It can carry up to 12 short-range missiles, four more than the F-22A Raptor. Additionally, four R-37M missiles can be mounted on this warbird, each of which contains a 60-kilogram (132-pound) warhead. The missiles can reportedly reach a staggering Mach 6 and strike targets as far away as 248 miles. There’s also a potent 30mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-301 autocannon that carries 150 rounds.
When it comes to defending itself against Ukrainian air defenses, the Su-35 has the KNIRTI L175M Khibiny-M electronic warfare system (EW), making it difficult for enemy missiles to lock on to the Su-35 as it advances over enemy territory. Between this system, the Su-35’s speed, and its angle-of-attack benefits, this plane is still hard to knock out of the sky.
Ukrainian Reports on Su-35 Losses Are Inaccurate
Indeed, for all the hoopla in Western media sources about how awful Russia’s Su-35 is, there have only been between seven and thirteen Su-35s downed in total—despite previous reporting that Ukraine had shot down dozens of the birds. Even a cursory review of multiple Western and Russian-affiliated sources show that of the fleet of 120 Su-35s that Russia started the war with, there has been a loss rate of at most 11 percent.
In other words, Ukraine’s data pertaining to the loss rate of Russia’s Su-35 is wildly overoptimistic. Therefore, analysts should be more circumspect when assessing the Su-35. After all, if it were truly such an ineffective plane, why then would the Russian military be purchasing dozens more?
It may be helpful to look at recent video shared online from the frontlines of Kursk, where the fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces has been the most severe. It shows how Su-35s have been used by the Russian military to great effect against the Ukrainians below. Western strategists would be foolish to underestimate the warplane.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter@WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / aarrows.