Farnborough Air Show: Russia looking to export state-of-the-art Su-35 fighter jets to India

16 Jul 2008

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Farnborough, England: Russia has expressed its willingness to export the new state-of-the-art Su-35 Flanker-E multi-role air superiority fighter aircraft to India and other partner countries, Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said Tuesday.

Speaking at the Farnborough International Air Show in England, Alexander Mikheyev, head of the air force department at Rosoboronexport said that India, and other partner countries of Russia such as Algeria and Malaysia, could receive the new fighter jets ''if they express their interests while fulfilling our current obligations.''

Sukhoi 35

Part of Russia's United Aircraft Corp, Sukhoi's Su-35 has generated ''a lot of attention,'' according to Sukhoi's deputy head, Sergei Korotkov. He said that the company plans to sell around 160 Su-35s as part of its business plan.

The Su-35 is an advanced air superiority fighter powered by two AL-37F engines, advanced derivatives of the older AL-31F. The Su-35 combines high maneuverability and the capacity to intercept air targets with ground and sea attack capability using both unguided and guided, including high precision, weapons.

The aircraft also features the new Irbis-E radar with a phased antenna array, which allows the pilot to detect and track up to 30 air targets, while engaging up to eight targets simultaneously. The Sukhoi Su-35 is equipped with a 30-mm cannon with 150 rounds, and can carry eight tonnes of combat payload on 12 external mounts.

According to Sukhoi chief, Mikhail Pogosyan, deliveries of the Su-35 to the Russian Air Force will commence in 2010-2011. The bureau will also target ''traditional markets'' in Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. The price of the new fighter "will be quite competitive."

The first prototype Su-35 successfully completed flight tests on 18 February this year. Two more aircraft are being prepared for similar tests at an aircraft manufacturing plant in Russia's Far East. "The tests met our expectations; all systems performed in line with specifications," Pogosyan had said then.

According to Pogosyan, the Su-35 is the first step toward the development of the fifth-generation fighter and its electronics allow testing of equipment to be installed on future aircraft.

"The full development cycle for the [fifth-generation] aircraft takes 7-10 years. We have walked a third of the road," Pogosyan said, adding that the first prototype of the fifth-generation fighter would be built in the next few years.

India and Russia are already in agreement to jointly design and develop the proposed fifth generation fighter aircraft, also referred to as the Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA (Tactical Frontline Fighter).

Last year, Indo-Russian arms trade was valued at a huge $14.5 billion, accounting for weapons systems such as advanced fighters, main battle tanks, and warships. A substantial part of India's military hardware is of Russian origin, with a number of arms and equipment having been manufactured by Russia, or being co-produced in India. Amongst these collaborative partnerships are the MiG and Sukhoi fighters, T-90 and T-72 tanks, AN-32 transport planes, the Ilyushin aircraft, submarines, vessels and missiles.

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