PLAAF's Su-35 is in Trouble : Vietnam Media

08 Desember 2018

PLAAF Su-35 fighter (photo : da feng)

China praised the Su-35SK's performance, but on the other hand they have made clear signs that the prospect of a possible repeat buy is very low.

According to the latest announcement from Russia, the KnAAPO aviation industry group has completed the delivery of 24 Su-35SK 4th Generation Multipurpose Combat Fighter to the PLAAF under a contract worth 2 billion USD signed in 2016.

Immediately, the Chinese Air Force published several Su-35SK fighter images of the 6th Brigade in a state of combat readiness.

PLAAF Su-35 fighter (photo : dambiev)

Initial assessment of the PLAAF is that the Su-35's advantages are its high maneuverability thanks to the AL-41F1S 3-D vector-driven vector control engine, which has a durability of 6,000 flight hours (equivalent to combat Western engine and double Su-30) and large range.

On the one hand, China praised the features of the Su-35SK, but on the other hand they have made clear that the prospect of a repeat buy order is very low, as demonstrated by the identification of the "triangular iron" of the PLAAF, in the future has no room for the Su-35SK but only includes the J-20, J-16 and J-10.

PLAAF Su-35 fighter (photo : Yuri Vladimirovich)

The first weakness that China complained about the Su-35 was its avionics, which was quite normal, and was even marginalized when placed next to the latest variants of the J-11 or J-16.

China's electronics industry has made great strides in the development of many types of active-phase active-scanning radar (AESA) radars for integrated fighter jets, while the Su -35SK still uses N035 Irbis-E passive scan (PESA) backward than a generation.

PLAAF Su-35 fighter (photo : dambiev)

The issue of Su-35SK weapons is also a problem for China when it is difficult to integrate domestic air-defense missiles for the Su-35SK that are advertised as superior features such as the PL-15 R-77.

In addition, the Su-35SK uses Russia's own communications system, which is different from China, so it can not work together effectively.

Finally, the Chinese aviation industry has been self-sufficient from A to Z in all stages of production, so the use of an exotic fighter will make it difficult to make logistics, technically feasible.

(BaoDatViet)