Russian Su-35 Has Close Encounter With F-35 Near Alaska

Footage released on April 4 has shown a close encounter between a U.S. Air Force F-35A and a Russian Aerospace Forces Su-35 near Alaska, with the F-35 seen encroaching on the Russian jet and successfully positioning itself forward and to the right of it. The Russian fighters were escorting Tu-95MS strategic bombers near the coast of the American state, as they have done frequently during patrols. Although Su-35s have been involved in close encounters with American combat aircraft in the past, this is their first such encounter with U.S. Air Force F-35s. Prior such encounters have included several with MQ-9 Reaper drones over Syria, and a threatening approach to a U.S. Air Force F-16 near Alaska in September 2024. The latter incident saw a Su-35 cut in front of and across the F-16’s path at very close range, in what was referred to by some sources as a ‘headbutting’ manoeuvre. When configured for stealth operations, the F-35 is notably less well equipped than the F-16 to engage the Su-35 within visual ranges, as the fighter are incapable of carrying visual range air-to-air missiles without compromising their stealth profiles. This provides the Su-35 with a major advantage at such ranges despite the limited capabilities of its R-73/74 visual range missiles.

Russian Su-35s were on November 30 deployed alongside Chinese J-16 fighters to escort respective Tu-95 and H-6 strategic bombers for operations near Alaska, raising concerns in the United States that the much more sophisticated Chinese aircraft could in future place further pressure on Alaskan defences. The Su-35’s engagement with an F-35 closely follows confirmation in the final week of March that the scale of the fighter class’ production will be expanded, which will allow Russia both to operationalise new squadrons more quickly in its own fleet and to better meet export orders, namely those from Iran and Algeria. The Su-35 entered service in the Russian Aerospace Force just months before the U.S. Air Force operationalised the F-35A, and is considered a ‘4++ generation’ aircraft compared to the fifth generation F-35. The fighter has a significantly longer range, carries a significantly larger primary radar and a far greater weapons payload, and has a superior flight performance across the spectrum of parameters including a supercruise capability. The F-35, however, benefits from avionics that are thought to be far more sophisticated, as well as world leading stealth capabilities. The F-35 is thought to have a significantly superior overall combat performance at beyond visual ranges for both air-to-air and strike operations.