New Su-35 Fighters Join Russia’s Rapidly Expanding Fleet: Why is the Air Force Buying Them Faster?

The Russian Aerospace Forces have received a new batch of Su-35 ‘4+ generation’ fighter aircraft, which were reported on June 25 to have been handed over by the state run United Aircraft Corporation under the ongoing State Defence Order. Built at the Komsomolsk on Amur Aircraft Plant in the Russian Far East, the fighters completed the full cycle of factory testing under various operational modes before being dispatched to their operational airfields. Commenting on the delivery, First Deputy General Director of the Russian defence and technology giant Rostec Vladimir Artyakov stated: “Military pilots highly rate the characteristics of the Su-35S. During the special military operation [war in Ukraine], the aircraft has proven itself as the best in its class. It allows the use of a broad range of weapons at all altitudes and speeds, and enables advanced piloting and combat tactics. These fighters demonstrate excellent flight performance and superior navigation and targeting systems. Our aircraft help complete assigned missions and bring us closer to victory.” The Su-35 has been relied on heavily for air-to-air operations in the Ukrainian theatre, and since February 2022 has claimed multiple kills against Ukrainian MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, while suffering no confirmed losses in air-to-air combat.

Further elaborating on plans for the Su-35, General Director of the United Aircraft Coroporation Vadim Badekha observed: “We are committed to maintaining the production rhythm for the aircraft most in demand by our Armed Forces, including the Su-35S. At the same time, we are improving production efficiency. By 2030, we plan to increase labor productivity by 30%. This effort allows us to fulfil larger orders under the State Defense Order using existing resources. This year’s order volume is growing and will exceed last year’s high levels.” Badekha previously revealed in May that work was underway to expand production of the Su-35, with the decision to do so thought have been influenced both by the expectation of major new foreign orders, and by plans to expand the Russian fighter fleet with new procurements. The Algerian Air Force in early 2025 became the second foreign client for the Su-35, while the Iranian Air Force is expected to begin receiving the fighters before the end of the year. Production of the Su-35 was previously expected to be limited to just 200 aircraft, although the rise in tensions with NATO, and major further delays to the development of the Su-57 fifth generation fighter and the PAK DP next generation interceptor, have increased the reliance on the Su-35 as a premier air-to-air combat platform. The expansion of Su-35 production mirrors similar investments made to facilitate more rapid deliveries of the Su-34 and Su-57, both of which have seen production more than double in the past two years.

After the first orders for the Su-35 were placed in 2009, partly to respond to the major deficiencies exposed in the Russian fighter fleet by the Russo-Georgian War the previous year, the first of the aircraft entered service in 2014. They soon afterwards saw their first combat engagements in 2015 when deployed to support counterinsurgency operations in Syria, as well as multiple non-lethal engagements with Western aircraft that were operating against the Syrian state including U.S. Air Force F-22s. The ongoing conflict in the Ukrainian theatre has since provided opportunities for high intensity combat testing that have not been available to non-Russian fighter classes. Ukrainian sources and international analysts have consistently pointed to the significant advantages the fighter class retains over Ukrainian aircraft such as the Mirage 2000, F-16 and Su-27, with Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat having lamented in March: “The modifications that Ukraine has cannot compete one-on-one in an air battle. We need a comprehensive approach as the [Russian] Su-35 is a relatively new jet… This includes ground-based air defence, electronic warfare systems, and ideally, an airborne radar. Also crucial are onboard radars for our aircraft and air-to-air missiles.” Beyond the Ukrainian theatre, Su-35s have been involved in multiple engagements with NATO forces, with one of the aircraft having a close encounter with a Polish Air Force fighter plane, as well as with Estonian naval vessels, after it was dispatched to protect the tanker Jaguar in the Baltic Sea.