Su-35BM/T-10BM : The last Flanker

April 27, 2007 on 11:32 am | In Fighters, Sukhoi, Su-35 Super Flanker, Documentation |
Introduction :
Su-35BM will be the last developed Flanker. An final upgrade, final variant. Actually, the designation is quite confusing, since Su-35 already exists in Russian Air Force. Su-35 was the export designation for upgraded Su-27, called Su-27M, internal Sukhoi designation T-10M. Su-27M gave baseline Flanker new avionics, as well as precision air-to-ground capability. Only five of these are in service with VVS (Russian Air Force), with 237th regiment based at Kubinka Air Base. VVS chose another path instead; to incorporate technologies tested in Su-35/T-10M, together with those of Su-30MK, into an standard upgrade project for the baseline Flanker, the Su-27SM. The Su-35 designation was also used for Su-37, dubbed as â?oTerminatorâ?. Aircraft was a testbed for 2D thrust-vectoring engines, mounted on Su-35/T-10M.

The new Su-35BM is going to fill the interim gap between standard 4+ generation Su-27SM in service today, and PAK-FA, 5th generation fighter in developement stage. Thus, Su-35BM is designated as 4++ generation fighter, together with new MiG-35. Official first flight will commence late this year, Sukhoi officialy stated that year 2007 is the ending year of all work on Su-35BM. Future service of this aircraft is not certain yet. The question is, will the Su-35BM enter service with VVS as Su-35BM, or will the technologies be used to make a second serial upgrade program for the Flanker, designated something alike Su-27SM2. Su-35BM could be retained as export designation, while domestic designation would be Su-27SM2.
Official description from KNAAPO (manufacturer) follows : â?oSu-35 is designed to gain air superiority through manned and unmanned aircraft destroying, by guided missiles, in medium and long range engagements and dogfights; to destroy ground and surface targets by all type of weapon, as well as destroy the enemy ground infrastructure facilities located very far from the base airfields, heavily protected by active AAD systemâ?
The most important Su-35BM/T-10BM characteristics are : supreme flight performance (superagility), long range information targeting systems, jam-proof datalinks for squadron or ground control operations, high performance short, medium and long range missiles of both anti-air and anti-ground type, carried externally on fourteen hardpoints, sophisticated EW/ECM/ER systems, radar cross-section reduction, high-power sensors with adequate computing power and sensory fusion technique, ****pit with large LCD multi-function displays, and an in-flight refuelling probe.

Su-35BM, as an true multirole fighter, will have both air-to-air, air-to-ground, and anti-ship weaponry. Whole current pallete of A2G precision missiles and bombs will be supported on Su-35BM. Regarding air-to-air, the aircraft has an Archer, Alamo, and Adder family capability (R-73, R-27, R-77). Su-35BM will also be able to launch ultra-long range active radar missiles. The type of this weapon shown on the Su-35BM model was Novator KS-172S-1 AAM. The KS-172S-1 has an engagement range over 300 kilometers, can be used against any kind of aircraft flying from 3 meters altitude to 30 kilometers altitude, up to 4000 kilometers per hour of speed, and up to 12G. The only thing thatâ?Ts confirmed is that Su-35BM will have ultralong range radar missile engagement capability; KS-172S-1 has not been asured. The other ULR AAM in Russian developement is Vympel K-37/R-37M. Itâ?Ts an upgrade of MiG-31Mâ?Ts R-37M missile, which has been sucessfully tested against targets 300 kilometers away.
Other Vympelâ?Ts designs are not confirmed either; such as ramjet, thermal, or antiradiation variant of R-77. This capability could be easily added at some future point. Vympel also stated that it has finished working on the upgraded variant of antiradiation R-27P. Since L175M is chosen for the standard electronic warfare module for all new Russian aircraft, R-27P could be connected to work in conjuction with Su-35BMâ?Ts EW unit.
Regarding anti-ship weapons, Su-35BM can use air launched anti-ship missiles of Onyx, Yakhont and Brahmos family. The model of the built-in cannon is still unknown.

Hàng hoá made in Rus thì ko rành lắm. Bác nào fans Sharapova có thể cho em biết cái philosophy của fighter Ngố hiện nay và tương lai đc ko?