First Su-35S delivery of 2025 for Russia

Russia’s Aerospace Forces (VKS) have received the first Su-35S multirole fighters of 2025 as Russia continues its drive to expand production of its primary Sukhoi variants, according to a 29th March press release from Rostec. 

A video released by United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the overall prime responsible for much of Russia’s aircraft production, appears to show two Su-35S taking off. This suggests that the batch included two or possibly three aircraft. 

The aircraft completed their factory tests at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant and were then tested by Russian MoD staff before being flown to their home airfields. “Today, new batches of aircraft systems, which will be delivered under this year’s state defense order, are at various stages of readiness at enterprises,” Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec said.

“Our primary task is to increase the pace of production of in-demand military products. First of all, this concerns the Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57 aircraft. For each of these types, an increase in production volumes is planned for the current year,” UAC’s General Director Vadim Badekha said. 

The Su-35 production line was able to deliver 50 aircraft to the VKS between 2015 and 2020, according to TASS, as well as 24 to China, indicating an annual output of 14 or more. The Russian MoD signed for 30 additional Su-35S in 2020 bringing the total number of contracted Su-35S up to 128, 98 of them having already been delivered to the VKS.

Three batches of Su-35S deliveries were reported in 2024 with four in 2023, all reported via the Rostec website. If each consisted of two or three aircraft, this would indicate an annual production of between six and 12 aircraft. The same group of companies also produces the Su-57, Russia’s 5th generation multirole fighter and the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant – which also sits within UAC – produces the Su-34 fighter-bomber. Four Su-34 batches were reported in 2024. 

Tech profile: Su-35S

The Su-35S performs several roles in Ukraine and is often used to escort strike packages like Su-34s with UMPK glide bombs or MiG-31Ks with Kinzhal missiles. It is powered by two AL-41F-1S turbofan engines and designed to be highly manoeuvrable. For combat air patrols in Ukraine they are commonly armed with long- and medium-range air-to-air missiles like the R-37M and R-77-1 respectively, and other loadouts have included the Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles likely used in the suppression of air defence role. The N035 Irbis-E radar has also proven effective at long-range detection of older Ukrainian aircraft, providing Russia’s combat air patrols with greater tactical flexibility than Ukrainian equivalents. The R-37M combined with the Irbis-E radar and additional coordination from Au-50U command and control aircraft have enabled the Su-35S to achieve some technically impressive long-range engagements. For self-defence, the Su-35S and other Russian aircraft carry the  L-175 “Khibiny” electronic warfare pod, which has demonstrated the ability to disrupt Ukrainian communications and radar performance. 

Calibre comment

Russia is continuing its drive to expand production of key systems whilst rationalising its in-service vehicles and aircraft as much as possible. Production of the Su-35S is a potential indicator of success in this field, however, it is a complex system to produce and yearly increases in output are likely the result of actions put in place over previous years rather than in-year changes. Moreover, Russia’s efforts to find substitutions for its dependence on western electronics are also gaining pace, with a clear pivot towards China for some of its needs, and complex procurement networks delivering chips. This may mean that further efforts to expand production will be dependent upon the ability of UAC to find staff and finance expansion, as well as the VKS’s ability to train and recruit pilots.