Article Posted on : - Oct 12, 2010

The Su-35 undergoing flight tirals. A Sukhoi photo

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia’s Sukhoi Company is gearing up to deliver the first batch of Su-35 long-range multi-role fighters to the country’s air force by the end of this year.

The company said on Tuesday that it has completed a common docking unit of the first batch of Su-35s and will deliver the first production fighters to the Defence Ministry later this year.

Sukhoi had received a $2.5 billion contract from the Defence Ministry in 2009 to supply a total of 48 Su-35 fighters to the Russian Air Force.

The first experimental Su-35, completed in summer 2007 at Komsomolsk-na-Amure Aviation Production Association (KnAAPO), first appeared during Russia’s MAKS-2007 air show. It began flight tests in 2008.

The 4++ generation single-seat, heavy class, long-range, multi-role fighter is a modified version of the original Su-27 fighter. Employing technologies of the fifth generation, the new fighter will feature an improved airframe, more powerful 117S engines, new integrated control system and a powerful radar system among others.

The new fighter will be armed with new type of air-to-air and air-to-surface guided missiles, including long-range ones besides other weapons.