Multiple sources within Russia and the People’s Liberation Army Air Force suggest that Beijing and Moscow may have struck a preliminary deal for procurement by the PLAAF of more of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 fighters.
Hong Kong-based military monthly Kanwa Defense Review reported in February that the second batch of the highly maneuverable aircraft with thrust-vectoring engines had already descended on PLA airbases in southern China.
Among those tipped as the likely locations to service and hangar the multi-role air-superiority fighters is the Suixi airbase in southern China’s Guangdong province, which is under the PLA’s Southern Theater Command.
Several Su-35s joined the PLA’s recent circumnavigations of Taiwan and air patrols above the South China Sea, along with Su-30s, H-6K bombers and jammer aircraft.
In November 2015, the PLA became the first export customer for the Su-35 after Moscow and Beijing signed a US$2 billion contract for the purchase of 24 of the fighters. The first four aircraft were delivered in December 2016.
Citing sources within the Russian defense industry, the magazine noted that Su-35 producer Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant had been canvassing more orders after satisfactory feedback from the PLA about the speed and quality of the initial delivery batch.
The Su-35 was a modernized derivative of the Su-27 fighters earmarked for export in the late 1980s, but the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the West’s arms embargo clipped its wings, until orders from Beijing threw a lifeline.
Subsequent improvements have also been made to its cockpit, structural design and weapons-control system over the years.
It’s also said that Beijing has made it clear that more orders can only come under the parameters of knowledge transfer and localized production of some sub-systems and avionics, a tried and true tactic to replicate overseas technologies for cheaper, home-made alternatives.
Still, analysts say Russia may be willing to oblige now that there is a genuine rapport between the two powers, and a plethora of bilateral co-development and co-production of weapons and planes – ranging from cruise missiles to wide-body airliners – is also making headway.
Moscow curtailed arms transfers and cooperation around 2005 over Chinese reverse engineering of weapons systems, especially aircraft engines and components.
But now it has also agreed to sell China advanced S-400 air and missile defense systems, among others, after several years of lobbying by Beijing.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Air Force also finalized the purchase contract for 11 Su-35s in February, with the first delivery expected by October. India and the United Arab Emirates are reportedly mulling possible purchases as well.
Its a great warplane. Still requires skilled pilots and a minion of service personnel; something China doesn’t have.
Pakistani pilots?
What’s the missiles firing capacity
I think you are looking down on the Chinese they have pretty good pilots and in the Su-30 engagement over the SC Sea with Japanese F-15s they out manuvoured the Japanese planes – Japanese F-15s out maneuvered by Chinese Su-30 in recent air dual – https://thaimilitaryandasianregion.wordpress.com/2017/02/09/japanese-f-15s-out-maneuvered-by-chinese-su-30-in-recent-air-dual/
Looks like the USA is out of the game now!…
Seriously, Su-35’s are not actually that hot anymore. If it is, Russia would not have solicited Indonesia, Myanmar, among others for it. Why did China go for it then? My guess is to see what makes it tick and to study its strengths and irs weaknesses.
this proves all is not well with chinese fighter jets. thats why purchasing more su 35
What pakistani pilots a meaningless comment
Long live mohammad the pedofile! LOL
really?
Russia and China already work together hand in hand to produce weapon and aircraft localìsed in china soil which are more cheaper and technologies transfer. This will make US nerves by 2030 china will be over power the US in Airspace, Sea, air, land others
Selling is just like giving ur trade secrets
They will use it ti bully, harass and invade their small and weaker countries.
They will use it to bully, harass and invade their small and weaker neighboring countries.
If US doesn’t sell. But there are other suitable options like the Gripens.
All the fools who commented on Ejazs comment on the statement of a pakistani pilot havnt got the slightest idea about the dynamics of that region.just trying to act smart. firstly , pakistani pilots are definitely world class and it was evident in the arab israeli war when pakistani pilots were asked to help out and they were the only ones who managed to create havoc in the israeli air force with various kills and israelis didnt manage to get even one of our birds down.
Secondly, any tom dick and harry can see the chinese dont need su35s. They have better things in the pipe line. But Pakistan deinitely needs a potent deep penetration heavy combact aircrat which it currently lacks. The Russians cant supply it to us directly amid indian pressure but who says they cant be forwarded to us via third party export 🙂 just like we are getting rd93 engines for our jf17 thunders being supplied from russia but via china. These SU35s are meant for pakistan.
Chao
They’re going with it because A) their own stealth aircraft (Russia and China) have been shown to not be stealthy and/or they’ve curtailed production (Su-57) and B) the US has only 125 combat-coded F-22’s and nations are buying few F-35’s than planned. The US now is scrambling to upgrade the Block 40 plus F-16’s and possibly buying newer advanced F-15’s to fill the void with the lack of F-22’s. The Su-35 will trash a legacy F-15C, so the Su-35 would dominate the air space where an F-22 isn’t. Not sure I believe how great an air fighter the F-35 is.