Another batch of Sukhoi Su-35S Flanker-E multi-role fighters has been handed over to the Russian Ministry of Defence (MOD), with the completion of this latest delivery being confirmed by Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) – a subsidiary of the state-owned Rostec State Corporation – on June 23.
While the number of aircraft delivered as part of this batch was not disclosed, a video released by the UAC confirmed that at least two Su-35S fighters had been handed over to the Russian MOD. As was the case with the recent delivery of a batch of Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers on June 1, the aircraft present in the video footage did not appear to show any identifiable unit markings, nor did they feature registration codes or Bort Nos.
Manufactured by the UAC at its Su-35 assembly line at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (KnAAPO) ‘Yury Gagarin’ in Russia’s Komsomolsk-on-Amur Oblast (located in the far-east region of the country), the state-owned firm highlighted that the newly delivered Su-35s “were accepted by technical services and passed factory tests,” adding that “each aircraft was tested in the air in various operating modes” before being handed over to the Russian MOD. The new 4++ generation multi-role fighters have since been flown to an undisclosed home base, where they will be integrated into a unit within the Russian Aerospace Forces. It remains unclear as to where these aircraft will be based or which unit will be operating them.
Yury Slyusar, General Director of the UAC, noted that state support was critical to the delivery of these new fighters, adding that such funds are helping the firm to modernise and increase production. “UAC enterprises fulfilling the state defence order, including the [KnAAPO] plant, thanks to state support, received a significant amount of funds under the programme of technical re-equipment and modernisation of production. New productions and facilities were introduced. This allows us to increase serial production and increase production volumes.
“We will continue to fulfil our obligations under the concluded contracts. Su-35 aircraft of the following batches are in production. In addition, this year the volume of deliveries of the fifth-generation Su-57 fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces will increase,” Slyusar said.
