Russian Air Force Receives New Su-35 Fighters: Growing Exports Likely to Reduce Domestic Procurement

The Russian Air Force has been confirmed to have received its first new batch of <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/reaper-serious-damage-su35-syria" target="_blank">Su-35 fighter aircraft </a>since the beginning of the year, with the aircraft having completed full factory testing and been evaluated by military technical personnel in various operational conditions. Speaking regarding the delivery, First Deputy General Director of Rostec Vladimir Artyakov stated: “Our aircraft manufacturers are fulfilling their obligations under the state defence order… Today, new batches of aircraft systems are at various stages of readiness. The Su-35S is equipped with advanced weapons and long-range targeting systems and is designed for air superiority missions as well as engaging ground and maritime targets, day or night, in both simple and adverse weather conditions.” He emphasised that the aircraft’s operational range allows it to engage targets far from home airbases, with the Su-35’s high endurance considered a particular strength. The Su-35 is a heavily enhanced derivative of the Soviet Union’s most capable class of air superiority fighter, the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/final-gift-from-the-soviets-how-china-received-three-of-the-ussr-s-top-fighters-weeks-before-the-superpower-collapsed" target="_blank">Su-27 Flanker</a>, which first entered service in 1984. While the Su-27 had the longest range of any fighter in its era, the Su-35 improves on this considerably with a combat radius of close to 2000 kilometres, which was achieved with the development of a high composite airframe that accommodates considerably more fuel, and through the integration of the more fuel efficient AL-41F-1S engines to replace the Su-27’s AL-31F.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2025/03/30/article_67e9bba35b5401_93782462.jpg" title="Su-35 Production at the Komsomolsk on Amur Aircraft Plant">Speaking regarding the new delivery of Su-35s, General Director of the state run United Arms Corporation Vadim Badekha emphasised the intention to accelerate production of aircraft that are in high demand. “Our priority is to ramp up output of Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57 aircraft… Each type will see an increase in manufacturing volume this year. To support this, we will continue expanding our production footprint.” Officials at the United Arms Corporation observed that expanded technical capabilities and workforce development were needed to achieve the intended increases to production, and that the firm was investing in workforce training and infrastructure modernisation to eliminate bottlenecks and sustain higher production rates. Although it was previously confirmed that significant investments were being made to <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-new-su34-third-consecutive-month" target="_blank">increase the production scales</a> of the Su-57 fifth generation fighter and the Su-34 strike fighter, the expansion of Su-35 production was not previously expected. The fighter was expected to be phased out of production in the early 2030s as production of the Su-57 expanded, with the program having initially been intended to produce just 200 aircraft.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2025/03/30/article_67e9bc41af7625_93446968.jpeg" title="Su-35 Fighters Built For Export Before Delivery to Algeria">Until a production increase is realised, it is likely that the Russian Air Force will receive Su-35s in lower numbers as fighters begin to be produced for export. While previously China, Indonesia and Egypt all signed contracts to procure the fighters, only China received the aircraft as Jakarta and Cairo respectively suspended and withdrew from procurement deals under Western pressure. Expectations for larger Chinese orders were dashed in the mid-2010s, as the country acquired just 24 of the aircraft largely for testing purposes, and developed significantly more advanced fighters domestically including the J-16 and J-20.&nbsp;In the final week of January 2025, however, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps General Ali Shadmani&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/iran-confirms-order-finalised-su35-fighters" >confirmed</a>&nbsp;that his country had placed orders for the Su-35, with the sheer numbers of obsolete Vietnam War era fighters fielded across more than a dozen squadrons in the country’s fleet raising the possibility that the Russian aircraft could be procured in considerable numbers. Subsequently on March 13 the Algerian Air Force was <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/algerian-air-force-first-su35-why-place-orders" target="_blank" >confirmed</a> to have become the third service to field Su-35s, with the scale of possible orders remaining uncertain but likely to reach at least two dozen. Iranian and Algerian orders between them are expected to ensure that a significant portion of Su-35 production in the coming years will be diverted to export markets. The possibility of exports to other clients including <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/a-new-phase-in-indonesia-s-long-effort-to-purchase-russian-su-35-fighters-ambassador-confirms-contract-still-in-effect" target="_blank" >Indonesia</a> and <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/expert-russia-nkorea-joint-fighter-units" target="_blank" >North Korea</a> has also been raised, although this remains highly uncertain.