Su-35 fighter makes 100th flight

Posted by Sgt.John B. William on March 21st, 2009 No Comments Printer-Friendly

March 20, 2009 — The Su-35 combat jet successfully completed its 100th test flight on Friday, reports developer Sukhoi. It concludes the testing of the aircraft’s flight control system.

A Russian Su-35 fighter jet takes off Zhukovsky military air base outside Moscow, July 7, 2008 (AP)

Sukhoi launched the Su-35’s flight test programme in February 2008 at its facility in Zhukovsky near Moscow. In October, a second aircraft joined the trials from an aerodrome in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia’s Far East. A third jet will be used from this spring, after which the producer will start testing the fighter’s super maneuverability characteristics.

Sukhoi says the plane’s development is on schedule and that it will be able to start production of the Su-35 in 2011. The aircraft will be used by Russia’s air forces as well as being sold to other countries. The developer expects the jet to get its share of markets in south-eastern Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

The Su-35 is a multi-purpose 4++ generation fighter jet. It features modernised avionics with an integrated equipment control system and a next-generation radar capable of tracking more targets at longer range then those used in older Sukhoi models. The aircraft also has new powerful engines. (Russia Today)