Su-35 does not bring the strength as China calculated

Although equipped with 14 Su-35 fighter jets, according to many experts, they do not bring the strength as Beijing calculated.

According to TASS, on December 22, Russia transferred to the Chinese Air Force a second batch of 10 4++ generation multirole Su-35 fighters. The first batch of 4 Su-35s was transferred by Russia to China at the end of 2016.

Along with the Su-35 transfer information, Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Dmitry Shugaev, announced that it will not be until 2019 that Moscow will complete the contract for 24 Su-35s with China.

Chinese pilot flies Su-35 home.

According to public information, China and Russia officially signed a contract to buy this 4++ generation fighter in 2015. The contract will be completed 3 years after the official signing - that is, in 2018. With the statement of Mr. Dmitry Shugaev, the contract will be delayed by 1 year.

Russian manufacturer Sukhoi said the Su-35 is a 4++ generation multi-role fighter equipped with a modern AL-117S jet engine, can fly at a maximum speed of 2,500km/h, has a range of 3,400km and a combat radius of about 1,600km.

Beijing began to look at the Su-35 in 2008 at an international exhibition called Airshow China, but it was not until 2011 that the two sides officially signed a purchase contract.

Regarding Beijing's plan to use the Su-35, The Diplomat cited unverified information from the Chinese Air Force saying that the country's air force may deploy the Su-35 to operate in the East Sea and the East China Sea to gain an advantage over countries with sovereignty disputes with Beijing.

The Diplomat believes that after purchasing the Su-35, China will likely focus on deploying it as an "air combat task force". The Su-35's long-range advantage will come into real use in the South China Sea, establishing an air defense network in front of Hainan Island, and conducting long-term patrols without refueling over the South China Sea.

However, this advantage will not last because in the near future, the Su-35 presence in the East Sea will not only belong to the Chinese Air Force. According to new information announced by the Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Vahid Supriyadi, the country's air force will buy 8 4++ generation Su-35 fighters from Russia, along with the production of many others under the terms of technology transfer.

Mr. Vahid Supriyadi emphasized that the two sides have basically completed the negotiation process of the terms of the contract to purchase Russian-made aircraft and are currently discussing the final settlement stage, especially the issue of Russia transferring Su-35 production technology to Indonesia.

The way Russia sells and transfers technology to Indonesia shows that owning the 4++ generation Su-35 fighter is no longer China's strength in the region.

According to Dat Viet Newspaper