Turkish Military Reviewing Russia’s Su-35 for its Next Generation Fighter Requirements

Turkish media has reported that the country’s armed forces are reviewing the possibility of acquiring Russian Su-35 '4++ generation' heavyweight fighters as part of fleet modernisation plans. The report comes less than a month after the head of Russian state arms export corporation Rostec Sergei Chemezov expressed a willingness to discuss a sale of the Su-35 to Turkey, stating: "If our Turkish colleagues express a desire, we are ready to work out deliveries of Su-35 fighter jets.” A Turkish military source confirmed shortly afterwards that President Recep Tayyip Edogan would personally study the offer. At the time the offer was made the Su-35 was the most advanced and capable Russian fighter jet in serial production, although the Su-57 has since been entered into serial production and fields a number of superior capabilities. The offer to provide the Su-35 came as something of a surprise, as reports from both sides previously indicated that Turkey was more interested in the more advanced but also more expensive Su-57.  It is possible considering the commonality of parts, with both aircraft using many of the same missiles and early Su-57 variants using engines from the Su-35, that Turkey may be considering acquisition of both combat jets. Turkey has in the past been named as a leading potential client for the Su-57.

According to Turkish media reports, authorities have requested the Turkish Air Force Command, Presidency of Defence Industries and a number of other relevant institutions all provide their evaluations. If the plan to buy the aircraft receives positive feedback, formal negotiations with Russia would receive the green light to commence. Turkish state sources have yet to comment on these reports in any official capacity, but it is likely that political considerations will also be a major factor in the decision alongside an assessment of the fighter’s suitability for the country’s defence needs. It is uncertain whether any other fighters, such as the Su-57 or the lighter MiG-35, are also being evaluated. Turkey currently lacks any heavyweight long range fighters suitable for a high end air superiority role, with its fastest and highest flying jets today being Vietnam War era F-4 Phantoms. It is likely that the first squadrons of Su-35 or Su-57 fighters purchased, if the deal is approved, will be intended to replace the Phantoms, and subsequent squadrons may be inducted either as part of fleet expansion plans or to replace part of the country’s fleet of lightweight F-16 Fighting Falcons.

The Su-35 is highly prized for its capabilities, and inherits a high speed, high altitude, long range, high weapons payload and capacity for heavy and powerful sensors from the original Soviet Su-27 Flanker design - a high end fighter designed to surpass the capabilities of the elite American F-15C Eagle during the Cold War. The Su-35 improves significantly on the performance original Flanker across the spectrum. A lighter but stronger airframe making greater use of composite materials and more powerful Saturn AL-41 turbofan engines provide greater manoeuvrability - which is further enhanced by three dimensional thrust vectoring engines. This combined with powerful electronic warfare systems makes the fighters extremely difficult to target at long ranges. The fighter also benefits from a higher missile capacity and access to advanced long ranged munitions such as the R-27ER and hypersonic R-37M, which combined with more powerful sensors including the Irbis-E radar makes it lethal in beyond visual range engagements. The aircraft is also capable of standoff air to ground and anti shipping missions using munitions such as the Kh-35. If even half the funds Turkey previously allocated to its fleet modernisation program are allocated to Su-35 acquisitions, the country would become the largest operator of the fighter outside Russia with several dozen in service.