Russia, China Likely To Sign Contract For 34 Su-35s By Year-End

Chinese military and Russia’s United Aircraft Corp are close to signing a deal for 24 Su-35 fighter jets, various media reported Friday.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force wants the twin-engine Su-35 to go up against Japan’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and India’s Su-30MKO and T-50 aircraft.

Yuri Slyusar, head of United Aircraft Corp, confirmed the planned sale at Paris Air Show. He continued, “The question should go to the federal service on military cooperation, not us. Our position is that we still believe that we will sign the contract to sell 24 aircraft this year”.

China recently conducted the first test flight of the J-11D, an upgraded version of the J-11B that’s based on the Russian Sukhoi Su-27.

According to information provided at the show, United Aircraft said the Su-35 “4++” generation fighter is one of the company’s “top priority programs.”

The Su-35 performs better than other fourth-generation fighters, including the U.S.-made F-15, F-16 and F/A-18 aircraft even the new F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter, according to a fact-sheet. “Thus, it is a potent rival to the F-22A aircraft,” it said.

The Su-35 is being outfitted with new engines, avionics and other systems from Russia’s own fifth-generation fighter program, the T-50 PAK-FA.