Su-35, image from www.sukhoi.org
Su-35 fighter makes 100th flight
Published 20 March, 2009, 15:04
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.
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.
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