Mig-35 vs Su-35 Capabilities and Comparison Review
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| Mig-35 vs Su-35 specifications |
Mig35 vs Su35 Specification
The Mikoyan MiG-35 is a Russian multirole fighter that is designed by Mikoyan, a division of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). Marketed as a 4++ generation jet fighter, it is a further development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB fighters. The first prototype was a modification of the aircraft that previously served as a MiG-29M2 model demonstrator. Mikoyan first internationally presented the MiG-35 in India during the 2007 Aero India air show.
The single-seat version is designated MiG-35S and the two-seat version MiG-35UB. The fighter has vastly improved avionics and weapon systems, notably new precision-guided targeting system and the uniquely designed optical locator system, which relieves the aircraft from relying on ground-controlled interception systems and enables it to conduct independent multirole missions. There is also an option for AESA radar.
Sukhoi Su35: How good is Su-35?
The Sukhoi Su-35 is the designation for two improved derivatives of the Soviet Su-27 air-defense fighter. They are single-seat, twin-engine - powered by two AL-117S turbofan engines and fitted with thrust vectoring nozzles allowing the aircraft to attain “super maneuverability”. It is designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and built by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant.
Su-35 PESA Radar and Avionics
The current Su-35 is the definitive incarnation of a program that appeared in 1988 planned to enhance the original capabilities of the Su-27 (ASCC: “Flanker”), which first flew 11 years earlier as a heavy fighter to counter the (then) McDonnell Douglas F-15A “Eagle”. The “Flanker-E” also has the same kind of fly by wire as the MiG-29M, but it carries up to 8.000kg (17.637lb) of ordnance on 12 hard points. The armament, made up basically of the same items as those carried by the “Fulcrum-F”, is managed by the KPrNO-35 control system, comprised of the Irbis-E radiolocation system (with the radar itself and Khibiny-M Electronic Counter Measures suite) and the OLS-35 IRST (infrared search and track system). The Su-35 employs the powerful N035 Irbis-E ("Snow Leopard") passive electronically scanned array
(PESA) radar, which is a further development of the N011M radar that
had been evaluated on Su-27M test-beds and constitutes the core of the
Su-35's weapons-control system. Against an aerial target with a 3m2 RCS (radar cross section), the Irbis-E has a maximum range of 350km (217 miles).
Thirty of such targets can be detected at once, with eight of them attacked at once. Talking about maritime surface targets, four of them can be simultaneously detected (with one attacked). Large naval ships being detected at up to 400km (249 miles). The Su-35’s IRST has the same range as the MiG-35’s IRST (infrared search and track system) and it can engage up to four aerial targets at once. Its ferry range with fuel drop tanks is 4.500km (2.976 miles) whilst the top speed is 2.400km/h (1.491mph) at optimum altitude and 1.400km/h (870mph) at sea level. Service ceiling is 18.000m (59.055ft). Su-35 Flanker E has a maximum takeoff weight of 34,500 kg and and empty weight is 19,000 kg. It has a wing area of 62 m2 (670 sq ft). Su-35 Super Flanker thrust-to-weight ratio is 1.08 fully loaded in full burner.
Armament consists of 1 × 30 mm GSh-30 internal cannon with 150 rounds, 12 × wing and fuselage stations for up to 8,000 kg (17,630 lb) of ordnance, including for a variety of ordnance including air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, rockets, and bombs
Su-35 has a redesigned cockpit and weapons control system compared to the Su-27M and features thrust-vectoring engines in place of the canards. The type made its first flight in February 2008; although the aircraft was designed for export, the Russian Air Force in 2009 became the launch customer of the aircraft, with the production version called Su-35S.
Su35 BVR Capabilities
Su-35 combat aircraft is good in both dogfight and beyond visual range (BVR) warfare. The Su-35 can also fire the super-long range (300-400 kilometer) R-37M missile, designed to take out slow maneuverable airborne tankers, AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) and AWACS jets. Russia also claims Su-35 Irbis-E PESA radar can track tactical stealth aircraft like F-22 Raptor and F-35 lightning II from long ranges.
MiG-35 AESA radar range and Avionics
MiG-35 will be the first Russian aircraft to be fitted with active electronically scanned array radar. The Zhuk-MA’s antenna consists of 160 modules, each with four receive-and-transmit modules. So with this tech, MIG-35 radar range is believed to be 160 km (85nm) air target detection radius and 300 km for maritime surface ships. Therefore, MIG-35 radar range is considered good.
The MiG-35, nicknamed “Fulcrum-F” by the NATO Air Standardization Coordinating Committee (ASCC), is an evolution of the MiG-29 “Fulcrum” which first flew in 1977 as an air defence combat aircraft with a minor capability to perform reconnaissance and strike missions, like the MiG-21. The “Mig 35 Fulcrum-F” has a quadruple-redundant Fly-By-Wire (FBW) control system and emerged in 1986 as an effort to augment the multirole capabilities of the basic MiG-29 and carries up to 6.500kg (14.330lb) of guided/unguided weapons (including medium/short-range air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface missiles) on 9 hard points. The armament is controlled by the PrNK-29KS system, comprising the Zhuk-M1SE radar and the OLS-UEM infrared search and track system (IRST).
The former has a maximum detection range of up to 120km (74.5 miles) against an aerial target with a Radar Cross Section (RCS) equals to 5m2; up to ten such targets can be simultaneously detected and four attacked at once. As for surface targets, two can be attacked at once within a maximum range of approximately 300 km. The MiG-35’s IRST has a range of 90km (56 miles) whilst the aircraft’s ferry range is 3.000km (1.864 miles) with fuel drop tanks. Its top speed is 2.100km/h (1.305mph) at optimum altitude and 1.400km/h (870mph) at sea level, with a service ceiling of 16.000m (52.494ft). The Mig-35 has a Max takeoff weight of 24,500 kg and an empty weight of 11,000 kg. It has a wing area of 41 m2 (440 sq ft). It has a thrust to weight ratio of 1.14.
Like radar, OLS allows the MiG-35 to detect targets and aim weapon systems. The OLS system can also detect 5th generation stealth fighters like F-22 raptor and f-35. Also, unlike radar, OLS has no emissions, meaning it cannot be detected.
The armament and ordance of the MiG-35 includes the R-77 (NATO reporting name: AA-12 Adder) medium-range and R-73 (AA-11 Archer) dogfight missiles. The multirole fighters can strike surface threats with the Kh-31P, Kh-31PK (AS-17 Krypton), Kh-35E, Kh-35UE (AS-20 Kayak) and Kh-38MLE air-to-surface missiles, KAB-500Kr (OD) smart bombs and a broad spectrum of dumb munitions. The aircraft are outfitted with the 30-mm GSh-30-1 automatic gun. The payload on the nine external weapons stations weighs 6,500 kg.
Mig-35 Fulcrum-F is a good 4++ generation like its western counterpart like Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale F3, Lockheed Martin F16 C/D Fighting Falcon and Super Viper, and Boeing F-18E/F Super Hornet.
Recently Russian experts have claimed that MIG-35 Fulcrum can beat F-35 lightning II.
Mig-35 BVR Capabilities
The Zhuk-AME possesses the beyond-visual-range (BVR) engagement capability, tracks 30 targets at a time and illuminates six of them simultaneously (four, if they are ground targets), Yuri Guskov, director general of KRET’s subsidiary Phazotron-NIIR, told TASS at the air show in Zhuhai.
According to Guskov, the Zhuk-AME is effective in all weather and in ECM-heavy environment. It can simultaneously operate in look-up and look-down modes, identify and classify multiple and single targets, attacks several of them at once with precision-guided weapons, share the information about the tactical situation with other aircraft and jam enemy radars.
The Zhuk-AME is made of sophisticated electronic componentry. Its transmit-receive (T-R) modules are made of light high-temperature ceramics with the use of the 3D technology. This allows a reduction in the thickness of the AESA itself to about 10 cm together with the power supply sources and control units. The radar consists of three units - the AESA, synthesizer and computer system.
The Zhuk-AME is far more advanced than the current radars are now.
"The radar’s performance has been boosted by about 50% as a result of consolidating all technological strengths in the AESA. The overall weight of the advanced radar is around 100 kg. While the MiG-29 can attack targets out to 180 km, the latest Zhuk extends the engagement range to 260 km," Phazotron-NIIR’s general designer emphasized.
Phazotron-NIIR’s latest development is far more high-tech than the preceding version, while the solutions it embodies allow resolving such problems as broadband operation and conformity further down the road. The upgraded Zhuk radar has been given the green light for export.
What are the Differences Between Russian Sukhoi Su-35 and MiG-35 Fighter Jets?
Both warbirds are equally as good as one another when it comes to their multirole missions. Both are as equally as agile. The differences are pointed towards the size of the jets. The Su-35 is far bigger, an advance version of the legacy Flanker model. It is able to carry weapons on 12 hardpoints as compared to the MiG 8 hardpoints. The Su-35 has an additional 30% more range. In terms of weapons, it could carry a much heavier and bigger weapons than the MiG such as the long-range anti-ship Brahmos missile as well as the much longer range AA-10 (R-27) Alamo missiles. These missiles come in various sizes which in most instances equates from medium to longer ranges. the MiG, on the other hand, could carry the smaller R-27 model.
The Su-35 is similar to the F-15E Strike Eagle in USAF while the MiG-35 (Above) perform the same function as the F-16 Fighting Falcon
The MiG-35 is a vast improvement over the legacy MiG-29. It has addressed the weak points of the legacy Fulcrum
Both jets have a two-seat model in the form of MiG-35D and Su-35UB. Both are combat capable fighters. The other difference is related to unit cost. The MiG-35 is much cheaper to buy and to operate. A country with defence requirements that focus on affordability and multirole missions would go for the MiG-35. Its cheaper to operate than the Su-35 in terms of fuel cost, and maintenance on per man hour cost. For example, the Royal Malaysian Air Force has indicated that the cost of operating the Su-30MKM over the MiG-29N is roughly about 40% differences in cost.
The Su-35 is the most superior aircraft among the 2 warbirds in the Russian Air Force. It is also one of the most capable air superiority fighters in the world alongside the Lockheed Martin F-22 raptor.
The MiG-35 Fulcrum-F is a lightweight multirole fighter. It is able to perform as equally as that of the Su-35 but at a much lower cost and lesser range on internal fuel. The Mig-35 Fulcrum-F also has good situational awareness. However its an ideal warbird for countries not needing the Su-35 capabilities.
Overall, if a country has a desire for a multiple fighter that requires a country to patrol its long borders, with less need for flight refueling tanker, and able to carry a variety of air to air missiles as well being agile enough to compete and fight against some of the best jets on earth, the Sukhoi Su-35 gets the vote. This would be ideal in a case for countries like India with a large border against its nemesis, China and Pakistan or like Indonesia where it has over 18,000 islands from the stretches of Sumatra to Papua New Guinea, it needs a jet that can patrol at long distances.
The MiG-35, on the other hand, is also a superior machine in terms of cost. It is ideal for any nation balancing their budget with affordability and lethality and appreciate the technology that has gone into a suburb machine which was once feared by the west in the 80s! The MIG-35 is a sound proposition for any nation that does not require the superior of the Su-35.
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