In close combat the F-35 would be defeated by the Su-35S with a ratio of 10 to 1. This is the verdict of a study carried by the Australian Government on the air-to-air fighting capabilities of the F-35 . The fifth generation tactical fighter F-35 is designed for the domain in the BVR field (Beyond Visual Range) but if it would meet a Su-35, would not escape.
Su-35 is the evolution of the already magnificent Sukhoi Su-27 “Flanker”, built in the facilities of the “Gagarin Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association” (owned by the Sukhoi Company), in the Russian Far East. The Su-35, recently deployed at the air base of Khmeimim, incorporates the best of the Russian technology.
Moscow eventually hopes to advertise its jet aircraft (which is already sold to the Chinese) with proven experience of fighting. To date it’s not clear how many kind of fighter jets the Russians have in Syria. The Su-30 and Su-27SM have a limited ability to defend itself. Different matter for the fourteen Su-34 “Fullback”, armed with air-to-air equipment (AA-10 “Alamo” and AA-11 “Archer”). The Su-34 can hit enemy air targets at up to 60 kilometers away. The Russians in Syria additonally have interceptor Sukhoi Su-30 fighters to escort all the aircraft engaged in the Arab Republic. The Su-30 is a more practical overall system compared to the Su-35 for the presence of a second crew member who helps to alleviate the workload of the pilot during flight operations.
The Su-35 is still the best fighter of advanced fourth generation (4 ++) ever produced in the history of Sukhoi. Though not exactly “stealth”, its radar effective area is decreased by the massive use of RAM (Radiation-absorbent material). The Su-35 is equipped with a Irbis-E radar, able to track 30 targets at a distance of 400 km with the ability to attack 8 at the same time. According to the Russians, the radar of the fighter of advanced fourth generation of the Sukhoi would struggle to identify a F-22 but not the RCS of a F-35.
It is powered by two Saturn AL-41F1A vectored thrust engines that also allow Supercruise capacity. It reintroduces a clean design, eliminating the canard wings of the previous design. This has been made possible thanks to the center of gravity shifted toward the rear of the aircraft. In this way the needs of the canard wings is nullified. The multi-role Su-35 has a top speed of 2500 km/h. Its flight range is 3,400 kilometers.