Russia’s Defense Ministry will receive four Su-57 next-generation fighters by next year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said during his visit to the Gagarin Aviation Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia’s Far East on Wednesday.
“This year, 15 combat planes are due to be delivered [by the Gagarin Aviation Plant] to the customer and under export contracts. As you know, the Defense Ministry has signed a large long-term contract on the Su-57, and next year four serial-produced planes will be delivered. The production of generation 4th generation Su-35 planes continues,” the vice-premier said in comments quoted by TASS in a media interaction at the plant.
The Sukhoi Su-57 is a Russian-made fourth generation multirole fighter designated to perform all types of air, ground, and naval combats. The Su-57 fighter jet features upgraded fourth generation technology with the broad use of composite materials, is capable of developing a supersonic cruising speed, and is furnished with the identical radio-electronic equipment of Su-35, including a new onboard computer, the radar system fitted front and back of its body, in particular, armament placed inside its fuselage.
The Russian Armed Forces received the first Su-57 fighter in 2020. Russia’s Aerospace Force will get 22 Su-57 fighters by late 2028, and their number in the Russian Armed Forces will grow to 76 by 2030.
11 Su-35s Destined To Egypt
Russian Sukhoi Corporation is likely to deliver 11 Su-35 jets to export customers and 4 Su-57 stealth aircraft to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov indicated during his visit to the Gagarin Aviation Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur on Wednesday.
So, taking out the four Su-57s, the remaining 11 of 15 fighter jets should be Su-35s as the plant currently manufactures only these two types. It also manufactures the twin-seater Su-34 jets but it completed a long term manufacturing contract for these jets in December 2020 with no fresh orders in the pipeline.
Russia currently has an export contract with Egypt for Su-35 jets of which 4 are confirmed to be delivered in 2020.
Egyptian authorities have acknowledged they have a deal with Russia for Su-35 jets but declined to comment on its delivery schedule or cost. An order of a minimum 24 aircraft seems plausible give that it will constitute a squadron strength worth of jets.
Among other possibilities is Algeria and China. The latter has already taken delivery of 24 Su-35s with no follow-on orders. There is no information, not even informal, about a possible Algerian purchase of the Su-35.
Of late, the Russian military establishment has been wary of announcing military contracts- especially big ticket items such as fighter jets, large warships and anti-missile systems due to fear of attracting American sanctions, more so than those already heaped upon the country.
The 11 jets could not be for the Russian Aerospace Forces (RuAF) as Russia concluded a supply of 50 Su-35 jets to the RuAF in November 2020. “We have completed the implementation of another long-term contract for 50 Su-35S aircraft in the interests of the Ministry of Defense,” said Yuri Slyusar, General Director of PJSC UAC, General Director of PJSC Sukhoi Company in a November 25, 2020 press release. News of a new Su-35 contract for the RuAF has not been revealed yet.
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