The very fact that China stationed the Su-35 jets just across its US-backed breakaway province is quite indicative of the aircraft’s capabilities. Writes Drago Bosnic
As the US-orchestrated Taiwan crisis keeps escalating, China continues strengthening its military presence in the area, particularly the neighboring Fujian province. The People’s Liberation Army, as the Asian giant’s military is officially called, is well-known for operating numerous modern and sophisticated weapons systems, both indigenous and license-built. This is especially true for various types of aircraft, particularly fighter jets.
Just 30 years ago, China was severely lagging behind both the USSR and the US in aviation technology. However, since 1991, China has seen a warp jump in its military tech prowess and one of the primary reasons was unprecedented access to Russian technologies which managed to survive the troublesome 1990s.
China played a vital role in this process, placing new orders at a time when Russia itself was barely able to maintain jets it already had in service. Russia started recovering during the 2000s, but close military ties with Beijing continued. China is still buying Russian-made weapons, ranging from submarines to fighter jets and highly sophisticated SAM systems.
This cooperation also includes the virtually unrivaled Su-35 fighters, the most advanced derivative of the legendary Su-27 “Flanker”. Just how important the Su-35 is to the Chinese Air Force is best illustrated by the fact that it is precisely this jet that China is sending to defend its interests against US provocation. During the early stages of the ongoing Taiwan standoff, Chinese Su-35 fighter jets, equipped with long-range air-to-air missiles, prompted the Taiwanese US-made F-16V jets to retreat.
With the exception of China’s indigenous J-20 next-generation fighter, the Russian-built Su-35 is the most advanced platform used by China’s Air Force (PLAAF). US-made F-16, on the other hand, forms the backbone of Taiwan’s Air Force. According to local sources, the aforementioned incident occurred as four F-16V fighters attempted to patrol the maritime airspace just off the coast of Taiwan. Reportedly, the F-16s were unaware of the Flanker-E’s (NATO reporting name for the Su-35) presence. The Taiwanese pilots were taken by surprise after the Chinese Su-35 suddenly showed up on their radars, forcing them to fly back into the island’s airspace and lower their altitude. The local sources are claiming the Su-35 blinded the radars of the Taiwanese F-16 jets. The Flanker-E’s powerful onboard “Khibiny-M” electronic warfare systems are most likely the reason F-16’s radars failed to detect it.
The Russian-built fighter jets are equipped with “Khibiny-M”, the most powerful electronic warfare system deployed by aircraft not dedicated to electronic warfare. “Khibiny-M” is what most likely made it possible for the Su-35 fighters to remain undetected until they approached within visual range. China acquired 24 Su-35s from Russia and they are the Asian giant’s most advanced foreign-built platforms. The jet is well-known for high endurance, extreme maneuverability and unrivaled combat readiness in its class and beyond. The very fact that China stationed the Su-35 jets just across its US-backed breakaway province is quite indicative of the aircraft’s capabilities. Chinese military experts are confident that the mere presence of the Russian-built jets serves as a deterrent against US or Taiwanese attempts to approach any Chinese aircraft in the area.
Girish Linganna, an aerospace and defense analyst, pointed out that “the Su-35 is a 4++ generation fighter jet meant to dogfight the F-22 ‘Raptors’ of the US. On the other hand, Taiwan opted to rely solely on the F-16V, a cheaper alternative to heavy-duty F-15 fighters which are comparable to Su-35s.”
Russian-made Su-35 jets boast numerous cutting-edge features, including 3D thrust vectoring engines, which the US-made F-16 lacks entirely. What’s more, the F-16 retains many of its original shortcomings, such as its larger radar cross-section, making it easier for an opponent to detect, track and target the US-made jet.
Linganna further highlighted that “while AESA radar ups the capabilities, the sheer size constraints of the single-engine F-16V limit the size of the radar the nose cone can accommodate. Instead, the Su-35 flaunts the state-of-the-art ‘Irbis-E’. On paper, both have a comparable range. However, F-16V has been hunkered down with the electronics and radar systems enhancements. This has impacted its maneuverability.”
“With a capacity for twice as much payload and the capability to carry hypersonic air-to-air missiles, the Su-35 would certainly outperform the F-16V,” as noted by Linganna. “In a dogfight, the F-16V probably won’t be able to defend itself. The reason is partly due to its decrease in already unfavorable maneuverability and partly owing to the ‘Flanker’ design of the Su-35 that primes it for effectively dogging enemy missiles,” Linganna added.
“Su-35 has a radar cross section (RCS) anywhere between one-meter square to three-meter square. Meanwhile, the F-16V has a 5-meter square RCS,” he added. “The Su-35 is outfitted with a Russian airborne electronic warfare system that keeps a database of all enemy radar emissions. Specifically, the L-175M10-35 [Khibiny-M] is used on the Su-35,” Linganna concluded.
These systems are capable of blinding enemy radars and other sensors. The goal is to significantly degrade or entirely neutralize the opponent’s situational awareness, making it possible for the Russian aircraft to complete the mission without being detected or targeted. Su-35S, operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces, has been combat-proven in various hotspots, including in Syria and Ukraine, where they’ve set several records breaking air to air victories, in addition to performing other combat missions. Chinese reports of the recent encounters with Taiwanese F-16Vs only further solidify the Su-35’s status as one of the best fighter jets in the world.
Drago Bosnic, independent geopolitical and military analyst.
