Defence in brief: UAC delivers Su-35S to Russian air force

The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has delivered the second batch of Su-35S air superiority fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces according to a 12th March press release. Footage released by the company appears to show two aircraft. 

The first batch, which may have included two or three aircraft, was delivered at the end of March. “Today, new batches of aircraft systems, which will be delivered under this year’s state defence order, are at various stages of readiness,” Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec said at the time. 

Three batches of Su-35S deliveries were reported in 2024, with four in 2023. If each batch consists of two or three aircraft, this would indicate an annual production of between six and 12 Su-35S. The total demand for the fighter is unclear, as Russia has seemingly received all of the Su-35S that are on contract from before the invasion. 

UAC also produces the Su-57, Russia’s 5th generation multirole fighter and the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant – which also sits within UAC – produces the Su-34 fighter-bomber. Four Su-34 batches were reported in 2024.

Calibre comment

Russia’s Aerospace Forces include its strategic ground-based air defence systems; capabilities like the S-400 that are designed to protect critical infrastructure and command nodes from long-range missile and air strikes. The Ukrainians have found some success in evading those defences, albeit with great effort in terms of mission planning. However, it is likely that Russia would be more aggressive in its use of air-superiority aircraft like the Su-35S in the event of a war with NATO. The deliveries reported by Rostec and UAC should be seen in this light, as an effort to beef up Russia’s airpower and the VKS’s ability to defend its airspace or inflict losses on NATO’s own airpower. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 13th May, 2025.