The Russian Ministry of Defense has published footage of the Su-35 fighter on combat duty in the armed conflict zone. The aircraft provided cover for army aviation helicopters during strikes on enemy positions and bases, the military department said.
The published footage shows the cockpit: targeting data and key flight parameters are projected onto a transparent indicator in front of the pilot's eyes. The pilot controls the aircraft with his right hand — the trigger for opening fire is also located on the stick. The left hand rests on the engine control handles. A tablet with information about the combat mission is attached to the knee of the flight suit.
Air-to-air missiles of short and medium range, as well as the Kh-31PM anti-radar missile, are clearly visible under the wing of the Su-35. At the wingtips are containers of the "Khibiny" electronic warfare complex, designed to protect the aircraft from enemy anti-aircraft missiles.
It is impossible to make out what is suspended under the fuselage and engine nacelles in the footage. Military observers suggest that the standard combat load of the Su-35 on duty near the front line includes an additional pair of K-77 medium-range missiles and the R-37M, a hypersonic air-to-air missile with a range of over 200 km. Officially, the Ministry of Defense did not disclose the composition of weapons on a specific flight.
The Su-35 is a multi-role, super-maneuverable 4++ generation fighter developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. It is equipped with AL-41F1S engines with thrust vectoring, the Irbis-E radar with a target detection range of up to 400 km, and is capable of simultaneously tracking up to 30 airborne objects. The Khibiny electronic warfare complex creates active interference for the homing heads of anti-aircraft missiles, significantly reducing the likelihood of the aircraft being hit.
