Chinese purchase of Su-35

I remain highly skeptical about this deal because of a lack of official confirmation. Neither the Chinese side or the Russian side has confirmed this deal. Its one of many reports we have seen in the past dating back all the way to 2007! There are only (Russian) media reports about this without any links to any official sources. Can anyone find the original statement from the head of Rostec other than from those Russian media reports?

Its certainly not on their company's website. The first foreign sale of the SU-35BM will be HUGE news for them. But we see nothing about this on their official websites.





And finally to me it doesn't make sense for China to buy the SU-35BM especially in light of the fact that they don't wan't the avionic's and weapons package. What are they left with ? A airframe with an engine. The only area were the SU-35BM is clearly superior to the Chinese Flankers is maneuverability. But China will do better to spend a fraction of that 2 billion dollars to add a TVC nozzle to their WS-10 family engines. And even if they had the AL-41 what can they learn ? The plain fact is that China's WS-10 and Russia's AL-31 families are two very distinct engines.

For the doubters, for whatever its worth, Chinese forums are buzzed with this signing unlike previous times.

What's the production rate of J11D? It's snail paced , to say the least.
The word is China will get 4 SU35 in 2016, so for those want beyond a doubt confirmation, the wait wouldn't be that long.

It's funny that whole bunch of doubters for SU35, yet they don't doubt about the S400 signing. To me the Pandora box has opened, S400, SU35, and next is the collaboration on SSN(single hull, and quieting tech) they are all part of the big picture.

I don't see the problem with China buying Su-35? After all hundreds of Chinese flankers are Russian based

Question is why? Because China has decades of flanker experience, does this mean Chinese best flanker is not as good as Su35?

I thought J16, J15 and J11D would most certainly be up there

tidalwave said:

What's the production rate of J11D? It's snail paced , to say the least.

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Is J11D in production or still in testing?

kurutoga said:

Is J11D in production or still in testing?

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Sorry, but what a question ??? We have so far two prototypes, the second had just its maiden flight last month ... so how could it be in production already ?

siegecrossbow said:

This time they said that the deal was actually signed.

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They said that before, too.

tidalwave said:

For the doubters, for whatever its worth, Chinese forums are buzzed with this signing unlike previous times.

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So, it's exactly like previous times then.

asif iqbal said:

I don't see the problem with China buying Su-35?

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The problem is that for there to be a trade, both sides must see values in the trade. The fact that people have to come up with explanations such as political concession already tells you such trade has no value to China.

asif iqbal said:

After all hundreds of Chinese flankers are Russian based

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Back then, the Flanker was very advance to what China had. Now days, there is no technology gap in fighter aircraft between the two countries. Chinese technologies are even ahead even in some areas.

From the Russian's point of view, they need to sell the Su-35 as an entire package with Russian avionics and weapons. The Russians can't nickle and dime the Chinese with just an airframe. From Chinese's point of view, the Su-35 is not good to buy for those exact reasons. There will be no way for Su-35 to use Chinese data-link and weapons unless the Chinese completely gut the Su-35. However, if China did that, then China had to spend money on things that immediately go in the trash bin.

Some people will suggest that Su-35 can be installed with Chinese avionics. That isn't possible, because the avionics are very sensitive technologies. China isn't going to ship the latest stuffs to Russia to be installed, and without avionics, those planes aren't going to fly anywhere. No deal can be made with such an impasse.

So what engineer you are saying Su35 is not a done deal ?

I think it is haven't chinese confirmed it

S400 and Su35

Also Turkey cancel SAM system deal


Things look bit weard right now

I would like to compare the timeline of S400 vs. Su35. Could someone with detailed knowledge and better memory to enlighten us how long it took both the Chinese and Russian govn'ts to acknowledge the purchase of S400? I think the timeline of S400 purchase should be a good bench mark for looking at the Su35...

asif iqbal said:

So what engineer you are saying Su35 is not a done deal ?

I think it is haven't chinese confirmed it

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People said "Chinese haven't confirmed it" in previous times as well.

Look, each day that passes implies there is less reason to buy the Su-35. With J-20 wrapping up flight testing phase, the money could be better spent at buying J-20's instead.