manqiangrexue
Brigadier
The Su-35 is a great enhancement to the J-11 fleet, here our colleges minimize the fact Su-35 supercruises, but basically it means less fuel spent so it means longer range add Su-35 carries more fuel internally, (which means new internal structures and enhanced avionics) means Su-35 enhances power projection over any J-11.
Even J-20 with inferior engines can not compete, regardless you say it is stealthy, J-20 has not better engines, it is almost as large as a Su-35 and at least as heavy, so it has no better range.
So i will put it simple, 117S gives to China two advantages longer range and higher speed on Flanker platforms.
Russia is not about charity, China pays or no deal, Russia needs money, and Su-35 is a very advanced weapon, is 5th generation subsystems on a 4th generation fuselage, J-20 is a 5th generation fuselage but lacks the most important 5th generation thing, without it, no supercruise, no STOL, no super maneuverability, and no post stall regardless of what you say without TVC nozzles there is no credible post stall handling, so in few words the Su-35 is a gift Russia is not willing to sell without the most money they can get, Russia knows China eventually will get the technology embedded in 117S, but for them they will make sure they take more time and they get the most money, so China and Russia are negotiating and for that reason it has taken long
1. By what logic does carrying more internal fuel equate to "enhanced avionics?"
2. You've forgotten to consider aircraft design completely. You obviously cannot deduce relative range simply by engines and weight of the aircraft, especially if you don't know the relative weights of the aircraft. It's no safe bet at all, that J-20 is somehow smaller than Su-35, made of more composites, and still "at least as heavy" as Su-35.
3. I believe Su-35 actually is slower than AL-31 variant flankers (including sino-flankers); Mach 2.25 vs. Mach 2.35.
4. Most people, and I mean I've never seen anyone who thinks otherwise, would not say that supercruise was somehow the most important aspect of a 5th gen fighter LOL. Most people would say... maybe... STEALTH?? But hey, if it's most important to you specifically, you can certainly say that.