00:43 29-01-2026

Su-35 Fighter Review: Strengths, Limits, and Future

An in-depth look at Russia’s Su-35 fighter: agility, firepower, and range weighed against radar visibility limits and stalled transition to next-generation power

American defense analyst Harrison Kass, writing for 19FortyFive, has assessed the capabilities of Russia’s Su-35 fighter jet, describing it as an impressive fourth-generation aircraft that nevertheless carries a critical weakness that cannot be overlooked.

Kass notes that the Su-35, developed from the Su-27 platform, stands out for its strong kinematic performance and advanced maneuverability enabled by thrust-vector control. The aircraft combines this agility with a long engagement range for its weapons and the ability to carry heavy combat payloads, features that place it among the more capable fighters of its class.

However, these strengths come at a cost. According to the analyst, the Su-35’s design results in elevated radar visibility, which remains a serious drawback in modern air combat. Kass also points to shortcomings in the aircraft’s data fusion and network-centric capabilities, arguing that these systems lag behind those deployed on leading Western and Chinese fighters.

In his assessment, the Su-35 remains a formidable combat platform, but it also illustrates a broader limitation. Kass views the aircraft as evidence of stagnation rather than progress, reflecting difficulties in moving toward a true next-generation air power model. The lack of stealth, in particular, stands out as a fundamental problem in an era where survivability increasingly depends on reduced detectability.

Ultimately, Kass concludes that the Su-35 represents the culmination of Russia’s fourth-generation fighter evolution, marking an endpoint rather than a decisive step into the fifth generation.