23:17 27-05-2026

Su-35S vs F-35: Russian Fighter’s Key Advantages

Analysts say Russia’s Su-35S outperforms the F-35 in range, missile load and close combat, despite the U.S. jet’s stealth advantage.

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Russia’s Su-35S, a «4++ generation» fighter, appears stronger than the U.S.-made fifth-generation F-35 in several key areas, according to analysts cited by Military Watch Magazine.

The article followed the delivery of another batch of Su-35S aircraft to the Russian Aerospace Forces. The United Aircraft Corporation, part of the Rostec state corporation, said the jets had completed the full cycle of factory testing and had also been checked across different operating modes.

Military Watch Magazine notes that the F-35 retains clear advantages in stealth and network-centric warfare. Even so, analysts argue that the Russian jet has a number of significant strengths, with its main advantage rooted in its original purpose: the Su-35 was built primarily for air combat.

The F-35, by contrast, was developed under the Joint Strike Fighter program with an emphasis on suppressing air defenses and striking ground targets, while the Su-35 was designed to serve as one of Russia’s main air-superiority fighters.

The Russian aircraft is considerably larger, carries a bigger radar and is powered by more capable engines. It can also carry up to 12 air-to-air missiles, while the F-35 in stealth configuration is limited to four. In addition, the Su-35 has roughly twice the flight range and can sustain supersonic speed without using afterburners.

The magazine also highlighted the Su-35’s R-77M missile, which has a range of about 200 kilometers. According to the authors, this has erased the earlier advantage the F-35 held through the AIM-120D missile.

For very long-range interception missions, the Su-35 gains another major advantage from the R-37M missile, whose range exceeds 350 kilometers. This gives it the ability to threaten enemy AWACS aircraft and aerial refueling tankers from a safe distance.

Military Watch Magazine also states that the Su-35 can use a broader range of air-to-surface and anti-ship weapons than the F-35.

The Russian fighter is also described as having a clear edge in close-range maneuvering combat, provided the effect of the F-35’s stealth can be reduced through electronic warfare systems.

Although the Su-35 belongs to a lower generation class on paper, the magazine’s analysts argue that its strengths, when used effectively, make it a dangerous opponent for NATO air forces operating the F-35.