India - Su-35

In 2003, Sukhoi embarked on a second modernization of the Su-27 to produce what the company calls a 4++ generation fighter that would bridge the gap between legacy fighters and the upcoming fifth-generation Sukhoi PAK FA. This derivative, while omitting the canards and air brake, incorporates a reinforced airframe, improved avionics and radar, thrust-vectoring engines, and a reduced frontal radar signature. In 2008 the revamped variant began its flight test program.

In August 2009 Rosoboronexport formalised an offer of the Su-35 to the Indian government. The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is understood to have conveyed officially to the Indian government just days ahead of the MAKS 2009 aero-show at Zhukovsky that India has the option of purchasing 16-20 Su-35 fighters -- about a squadron's worth. According to the offer, the production would be prioritised along with the Russian order for 48 jets, a deal that was finally struck once the show opened, but had obviously been finalised many weeks ago. The air forces of Brazil and Venezuela were also considering options with involving unspecified numbers of the Su-35.

In March 2015, it was reported that Russia and India signed an agreement to jointly develop a fifth-generation upgrade to the Su-35. A Russian industry source stated that the upgraded Su-35S will cost about US$85 million each. India had been reluctant to order the Sukhoi/HAL FGFA due to high cost, and it has been reported that India and Russia were studying an upgrade to the Su-35 with stealth technology (similar to the F-15 Silent Eagle) as a more affordable alternative to the FGFA (Su-57).

Su-35 is a Russian standard 4++ generation air superiority fighter (American standard three and a half generations or 3.8 generations), with super maneuverability, brand new avionics, brand new light airframe, 3D thrust vector technology, and is known as the stealth aircraft killer.

Russia promoted the Su-35 to India and bid for the Indian Air Force Medium Multi-role Fighter (MMRCA). The Su-37 stood out among seven competitors and became the only heavyweight platform and the only platform dedicated to air-to-air combat. Airplane with an empty combat fuselage. With a large ammunition capacity and a long range, it can easily surpass all other players in the entire spectrum, including the maximum ceiling, radar electronic kit, and three-dimensional thrust vector engine, all exceeding the MiG-35 originally planned by Russia. The Su-35 is the only fighter that has been proven capable of deploying hypersonic air-to-air missiles, and the MiG-35 is the only fighter that is expected to deploy active phased array antenna guided missiles.

Although the price of the Su-35 is relatively low compared to light fighters such as the Rafale (the average unit price of the Rafale is nearly 250 million U.S. dollars, and the Su-35 is about 100 million U.S. dollars including engine backup and missile weapons), its performance is also better. But one of its main disadvantages is higher maintenance requirements and operating costs, which may make it less suitable as a competitor of medium-sized fighters.

By combining the offer to produce 114 Su-35 fighter jets in India with the country’s existing modernization capabilities of more than 250 Su-30mki heavy fighters, the Russian offer may well make up for the increase in operating costs defect.

According to reports, as part of the contract, United Aircraft Corporation of Russia has offered to provide several Su-35 technologies to upgrade the Su-30 fleet in India. Many of them will be manufactured in India, which will significantly improve the performance of the Su-30. According to the contract, Su-35 engines and other systems will be integrated into the Indian Su-30 , establishing fairly similar components and better interoperability between the two aircraft. Therefore, in turn, it can make India's heavy fighter aircraft easier to maintain and reduce net operating costs-something that other competitors in the competition have no chance to provide.

Upgraded Su-30 fighter jets using Su-35 technology will include the integration of the updated fighter's AL-41F-1S thrust vector engine, a powerful Snow Leopard irbi-e radar and a new electronic warfare system. The Indian Air Force will upgrade the most popular equipment on fighter jets-radar. The upgraded radar may be the NIIP N035 irbi-e (Snow Leopard) multi-mode, hybrid passive electronic phased array radar system, which is a 20-kilowatt level steerable hybrid passive phased radar.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said about the planned application-the latest variant of the technology Su-30, and the benefit of these upgraded standardized parts is the performance enhancement and cost reduction. Therefore, the Su-35 may be one of the three major competitors of the MMRCA agreement, but through the technology provided by the agreement to enhance the unique capabilities of India’s existing Su-30 fleet, it is likely to make it a major competitor.