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How Russia's Su-35 Already Threatened U.S F-35 Dominance (Israel-Iran Warfare)
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#simpleavia #aviationindustry #aviation #f35 #su35
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How Russia's Su-35 Already Threatened U.S F-35 Dominance (Israel-Iran Warfare)
For years, Iran’s air force was a joke — grounded by ancient jets and strangled by sanctions. But in November 2024, everything changed. Russia sent Iran two Su-35SE fighters — and that’s just the start. With up to 50 on the way, Iran isn’t just rebuilding… it’s aiming to challenge Israel’s F-35s head-on. Sounds impossible? Maybe. But these jets are no ordinary upgrade — they could flip the air war in the Middle East. Let’s break it down.
Cutting-edge Capabilities
So what exactly makes the Su-35SE such a threat? In short — it’s a fourth-generation jet… on steroids. We’re talking Mach 2.25 top speed, a range of nearly 3,600 kilometers without refueling, and engines with thrust-vectoring nozzles that let it twist and flip through the air like a leaf in a hurricane. This thing doesn’t just fly — it dances. And in a dogfight? That agility could be the difference between life and death.
How Russia's Su-35 Already Threatened U.S F-35 Dominance (Israel-Iran Warfare)
But what really sets the Su-35SE apart is its radar. The Irbis-E system is no joke — a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar that can detect targets with a radar cross-section of 1 square meter at nearly 300 kilometers. That’s farther than most fighters can shoot. It can track 30 targets at once and engage 8 of them simultaneously. That’s not a fighter — that’s a flying hunter.
Now let’s talk weapons. The Su-35SE can carry the R-77 for medium range and the R-73 for close-quarters — but the real star here is the R-37M hypersonic missile. It can travel over Mach 6 and hit targets more than 300 km away. And guess what? That kind of range allows it to shoot at stealth aircraft — even before they get close enough to fire back.
And it doesn’t stop at air-to-air. This jet can launch Oniks anti-ship missiles, KAB-1500 precision bombs, and more — giving it the flexibility to target everything from enemy aircraft to warships to radar sites.
But here’s the strategic twist: Iran isn’t using these jets in isolation. When paired with powerful ground-based radar like the NEBO-M and the S-300 system, the Su-35SE becomes part of a layered kill web. Those systems operate on low-frequency bands, which — spoiler alert — can detect stealth aircraft like the F-35 from over 150 kilometers away. Combine that early warning with the Su-35’s missile reach, and suddenly, Israel’s stealth edge doesn’t look so untouchable anymore.
How Russia's Su-35 Already Threatened U.S F-35 Dominance (Israel-Iran Warfare)
So yeah — the Su-35SE isn’t just a shiny new toy. It’s a strategic weapon that, if used right, could neutralize Israel’s technological advantage. But how vulnerable is the F-35 really? Let’s peel back the curtain and take a closer look…
F-35’s Vulnerabilities Exposed
Let’s be honest — the F-35 has been hyped as the untouchable king of the skies. And to be fair, it’s a beast in its own right. Israel operates 36 of the F-35I ‘Adir’ — a specially modified version with extra electronic warfare gear, Israeli-made weapons, and deep integration into their military networks. It’s got cutting-edge stealth, a tiny radar cross-section, and the AN/APG-81 AESA radar that can spot, jam, and guide all at once. On paper? It sounds unbeatable.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth — the F-35 is not invincible. Not even close. First, it’s slow for a fighter — Mach 1.6, versus the Su-35’s Mach 2.25. And it’s short-legged — 2,800 km range compared to Su-35’s 3,600. That limits its flexibility without constant support from tankers or bases nearby. In a conflict where every minute counts, that’s a real handicap.