A pair of Russian Su-35 Flanker-Es flying at MAKS 2021 on July 25, 2021. Two similar aircraft reportedly crashed recently, destroying both aircraft and killing one of the pilots. (Shutterstock/aarrows)
Reports: One Pilot Dead After Two Su-35s Crash in Russia
Russian officials have not confirmed the loss of the aircraft and pilot, but several military bloggers have provided details on Telegram.
Over the weekend, an Amazon cargo plane crashed after overshooting the runway while landing at Miami International Airport, killing five. It came just days after a Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom II crashed while making a low-altitude maneuver at an airshow north of Athens, killing both aviators.
Both events were widely covered in the mainstream media, but another aviation mishap was downplayed and might have even gone unreported until posts on the Telegram social messaging app confirmed that two Russian Aerospace Forces’ Su-35S (NATO reporting name “Flanker-E/M”) air superiority fighters collided on Tuesday, destroying both aircraft.
“In the Kursk region two Sukhoi Su-35S fighter jets crashed, the circumstances are being determined,” posted the Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber, a prominent pro-Kremlin military blogger (mil-blogger) that does confirm Russian setbacks in Ukraine.
The Kremlin has not confirmed the loss of the aircraft, which has been common since the start of the ongoing Ukraine War. According to reports, another Russian mil-blogger posted on Telegram that one of the pilots was killed, but the other was able to safely eject.
“Photos in better quality of the crashed Russian Su-35S fighter jet in the Kursk region,” wrote MilitaryNewsUA on X.
The situation that caused the crash was not clear at press time, but it should be noted that aviation mishaps, including collisions between two close flying fighters, are not rare. In May, two US Navy EA-18G Growlers electronic warfare (EW) aircraft assigned to the Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) collided during a flight demonstration at the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB), Idaho.
Social Media Shares What the Russian Media Won’t
Shortly after Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, President Vladimir Putin issued a crackdown on the media, which essentially silenced the free press and significantly diminished any chances of accurate reporting.
However, even as Russia continues to block many Western social media platforms, Telegram has gained popularity, where the mil-bloggers have been vocal in criticizing the war effort, but without directly challenging Putin. That has, in a way, allowed the blame to be pushed away from the Russian despot for any setbacks or mishaps.
According to the mil-bloggers, Putin remains a capable and competent leader who must deal with incompetent subordinates who have failed to achieve victory.
More importantly, social media allows confirmation of such incidents even as Moscow has attempted to maintain control of the narrative. Open-source intelligence analysts also pick up on the reports, as was the case involving this week’s collision of Su-35S fighters.
Still, there has been no shortage of misinformation and disinformation coming from the social media platforms, as both Moscow and Kyiv have certainly exaggerated their respective victories and downplayed their losses.
It is a reminder that the truth is the first casualty in war.
Su-35S Losses Yet to Be Confirmed, But Would Be Significant
The Russian Aerospace Forces have received approximately 155 Su-35S Superflankers since serial production began in 2009. It is unclear how many were operational at the start of the conflict, but according to open-source trackers and military estimates, at least nine had been shot down in the fighting.
In July, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine told US lawmakers on the Senate Appropriations Committee that US intelligence confirmed that a Ukrainian F-16 Fighting Falcon had scored an air-to-air kill, downing what was believed to be a Superflanker. The Armed Forces of Ukraine had previously reported the shootdown, but did not initially identify the platform responsible.
“Losing two Su-35S aircraft in a single incident is another costly blow to Russia’s tactical aviation fleet, especially as Moscow continues relying heavily on advanced fighters for operations around Ukraine,” wrote the Ukrainian open-source intelligence analyst Visioner in a post on X. “Even when such losses occur without Ukrainian direct involvement, they still reduce available aircraft, consume replacement capacity and add further strain to an air force that has already suffered significant wartime attrition.”
Su-35 Flanker-E Specifications
- Year Introduced: 2014
- Number in Service: ~100
- Length: 71.9 ft (21.9 m)
- Height: 19.4 ft (5.9 m)
- Wingspan: 48.2 ft (15.3 m)
- Max Take-Off Weight: 76,059 lbs (34,500 kg)
- Engines: Two Saturn AL-41F1S afterburning turbofan engines
- Max Speed: Mach 2.25 (2,390 km/h or 1,290 knots)
- Service Ceiling: 59,060 ft (18,000 m)
- Range: 2,236 mi (3,600 km, 1,940 nm) on internal fuel; up to 2,796 mi (4,500 km) with drop tanks
- Armament:
- Hardpoints: 12 external hardpoints supporting up to 17,630 lbs (8,000 kg) of payload
- Air-to-Air Missiles: R-27 variants, R-73, R-77, and R-37M long-range missiles
- Air-to-Surface Missiles: Anti-radiation and anti-ship missiles like Kh-31, Kh-59, and Kh-35Bombs: Precision-guided munitions including KAB-500 and KAB-1500 series
- Gun: One 30mm GSh-30-1 autocannon (150 rounds)
According to United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the aviation subsidiary of the state-owned Rostec military industrial conglomerate, the Su-35 combines the qualities of a modern fighter, including super-maneuverability, superior active and passive acquisition aids, high supersonic speed and long range, capability of managing battle group actions, etc., with those of a tactical combat aircraft. UAC touts the fact that the Su-35 can carry a wide range of weapons, a modern multi-channel electronic warfare system, a reduced radar signature, and high combat survivability.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
The post Reports: One Pilot Dead After Two Su-35s Crash in Russia appeared first on The National Interest.