If the West also supplies Ukraine with F-16 fighters, they will have to compete against the faster Russian Sukhoi Su-35. “In one-on-one combat, the Su-35 is superior to the F-16 because of its long-range radar and long-range missiles,” says defense specialist Peter Wijninga of the U.S. Center for Strategic Studies. ‘Aia.
For want of better, the Ukrainian Air Force still flies obsolete Soviet-era MiG-29 aircraft. If Kiev had 120 of these fighter aircraft at the beginning of the war, now it has lost an unknown number. Partly thanks to the Russian Sukhoi Su-35, which with its long-range guided and unguided weapons is superior to the very obsolete equipment of the Ukrainian Air Force.
«The planes used by the Russians are the Sukhoi Su-35 and the Sukhoi Su-30, which are very modern aircraft. The Sukhoi 35 in particular is a very capable aircraft, more modern than the F-16. I also think that an F-16 is no match for a Sukhoi, also due to the weapons package it carries. So this is really a danger,” says defense specialist Peter Wijninga from the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague.
Faster than the F-16
The Su-35 is a fast and maneuverable fighter with a very long range, high altitude and heavy armament. Exact top speed or range figures are not unambiguous and also vary widely. It has everything to do with how many modifications the aircraft goes through, how much ammunition or missiles they carry, and at what altitude the aircraft flies. For example, a SU-35 with extra fuel tanks is slower, but logically has a longer range. Several speeds are given for the Su-35, the maximum speed being Mach 2.25 (about 2,390 km/h, 2.25 times the speed of sound).
“In one-on-one combat, the Su-35 is superior to the F-16”
Superior
What if an F-16 and a Su-35 collide? “In one-on-one combat, the Su-35 is superior to the F-16,” says Wijninga. According to the defense specialist, this is due to the long-range radar and long-range missiles that the Su-35 has. ‘An F-16 can therefore already be shot down before the pilot notices an approaching Su-35. He’ll notice the radar signal, but it may be too late by then.”
“However, the Su-35 pilots won’t want it to come to a ‘dogfight’,” continues Wijninga, “since the F-16 is more maneuverable and therefore has a chance to win.” But the Su-35 has tremendous acceleration, which would allow it to escape such a fight.’
“The F-16 is better suited for ground support”
Radar
Typically, the side that has radar aircraft, such as an AWAC, has the best maps. With well-trained pilots and the support of ground controllers or an AWACS, the Su-35 “is an extremely formidable threat to any Western fighter aircraft,” according to a defense specialist at The National Interest. “AWACS could make a difference,” says Wijninga, “but Ukraine doesn’t have AWACS and probably won’t have one. The Russians have some sort of AWACS, but I don’t know if they are deployed. But a lot also depends on the type of mission and the skill of the pilot.
- Sukhoi Su-35
- Speed: Mach 2.25 (about 2,390 km/h)
- Maximum altitude: 18,000m.
- Autonomy: 3,600 km
- Weight: 17,000kg
- F-16 Fighting Falcon
- Speed: Mach 1.2 (about 1,470 km/h)
- Maximum altitude: 15,000m.
- Autonomy: 4,220km
- Weight: 9,207 kilograms
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
