The conglomerate Rostec has announced the delivery of a new batch of Su-35S fighters to the Russian air force. This industrial acceleration is justified by the wear and tear on its forces engaged on the Ukrainian front.
The Russian military-industrial complex seems to be maintaining its pace. The public conglomerate Rostec announced, through its subsidiary United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the delivery of a new batch of multi-role Su-35S fighters to the Russian aerospace forces. The information reported by Le Parisien and officially announced on the UAC’s Telegram account on Friday confirms the ongoing renewal of the tactical fleet in a context of high operational intensity.
In the grandiloquent style characterizing Rostec’s communications, its deputy general director lavished praise on the aircraft:
“These fighters are now the most advanced modern combat aircraft in the world, holding the record for the number of enemy military aircraft intercepted […] The pilots highlight the excellent performance of the Su-35S, which is the most objective assessment possible for military equipment,” said Vladimir Artyakov.
The number of fighters is a mystery
However, as usual, Moscow has remained silent on the exact number of units integrated in this delivery. But this new equipment delivery aligns with a particularly dense industrial schedule.
Between March and December 2025, the Aerospace Forces received Su-35S aircraft regularly, with documented transfers in May, June, August, September, and November. While official figures remain secret, Le Parisien attempts an estimation: between seven and twenty-one aircraft may have been delivered in 2025, according to various sources.
A true pillar of Russian aerial strategy, the Su-35S is a heavy “4++” generation fighter designed by the Sukhoi design bureau and manufactured in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, in the Russian Far East. This twin-engine aircraft, notably sold to the Iranians, stands out for its maneuverability, allowing it to perform a wide range of missions.
Preventing a shortage of Su-35S?
Beyond air superiority and long-range interceptions, it is regularly used for drone neutralization, escorting strike groups, and precise bombing against maritime and land targets. By reinforcing its tactical units with these new machines, Russia aims to counterbalance the wear and tear on its air fleet, which has been heavily used since the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
Quoting information from the Norwegian armed forces, the Ukrainian media Militarnyi noted in March 2026 that a Su-35S aircraft from the “Russian Knights”, the official Russian army aerobatics team, had flown in combat configuration. This news seems to indicate, according to the media, that aircraft dedicated to demonstrations may have been requisitioned for combat due to a shortage of available aircraft.
