Chinese Su-35 Fighter Deal Not Closed Yet, Ratification Pending

The Sukhoi Su-35 purchase agreement signed between China and Russia for 24 fighters for an undisclosed sum is yet to be ratified between the two countries.

"We have signed, but it hasn’t come into effect. There’s a procedure on ratification. To sign is not enough, it has to be ratified by our side and the Chinese side," Rostec Chief Sergei Chemezov said in an interview with Wall Street Journal news daily.

When asked as to when will the contract ratification happen, he said, “summer or fall, it’s a long period.”

Moscow and Beijing signed a contract in November last year on delivery of 24 Su-35 jets to China worth at least $2 billion. Sergei confirmed that the deliveries will not take place this year.

In February this year, Russian media agency had cited an unnamed source close to military-technical co-operation between the two nations as saying that, “the first four Su-35 jets will be supplied to China this year.”

China plans to use Su-35 to counter US movement in South-China Sea. China will not be able to deploy its J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters will take few more years and they would not be available to deal with US threat.

The long range of the Su-35 and its superiority to US and Japanese fighter jets will enable China to patrol the South China Sea for 24 hours every day for the time being until it is able to deploy its own stealth fighters, according to an earlier report by Chinadaily news daily.

The Su-35 is an upgraded 4++generation multipurpose fighter jet incorporating fifth-generation technologies. The jet incorporates a reinforced airframe, improved avionics and radar, thrust-vectoring engines, and a reduced frontal radar signature.

Its maximum speed is 2,390 km/h (1,490mph), range is 3,600 km (1,940 miles), and combat radius - around 1,600 km (995 miles). The jet is armed with 30 mm GSh-301 internal cannon with 150 rounds and 12 hardpoints capable of carrying rockets, missiles and bombs.