Dogfighting the Flanker: Can the MiG-35 Take Down the Mighty Su-35?

As an avid fan of combat flight games, I‘m constantly analyzing the real-world capabilities of jets like Russia‘s Su-35 fighter and its smaller counterpart, the MiG-35. When pitting these deadly aircraft against each other, which Flanker variant has the dogfighting advantage? Let‘s dig into the stats and find out!

A Twin-Engine Powerhouse vs A Nimble Multirole Fighter

The Su-35 is a heavily upgraded derivate of Russia‘s Su-27 Flanker platform, considered one of the most lethal air superiority fighters out there. With its massive twin engines and thrust vectoring exhaust, this airframe can pull off incredible maneuvers while bringing massive firepower into battle.

The MiG-35 Fulcrum is smaller and more agile as a lightweight multirole fighter, but makes up for size in versatility and advanced targeting systems. Its impressive power-to-weight ratio empowers the MiG to stand its ground, even against larger opponents.

As a long-time flight sim enthusiast, I love pitting these Russian jets against each other to determine which fighter has the dogfighting advantage. Let‘s see how they compare across critical performance metrics:

Key Stats Comparison

(All information from official manufacturer data)

While the Su-35 has decisive advantages in top speed, range, radar power and advanced sensors, we can‘t ignore the MiG-35‘s extreme agility – it might just be able to outmaneuver the Flanker!

Dogfighting Showdown: Breaking Down A Close-Range Battle

Imagine an air combat scenario where an Su-35 flight is ambushed by MiG-35s at close visual range. Let‘s walk through a hypothetical dogfight face-off!

Right off the bat, the MiG‘s tactical edge is pilot visibility and cockpit ergonomics. Its stunning glass cockpit architecture provides exceptional 360° situational awareness. Combined with the advanced infrared search and track (IRST) suite, Fulcrum pilots can swiftly spot inbound threats.

As the Flankers enter the visual arena, the MiG jocks go full throttle and aggressively turn inside their larger opponents. By expertly coordinating thrust vector control and dynamic aerodynamic braking in tight maneuvers, they rapidly gain positional advantage.

Here‘s where it gets dangerous! At less than 1.5 miles, the MiG ace swiftly acquires missile lock on the bandit Su-35 using his RVV-MD heatseekers and advanced Helmet Mounted Display (HMD). Without leaving the edge of the envelope, he fires off a pair of R-74Ms.

But the Flanker leader reacts fast, dispensing flares and evasively diving while ripple firing his longer-ranged active radar R-77 missiles in return fire. His wingman splits to reinforce. Outpowered in electronic warfare, the lead MiG fails to jam the anti-air ordnance.

So who emerges victorious? The Fulcrums certainly pressed a blistering attack taking initiative at the merge. But the Flankers‘ radar guided missile capability likely scores first blood outside dogfight range. While the MiG might fly better slow, I have to give this close-in round to the Su-35 for longer-range missile and countermeasure superiority.

Mid-Range Scenario: Leveraging Stealth & Sensor Capabilities

Now let‘s change the backdrop. Imagine the same MiG/Su-35 flights are positioned 5-15 miles apart instead, not yet within visual contact. From this distance, factors like sensors, stealth and tactics become decisive to getting the first shot in.

Russia aggressively markets the Su-35‘s game-changing Irbis-E hybrid phased array radar, claimed to detect large targets from over 250 miles away. But AESA systems like the MiG-35‘s Zhuk-AE are inherently tougher to jam and can leverage electronic beam steering for an information edge.

In the radar evasion department, both aircraft share robustly reduced head-on radar cross sections (RCS) without implementing full stealth shaping. However, the MiG‘s smaller size likely gives it a lower frontal detection signature, offering some survivability advantages.

To exploit this, MiG pilots optimize their intercept geometry, orienting to expose only glancing aspects of their airframe and engines while making the most of their IRST. While the Su-35‘s sensors have longer theoretical range, the Fulcrum employs its assets effectively – scoping Flanker radar emissions to set up an ambush attack.

Here, the MiG‘s size helps it survive the first deadly seconds of exposure. Quick, lower intensity radar blips might evade detection as the pilots maneuver erratically. By closing rapidly from the vulnerable aft aspect of the Su-35, they can score a clear infrared lock and fire an RVV-SD ramjet missile.

In this scenario, crafty tactics and optimizing stealth give the edge to the MiG-35 – despite the Su-35‘s advanced avionics and missile ripple capacity making it a fierce opponent!

Final Verdict: The King of dogfighting vs The Jack of All Trades

After comparing critical performance metrics and simulating close to mid range combat, I have to declare the more versatile Su-35 the winner for most air superiority missions. With game-changing sensors, speed, payload and detection range, it simply dominates the beyond visual range fight.

However, The MiG-35 becomes a lethal foe during intensive, within visual range dogfights. By mastering thrust vector maneuvers and optimizing stealth survivability, Fulcrum pilots still have what it takes to counter and take down high-end adversaries like the Su-35. MiG‘s upcoming Checkmate light tactical fighter looks to only expand on these capabilities.

At the end of the day, I‘d take either jet into my hangar in a heartbeat! Russian Flankers and Fulcrums represent the pinnacle of energy maneuverability and 4th gen fighter evolution. As an enthusiast, I can‘t wait to see further variants and upgrades as these lethal aircraft continue going head-to-head on the 21st century battlefield.