Su-35 Engine: Specs & Power

What engines power the Su-35?

The Sushi Su-35 runs on two Saturn AL-41F1S engines, also known as the 117S. This twin-engine after burning turbofan configuration gives the aircraft both redundancy and serious combat power.

In dry thrust, a single AL-41F1S produces 19,400 pounds of force. With afterburners lit, that climbs to 32,000 pounds per engine, giving the Su-35 a thrust-to-weight ratio that few fighters can match.

How does Su-35 thrust vectoring work?

Thrust vectoring on the Su-35 works by redirecting exhaust flow through articulating rear nozzles, changing the direction of thrust in real time.

This lets the aircraft pivot on its tail, achieving super maneuverability even at very low speeds or extreme angles of attack.

The vectoring nozzles connect directly to the flight control computers, which translate pilot inputs into precise nozzle movements. Rather than relying only on aerodynamic surfaces, the Su-35 can steer using engine thrust itself, which keeps it controllable through maneuvers that would otherwise cause a loss of authority.

What performance comes from the Su-35 engine?

The engines give the Su-35 a limited super cruise capability, meaning it can sustain speeds above Mach 1.1 on dry thrust alone. This saves fuel during supersonic transit without burning afterburner the whole way.

Push the throttles to full, and the aircraft reaches Mach 2.25.

Combined after burning thrust of 64,000 pounds produces a climb rate of 55,000 feet per minute, which lets pilots gain altitude quickly when it matters.

How far can the Su-35 fly?

On a full fuel load, the Su-35 has a maximum range of roughly 4,500 kilometers (2,796 miles). That figure changes with payload and whether external drop tanks are carried, so fuel planning is a real operational consideration.

Takeoff requires only about 1,800 feet of runway. Landing needs a bit more, around 2,200 feet.

What are the Su-35 maintenance intervals?

Keeping the AL-41F1S engines reliable means regular inspection of the thrust-vectoring nozzles and turbine blades. Major maintenance is scheduled at approximately 1,000 flight hours.

The airframe and major components are rated for up to 4,000 flight hours, which reduces the frequency of deep maintenance cycles and helps keep the aircraft available for operations.

How does the Su-35 airframe support engine power?

The fuselage is reinforced to handle +10g maneuvers, which is necessary given the power the two AL-41F1S engines produce. Removing the dorsal air brake cuts weight, while housing two large after burning turbofans requires careful attention to heat management and structural loads.

The air intakes are shaped to deliver steady airflow to the compressor blades during aggressive pitch maneuvers, reducing the risk of compressor stall. Differential rudder control adds agility at low speeds, working alongside the thrust-vectoring nozzles rather than against them.

What systems help manage Su-35 engine performance?

The cockpit uses large LCDs to present engine data clearly, and the HOTAS layout lets pilots adjust thrust without taking their hands off the controls. This matters most during high-workload phases of flight, when attention is split across multiple tasks.

Avionics integration ties the flight control computers to a helmet-mounted target designation system, so the pilot can cue sensors and weapons while still managing the aircraft, without having to shift focus between systems.

Which Su-35 engine facts need caution?

Performance figures for the Su-35 depend heavily on configuration. A full load of external munitions increases drag and cuts both top speed and range, which in turn affects how aggressively fuel can be managed during a mission.

Published specifications also tend to reflect clean, unloaded conditions. Real-world combat profiles rarely match those numbers. It’s also worth noting that export variants may differ from Russian-operated aircraft in avionics and engine management software, so performance limits can vary by operator.