Russia begins test flights of Su-35S series fighter

MOSCOW, May 3 (RIA Novosti)

Russia's Sukhoi aircraft manufacturer has started test flights of its first series-produced Su-35S Flanker-E multirole fighter, the company said on Tuesday. The aircraft took off from the Komsomolsk-on-Amur airfield in Russia's Far East, spending one and a half hours in the air testing propulsion and control systems. The Su-35 Flanker-E superiority fighter is powered by two 117S engines with thrust vectoring. It can effectively engage several air targets simultaneously using both guided and unguided missiles and weapon systems. The aircraft has been touted as "4++ generation using fifth-generation technology." After the tests are completed, the Su-35 will be transferred to the Russian Defense Ministry.