Combat record
Su-35 — Combat Record
4.5-generation jet · Russia · First flight 2008 · Combat-proven: air-to-air
The story behind the numbers
The most capable Flanker is fighting its first real war over Ukraine, flying escort and defensive counter-air with R-77-1 missiles, and Russian claims credit it with several Ukrainian aircraft — counted here cautiously as roughly seven, with one confirmed air-to-air loss (a Su-35 downed by a Ukrainian F-16 in July 2026), though Su-35s have fallen to ground-based defences.
Its 2019 sale to Egypt collapsed under sanctions and its Iranian deliveries began in 2025 — the type’s export future now rides on its wartime reputation, which is exactly what both sides’ information war contests. The definitive 4.5-generation Russian fighter is earning its ledger in the least verifiable air war of modern times.
Campaign by campaign
| Years | Campaign | Operator | Victories | A2A losses | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–25 | Russo-Ukrainian War | Russia | 0 | 1 | Russia claimed 7+ victories (unverified); one Su-35 was shot down by a Ukrainian F-16 in July 2026. 8 lost, including one to a friendly S-300 in 2023. |
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