27-04-2022, 12:34 PM
https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1...tin-latest
BRITISH and American scientists are analysing the secret long-range targeting mechanism of Russia's most advanced fighter jet, sources confirmed last night.
And their findings could make a "huge difference" in how the West conducts air-to-air combat with both Russia and China. Ukrainian troops shot down the Sukhoi Su-35S using short-range missiles two weeks ago. Specialists with the Ukrainian Air Force were able to retrieve vital and hitherto classified elements from its burnt-out remains and informed British intelligence.
The systems were transported to the Government’s Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down, in Wiltshire, where boffins, joined by two experts from the US Air Force, have spent ten days examining them.
The initial assessment was deemed so promising that the systems have now been flown to Nevada, USA, for more forensic examination.
Dubbed “Flanker” by Nato, the fighter jet was conducting a so-called Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) operation when it was unexpectedly shot down near Izium, some 75 miles from Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine on April 3.
![[Image: Russian-jet-1597094.webp?r=1650290951611]](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/151/590x/Russian-jet-1597094.webp?r=1650290951611)
FORMIDABLE: The Su-35S is Russia's most advanced jet (Image: GETTY)
Its pilot was captured after safely ejecting.
The Flanker is Russia’s equivalent to the F-35 fifth generation multirole fighter which is currently used by the RAF and 14 other Nato nations - though it does not possess stealth technology.
And the prospect of Nato powers examining its sophisticated inner workings will cause consternation among air force chiefs in Russia, which operates 47 of them.
It has also sent shockwaves in China which, as Russia’s biggest defence partner, now boasts the world’s second largest fleet having signed a $2bn deal for 24 of the fighters in 2015.
Though the aircraft was heavily-damaged, sources say enough remained of the targeting system for detailed analysis.
BRITISH and American scientists are analysing the secret long-range targeting mechanism of Russia's most advanced fighter jet, sources confirmed last night.
And their findings could make a "huge difference" in how the West conducts air-to-air combat with both Russia and China. Ukrainian troops shot down the Sukhoi Su-35S using short-range missiles two weeks ago. Specialists with the Ukrainian Air Force were able to retrieve vital and hitherto classified elements from its burnt-out remains and informed British intelligence.
The systems were transported to the Government’s Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down, in Wiltshire, where boffins, joined by two experts from the US Air Force, have spent ten days examining them.
The initial assessment was deemed so promising that the systems have now been flown to Nevada, USA, for more forensic examination.
Dubbed “Flanker” by Nato, the fighter jet was conducting a so-called Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) operation when it was unexpectedly shot down near Izium, some 75 miles from Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine on April 3.
FORMIDABLE: The Su-35S is Russia's most advanced jet (Image: GETTY)Its pilot was captured after safely ejecting.
The Flanker is Russia’s equivalent to the F-35 fifth generation multirole fighter which is currently used by the RAF and 14 other Nato nations - though it does not possess stealth technology.
And the prospect of Nato powers examining its sophisticated inner workings will cause consternation among air force chiefs in Russia, which operates 47 of them.
It has also sent shockwaves in China which, as Russia’s biggest defence partner, now boasts the world’s second largest fleet having signed a $2bn deal for 24 of the fighters in 2015.
Though the aircraft was heavily-damaged, sources say enough remained of the targeting system for detailed analysis.
![[Image: FNFENH1XIAUAnvG?format=jpg&name=large]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNFENH1XIAUAnvG?format=jpg&name=large)