The Su-35 “Flanker-E” was Russia’s attempt to keep pace with their American and Chinese great power rivals. On paper, it’s a powerhouse. In practice, the Su-35 has had a mixed record.

The Su-35, developed from the Su-27 Flanker, was designed to be highly maneuverable and compete with U.S. fourth-generation fighters. However, despite its advanced capabilities and armament ...