Detailed comparative analysis of the resistance to electronic warfare of the Su-35 and Rafale fighter jets.

Electronic warfare (EW) has become a central element in modern conflicts, directly influencing air superiority. Fighter jets such as the Russian Su-35 and the French Rafale incorporate advanced EW systems to detect, jam, and neutralize threats. This article examines in detail the EW resistance capabilities of these two aircraft, highlighting their systems, performance, and operational implications.

The Su-35’s electronic warfare system

The Su-35 is a 4++ generation multi-role fighter jet designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau to enhance the tactical capabilities of Russian aviation. Although it does not have stealth capabilities, it partially compensates for this shortcoming with a suite of electronic warfare systems, in particular the Khibiny L-175V module. This system is mounted in pods on the wing tips and can jam enemy radars, conceal the aircraft’s radar signature, and simulate false electromagnetic targets to disrupt enemy radar guidance systems. However, its effectiveness depends on the density of the electromagnetic environment and the threats encountered.

The Su-35 is equipped with the Irbis-E radar, a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, which claims a maximum range of 400 kilometers against a fighter-type target (radar cross section of 3 m²). While it allows for long-range detection and simultaneous tracking of multiple targets, it is increasingly vulnerable to modern jamming, particularly that generated by Western AESA technology systems. The lack of a “low probability of intercept” (LPI) mode also limits its electromagnetic stealth.

These devices are supplemented by a non-emissive OLS-35 infrared sensor, useful for passive target detection within an estimated radius of 50 km, and a radar warning receiver (RWR) integrated into the defense system. Nevertheless, the fusion of the Su-35’s sensors remains partially centralized, unlike the more integrated standards of a Rafale. This shortcoming hinders the reactivity of the fighter pilot in high-intensity air combat, where instantaneous coordination of sensors is crucial. The Su-35 therefore remains effective, but suffers from a technological lag in electronic integration compared to NATO standards.

The Rafale’s electronic warfare system

The Rafale, Dassault Aviation’s multi-role fighter jet, is based on an integrated architecture designed from the outset for combat in electronically saturated environments. Its electronic warfare system is based on SPECTRA (Système de Protection et d’Évitement des Conduites de Tir du Rafale), developed by Thales and MBDA, which is one of the most advanced systems in service with Western air forces.

SPECTRA offers complete spherical coverage, ensuring the detection, identification, and precise location of electromagnetic and infrared threats. It includes radar antennas distributed across the fuselage, a laser warning detector, a missile launch detector, and active jammers. In the event of a threat, it is capable of automatically triggering electronic countermeasures: targeted jamming, deflection of radar-guided missiles, and release of electromagnetic and infrared decoys. Everything operates in real time, without direct intervention by the fighter pilot, reducing the cognitive load in combat.

The Rafale is also equipped with RBE2 AESA radar, an active antenna radar offering better jamming resistance, faster detection, increased accuracy, and a reduced electromagnetic signature. It allows passive modes (such as jammer detection), enhances LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) capabilities, and enables advanced data fusion with SPECTRA sensors and the frontal optronic system (OSF).

Another operational advantage is supercruise: the Rafale can maintain supersonic speed (approximately Mach 1.4, or 1,728 km/h) without afterburners. This reduces its infrared signature and limits detectable emissions, a definite advantage in GE situations. Combined with SPECTRA, this gives the Rafale high survivability in an electromagnetically degraded environment, particularly against enemy radars, modern ground-to-air systems, and aircraft equipped with long-range sensors.

In terms of electronic warfare, the Rafale is therefore positioned as a mature platform, benefiting from advanced software integration, fused sensors, and a proactive protection system capable of detecting, jamming, and avoiding threats before they become effective.

Operational comparison and strategic implications

The confrontation between the Su-35 and the Rafale in the field of electronic warfare highlights radically different technological approaches. The Rafale’s advantage lies in the advanced integration of its sensors, protection systems, and networked combat architecture. This data fusion—combining AESA radar, electronic warfare, optronics, and tactical data links—gives the fighter pilot a unified, coherent, and prioritized view of the air environment.

The SPECTRA system, with its automated threat processing and ability to neutralize threats before they become effective, gives the Rafale qualitative superiority. It can take preventive action against detection while remaining difficult to locate electromagnetically. In a theater of war dense with signals, jammers, and radars, this ability to act while remaining discreet is crucial. It also allows the Rafale to operate effectively without the constant support of a dedicated electronic warfare aircraft, making it more autonomous in so-called penetration operations.

Conversely, the Su-35 relies on high-performance but less integrated sensors and exceptional aerodynamic maneuverability, thanks in particular to its vector nozzles. Its Irbis-E radar, although very powerful, operates in PESA mode, making it easier to jam and more vulnerable to detection by passive enemy sensors. Its Khibiny system remains effective against less complex threats, but its effectiveness against modern adaptive digital processing systems is debatable. However, the Su-35 retains an advantage in close combat (dogfighting), where passive infrared detection and maneuverability can compensate for a lack of GE.

From a strategic point of view, in a high-intensity air conflict, the Rafale’s superiority lies in its digital resilience and tactical agility enabled by its electronic systems. The Su-35, while not obsolete, is likely to suffer from a survivability deficit in highly electromagnetic environments, unless it operates in close coordination with heavy jamming platforms such as the Krasukha. This technological gap could influence the division of roles in a confrontation between forces equipped with these aircraft.

Resistance to electronic warfare is a determining factor in modern air superiority. The Rafale, with its SPECTRA system and AESA radar, offers advanced protection against electronic threats, while the Su-35, although high-performing, has vulnerabilities due to less advanced system integration. In an intense electronic warfare environment, the Rafale appears better prepared to ensure the survival of its pilot and the success of its mission.

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