China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has deployed the newly- acquired Russian made Su-35 fighter jets in its combat mission over the disputed South China to challenge recurring US aerial and naval patrols asserting freedom of navigation and over-flight in region.
US military is periodically sending warships and air force jets to assert freedom of flights and navigation over the South China Sea as China claims most of it. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the area. This is the first time the People’s Liberation Army Air Force has made public the deployment of its Su-35s.
The China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) did not reveal when the patrol took place. The release said the multirole fighter jet’s participation in combat exercises will help strengthen the air force’s long- range operational capability. The PLAAF will continue pushing forward training to improve combat capabilities. The air force did not reveal when the patrol took place. The release said the multirole fighter jet’s participation in combat exercises will help strengthen the air force’s long- range operational capability.
The Russian-Sino agreement reportedly included not only the sale of the 24 Su-35s for a total of USD2 billion (USD83 million per unit), but also the delivery of ground support equipment and spare aircraft engines. The first fighters were delivered to China in December 2016.
