Russia's slowed combat aircraft production raises hopes
Although the Russian defence industry continues to supply the army with new combat aircraft, the pace of delivering new machines is noticeably slower than in previous years. What exactly does this look like?
Ukrainian military and political commentator Oleksandr Kovalenko addressed the topic. According to him, Russians are producing combat aircraft such as the Su-35, Su-34, Su-57, and Yak-130 training aircraft. In the case of the Su-30 and MiG-29 fighters, they are mainly focused on repairs and modernisation of stored units.
How many combat aircraft does Russia produce?
They are primarily producing Su-35 and Su-34 aircraft now. They can produce one squadron per year, which is a maximum of 8 to 10 such aircraft annually, as said by Oleksandr Kovalenko on the Kyiv24 television channel.
According to the Ukrainian expert, the production of the Su-57, the most modern combat aircraft of the Russian Air Force, is much more modest. This is a fifth-generation multi-role aircraft with reduced detectability, capable of supercruise (supersonic speed without using afterburners). The Su-57 can operate at an altitude of up to 19,800 metres. Standard equipment includes a 30mm cannon, but it also has 12 hardpoints for heavier weaponry.
“Sometimes they say they can produce more, even a squadron, but this is unlikely. There has been no evidence that this is indeed the case. This means that a maximum of 2 to 4 such aircraft are produced annually,” believes Kovalenko.
This year, Russians have been strengthened with only four Su-34s
The Ukrainian's calculations corroborate the latest deliveries to the Russian army. In 2024, it received two deliveries of Su-34s, each consisting of only two such aircraft.
This is particularly interesting because the Su-34 is considered the backbone of the Russian Air Force. It is a tactical bomber measuring over 23 metres in length, capable of reaching speeds of up to 1900 km/h with its two AL-31FM1 engines.
It has a GS-30-1 30mm cannon, but its most important feature is the ability to carry up to 8 tonnes of additional weaponry, which the Russians use to attack Ukrainian positions. They use the Su-34 to carry and drop KAB-guided bombs weighing hundreds of kilograms and even FAB-3000 bombs, considered the most powerful in Putin's arsenal.
In 2022, the Russian Air Force was strengthened with 29 new combat aircraft. In 2023, they received 26 combat aircraft. The Ukrainian portal Defence Express emphasised that Russian production of combat aircraft continues, but its scale is significantly limited and may prove insufficient to replace combat aircraft lost in the conflict with Ukraine fully.
