Russian military aviation suffers major setback with loss of aircraft worth $750 million
The week was catastrophic for the Russians, who lost six Su-34 tactical bombers, two multi-purpose Su-35S, and one A-50U Beriev early warning aircraft. The Su-34 tactical bomber carries an approximate unit cost of $47 million, a price updated from the $37 million given by RIA Novosti in 2008.
The Su-35S multi-purpose fighters share a similar cost, whereas a single A-50U comes at a staggering $350 million. This high price results from the A-50U being a specialized aircraft laden with expensive electronics, including a large radar and electronic warfare systems.
Furthermore, these losses pose a significant challenge to the Russian defense industry, which is already struggling due to Western sanctions. It's true that for missile or bomb electronic systems, specific components can be replaced with those sourced from regular electronics. However, replacing aviation parts proves a much more complex matter. In this context, the loss of any modern aircraft deals a hard blow to the aging Russian air force.
The Su-35S: evolution of the Su-27 fighter
First introduced to the Russian Air Force in 2014, the Su-35S fighters are the modern incarnation of the Su-27, also known as the Flanker in NATO terminology. The Su-35S is a robust, twin-engine, single-seat, air-superiority fighter that weighs 42,000 pounds and has ground and sea attack capabilities when needed.
Comparatively, the Su-35S features a canard foreplane and is fitted with elements borrowed from the Su-57, involving the Saturn AL-41F1 engines, avionics, and cockpit equipment. The aircraft includes 12 hardpoints for weapons, with three capable of carrying bombs or guided missiles weighing up to 3300 lbs.
The Su-35S further makes use of thrust vectoring techniques, enabling superior manueverability at low speeds. Its impressive abilities are often showcased at air shows. Despite this, its N035 Irbis-E PESA type radar and passive OLS-35 IRST system features do not match those found on the Rafale or the Eurofighter.
The Su-34: tactical bomber derived from the Su-27
The Su-34, designated by NATO code as Fullback, is a ground attack-centric evolution of the Su-27 aimed at replacing the older Su-24 in the Russian Air Force. The aircraft is unique due to its side-by-side pilot seating, rather than the usual tandem layout. The Russians claim this arrangement facilitates better pilot cooperation. By structure, it is an enlarged version of the Su-27, with added canard foreplanes and greater resistance to anti-aircraft gun fire.
The Su-34 cockpit is reinforced with titanium to increase the pilots' survival chances during an attack. As a front-line bomber, the Su-34 can carry up to eight tons of weapons across 12 hardpoints. The arsenal can range from basic S-8 unguided rocket launchers and Kh-25 missiles to KAB bombs weighing up to 3300 lbs. The aircraft is also equipt with the Raduga Kh-59 missile which has a range exceeding 124 miles. A 30 mm GSz-30-1 cannon is also part of its weaponry.
