Russia's combat aircraft production slows amid ongoing war
1:32 PM EDT, July 24, 2024
Although the Russian defense industry continues to supply the army with new combat aircraft, the pace of deliveries has noticeably slowed compared to previous years. What does this look like in detail?
Ukrainian military and political commentator Oleksandr Kovalenko addressed the topic. According to him, Russians are currently producing combat aircraft such as the Su-35, Su-34, Su-57, and Yak-130 training aircraft. The Su-30 and MiG-29 fighters mainly focus on repairing and modernizing 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 8-10 such aircraft annually,” said 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 65,000 feet. Standard equipment includes a 30 mm cannon but 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 2-4 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, with 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 75 feet in length, capable of reaching speeds of up to 1,180 mph with its two AL-31FM1 engines.
It has a GS-30-1 30 mm cannon, but its most important feature is the ability to carry up to 8 tons 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 the FAB-3000, considered the most powerful bombs 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 emphasized 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.
