The Russian Air Force’s Su-35 and Su-34 fighters have struggled in Ukraine, while its Su-57 has been largely absent.
Now that US president Donald Trump has appeared to set a two-week deadline for his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to cease advances in its Ukraine invasion, all eyes are on the Kremlin to see if this ongoing war could finally see an end after three long years. Moscow escalated attacks targeting civilian centers in Kyiv this month, suggesting Putin may not be that serious about slowing down the violent barrages that continue to kill scores of soldiers and civilians on both sides of the conflict.
Russia may possess more aircraft than Ukraine, but losses are certainly contributing to the unsustainable situation plaguing its Air Force. From Moscow’s Su-35 and Su-34 contingent to its newer Su-57 jets, all of these platforms will face some sort of supply struggle if the conflict continues much longer. While Ukrainian officials claim that its forces have shot down nearly 350 Russian aircraft and another 325 helicopters since the war commenced back in February 2022, these numbers are probably exaggerated. However, Russia is believed to have lost at least 25 percent of its total aerial fleet, according to a RAND report published last year.
The Su-35
Sukhoi was first tasked to develop the Su-35 during the Cold War in order to field a jet capable of countering America’s growing fleet of fourth-generation fighters. As this aircraft was being designed, it became the designation for two improved variants of the USSR’s older Su-27 fighter platform. The “Flanker-E,” as designated by NATO, features thrust-vectoring engines and a reduced radar signature, which makes the platform more capable than its predecessors. Considered to be a 4.5-generation fighter based on these enhanced features, the Su-35 should be faring better in Ukraine than it is. Multiple sources have confirmed that Ukrainian troops have shot down several Flanker-E jets since the war began.
The Su-34
Russia’s “Fullback” Su-34 fighter has also struggled to perform well in Ukraine. Initially derived from the Su-27, the fighter-bomber was designed with a recognizable “platypus” nose and a side-by-side cockpit. Perhaps where this Russian jet really shines is lethality. The Su-34 can carry more than 17,000 pounds of weapons across a dozen hardpoints positioned underwing and beneath the fuselage, alongside a 30mm GSh-30-I internal cannon. Despite this hefty ordnance load, the platform has suffered many losses in the ongoing Ukraine war. In fact, some analysts estimate that Moscow could have lost more than 10 percent of its Fullback fleet to date.
The Su-57
Out of all of Russia’s existing fighter platforms, the Su-57 was expected to play a leading role in any offensive operation in Ukraine. However, the fifth-generation jet has notably not played a particularly large role in the ongoing conflict. Nicknamed the “Felon,” the Su-57 is now powered by the Izdeliye 30 engine, enabling the jet to fly at speeds reportedly in excess of Mach 2.0. While this speed would give the Russian jet an edge over its American-made F-35 counterpart, the “fifth-gen” aircraft is certainly not as stealthy.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Arseniy Shemyakin Photo / Shutterstock.com
