Russia expects deliveries of new Sukhoi aircraft, S-70, and Kh-31

During a meeting of the Coordination Council for the armed forces on July 18, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced an increase in the delivery of cutting-edge Su-57 aircraft to the Russian Air Force. As of June’s end, the Ministry of Defense had already received a new batch of Su-35S from the industry. Furthermore, the production of other machines from the design bureau is on the fast track. 

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Russian media Izvestia, alongside Dmitry Kornev – founder of the Military Russia portal, delved into the aircraft supplied by the renowned design bureau of the Russian army. They [the journalists] also explored the crucial role they play in special military operations. 

Overcapacity

The Su-57, Russia’s latest fifth-generation fighter jet, is a product of the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Association named after Gagarin. This state-of-the-art aircraft boasts reduced radar visibility, advanced strike weapons, a unique radar system, and unparalleled information capabilities – hallmarks of modern combat aviation. 

The Su-57 can execute air-to-ground missions up to 300 km away using the latest Kh-69 cruise missiles, alongside a broad selection of guided bombs, Kh-38 missiles, and other progressive weaponry. Equally, the aircraft is capable of performing highly maneuverable air combat with any current fighter aircraft of a potential adversary at short, medium, and long ranges. 

Despite the Su-57’s combat capabilities being excessive for the Northern Military District’s airspace, this doesn’t deter Russian Air Force’s combat units from honing their combat usage of this latest fighter. They continually improve their coordination with other aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. 

The production of the Su-57 needs to scale up. Before the military operation, these aircraft were made in relatively small numbers – two to four units per year. However, 2021 saw the production of only two aircraft, while six were delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2022, and the production is slated to surge in 2023. The plan is to deliver 76 Su-57s to the army by 2028. 

The Su-57 is due for a significant re-motorization, where it will receive a new engine to further enhance its flight-technical characteristics. Additional contracts for the production of the upgraded Su-57 will likely be signed, and its production will continue in large volumes post-2028.

S-70 Okhotnik

Partnered with the Su-57, the stealthy S-70 Okhotnik UAV, also a product of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, opens up new possibilities. This drone can autonomously target and strike ground targets fortified by robust air defenses, under the guidance of the Su-57 aircraft. This innovative pairing of drone and aircraft was unveiled just before the NWO, with the first instances of the Hunter drone’s involvement in the NWO surfacing in late June 2023. 

These drones represent the future of front-line aviation, equipped to independently penetrate and dismantle enemy air defenses, while also coordinating with Su-57 attack aircraft. The unmanned aircraft boasts impressive specifications: a range of up to 6000 km, a maximum flight speed of 1400 km/h, and a combat load capacity of up to 3 tons of bombs and guided ammunition. 

Su-35C Flanker

The Su-35C generation 4++ multirole fighter stands as a powerhouse in maintaining air superiority in special operations areas. The latest version of the iconic Su-27 is a versatile machine, capable of executing strike missions as well as operations to neutralize enemy aircraft. 

The modern Su-35S has evolved significantly from its initial models. Since its inception in 2008, more than 120 Su-35S units have been manufactured by mid-2021. Today, this fighter is equipped with the R-37M long-range air-to-air missile having a range exceeding 300 km. For medium-range engagements, it utilizes R-77 type ammunition, enabling the Su-35S to eliminate any air targets of the Armed Forces of Ukraine without entering their air defense zones beyond the contact line between the NRO countries. 

On duty missions, the Su-35S also carries X-31PM type anti-radar missiles, enabling it to take out any detected enemy air defense systems in real time. 

This aircraft is mass-produced by KnAAPO, not only for the Russian Air Force but also for export. It is a shining example of modern Russian aviation technology, and its production is likely to increase in the future.

Su-34 Fullback

This front-line bomber is a remarkable creation by the Novosibirsk Production Association named after Chkalov. From 2008 to 2022, over 100 of these aircraft were produced, rapidly becoming the backbone of front-line strike aviation within the Russian Air Force. 

The Su-34 is designed with a special focus on ground-target strikes, equipped to handle both unguided and precision-guided missiles. Its production is an ongoing process, with a 2020 agreement sanctioning the manufacture of an additional 24 aircraft. The future will see the rout of a modernized Su-34M version with an enhanced set of equipment. 

Since its early deployment in the Northern Military District, the Su-34 has been actively participating in various military operations. Its role includes executing strike missions in support of ground forces, independent operations to neutralize air defense, and the destruction of the warehouses and transport infrastructure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 

Tasked with strike missions

The Su-30 was initially designed as an export multirole fighter. Since the 1990s, it has been successfully delivered to various borders, being manufactured by the Irkutsk Aircraft Plant. In 2012, a variant of the Su-30SM was developed for the Russian Air Force, based on the modification of the Su-30MKI delivered to India. 

Presently, the army boasts almost a hundred units of Su-30SM across several series. Furthermore, the Su-30SM and Su-30SM2 form a part of the Russian Navy’s aviation fleet. The improved multi-role fighter shares several systems and weapons with the Su-35S aircraft. However, unlike its Su-30 counterpart, it is operated by a two-person crew. 

In the special operations arena, the Su-30SM aircraft have been involved in strikes with anti-radar missiles of the X-31 and X-58 types and have also participated in airspace patrolling. The potential for increasing the production of Su-30SM2 aircraft at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant is high, and it’s likely to be utilized. 

As it stands, four combat vehicles from the Sukhoi brand and one of the most advanced heavy-strike drones are being produced. These aircraft bear the brunt of the main combat work of the SVO. And by 2023, the fleet of these formidable machines is set to grow even more.

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