Russian Air Force numbers and procurement plans

2018 Modern Aircraft Update Russian VVS

- 5 squadrons Su-27SM / SM3
- 5 squadrons Su-35S
- 6 squadrons Su-30SM
- 9 squadrons Mig-31BM / K
- 3 squadrons Mig-29SMT
- 8 squadrons Su-25SM / SM3
- 8 squadrons Su-34
- 6 squadrons Su-24M2 / SVP

Su-35S - all of them 78
159 FAR - 30
23 FAR - 22
22 FAR - 12
929 - 7
4 - 7
Am I right ?

ali.a.r wrote:

franco wrote:2018 Modern Aircraft Update Russian VVS

- 5 squadrons Su-27SM / SM3
- 5 squadrons Su-35S
- 6 squadrons Su-30SM
- 9 squadrons Mig-31BM / K
- 3 squadrons Mig-29SMT
- 8 squadrons Su-25SM / SM3
- 8 squadrons Su-34
- 6 squadrons Su-24M2 / SVP

What numbers do these squadrons have? 12planes? 16? 18?

12 however there will also be the 2 seater and spare aircraft in the older types. Probably averaging around 14 per.

*BobStanley wrote:Su-35S - all of them 78
159 FAR - 30
23 FAR - 22
22 FAR - 12
929 - 7
4 - 7
Am I right ?

So some sources claim... suspect you are close.

Summary on deliveries of Rus combat a/c.

Are those SU 27SM3 new produced? and in which unit they were sent?

marat wrote:Are those SU 27SM3 new produced?  and in which unit they were sent?

I doubt it, Su-27 is out of production. Definitely overhauled.

What is the max production rate per year of those aircraft ?

Mig managed to produce 10 jet in 2015 which is surprising since if I'm not wrong they only have only one factory building their jets and not a big one.

Supplies of combat aircraft to the Armed Forces of Russia in 2018

In 2018, deliveries of new aviation technology to the Armed Forces of Russia decreased compared to previous years, and in quantitative terms fell to about the level of 2013. This is due to the fact that at present the Russian Ministry of Defense actually supports only three serial purchasing programs in the field of military aviation (Su-30SM, Su-34 and Su-35C), and the annual rates of procurement for them are somewhat reduced. At the same time, the Armed Forces of Russia are experiencing a shortage of flight personnel for the operation of available aircraft. In total, according to known data, in 2018, the Armed Forces of Russia received 36 combat aircraft of new production (14 Su-30SM, 12 Su-34 and ten Su-35S) and 14 combat-training aircraft Yak-130.

Among the planes delivered in 2018 to the Armed Forces of Russia:

14 Su-30SM fighters. During 2018, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAZ) of PJSC "Irkut Corporation" supplied the Armed Forces of Russia with 14 Su-30SM multi-role fighter jets. Of these, 12 built under the contracts of 2012 entered the Russian HQ, and two more were delivered Naval Aviation of the Russian Navy. All 12 Su-30SM fighters delivered by the state-organized order of 2018 of the Russian Space Forces entered the 14th Guards Fighter Regiment of the 105th Mixed Aviation Division of the 6th Leningrad Red Banner Army Air Force and Air Defense of the Western Military District at Khalino airfield (Kursk), as part of re-regiment with the former "Algerian" MiG-29SMT fighter.
The first four Su-30SM fighters on the state defense order of 2018 arrived in Khalino on April 27, 2018 - aircraft with red side numbers from "51" to "54" (serial numbers from 10MK5 1509 to 10MK5 1512), on July 3 two more aircraft with red ones arrived side numbers "55" and "56" (serial numbers 10MK5 1515 and 10MK5 1516); on September 8, four fighters with red side numbers "57", "58", "59" and "60" arrived (registration numbers RF-81768, RF-81769, RF-81770 and RF-81771, respectively, serial numbers from 10MK5 1517 to 10MK5 1520), on November 30, a fighter with a tail number "61 red" (serial number 10МК 5 1601), and on December 22, the last Su-30SM fighter with a tail number "62 red" (registration number RF-61773, serial number 10МК5 1602) arrived. In addition, in 2017, the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment received 12 Su-30SM fighters built by the IAP (red side numbers from "71" to "82"), which made it possible to re-equip one regiment squadron from MiG-29SMT fighters. Now the total number of Su-30SM in the regiment has reached 24, and the staffing of the two-squadron regiment has been completed by the end of 2018.

On July 1, the two Aviation Fighters Su-30SM delivered by the Naval Aviation of the Russian Navy to IAZ were delivered to the assault squadron of the 72nd Baltic Fleet Aviation Base on the Chernyakhovsk airfield in the Kaliningrad region (in October 2018, the squadron was transferred from the Chernyakhov airfield in the direction of the Kaliningrad region). in Kaliningrad). The aircraft have blue side numbers "76" (own name Chernyakhovsk, serial number 10MK5 1513) and "77" (own name Kaliningrad, serial number 10MK5 1514). Before that, the structure of the 72nd air base of the Baltic Fleet Aviation received six Su-30SM fighters - one (side number "70 blue") arrived there in December 2016, another five Su-30SM aircraft (blue side numbers from "71" to " 75 ") were transferred there in 2017.

Recall that in total since 2012, 116 Su-30SM aircraft were contracted for the Ministry of Defense of Russia, of which the Russian Aerospace Forces under the contracts signed thus received so far a total of 92 Su-30SM fighters, and Naval Aviation - 22 (114 total) .

12 Su-34 front-line bombers. During 2018, the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V.P. Chkalov (NAZ) PJSC "Company" Sukhoi "were handed over 12 Su-34 front-line bombers to the Russian Aerospace Forces. All 12 Su-34 planes built by the NAZ on the state defense order of 2018 were sent to re-equip the 2nd Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 21st Mixed Aviation Division of the 14th Smolensk Red Banner Army Air Force and Air Defense of the Central Military District stationed at the Shagol airfield (Chelyabinsk) previously equipped with Su-24M2 front-line bombers. The Su-34 built under the state order for 2018 entered the 2nd Guards Bomber Regiment on May 22 ( two aircraft with red side numbers "07" and "08"), May 29 (two aircraft with red side numbers "09" and "10 "), October 18 ( two aircraft with red side numbers" 11 "and" 12 "), and two aircraft each on December 6, December 19 and December 22, 2018 (the last six , presumably, have red side numbers from" 20 "to "25").
Earlier in late 2017, the 2nd Guards Bomber Regiment received the first six Su-34 bombers, which were manufactured by NAZ under the 2017 state order (red side numbers from 01 to 06, the last two aircraft received only in February 2018 ). At the same time, these six airplanes, as well as the first six Su-34s built in 2018, did not arrive at the permanent location of the 2nd regiment in Shagol, but were temporarily transferred to the 4th State Center of Aviation Personnel Training and Military Testing P. Chkalov in Lipetsk to retrain the flight personnel of the 2nd Bomber Regiment. Moreover, in February 2018, upon completion of retraining, the first four Su-34 regiment airplanes, transferred at the end of 2017 (red side numbers from “01” to “04”) were transferred to the Russian aviation group at Khmeimim airbase in Syria.
Only from September 2018 to January 2019, the first 12 Su-34 bombers received by the 2nd regiment finally arrived at the permanent location in Shagol. Judging by known reports, all six Su-34 aircraft handed over to NAZ in December 2018 were transferred directly to Shagol.

All 12 Su-34s built in 2018 at NAZ were manufactured as part of a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense dated February 2012 for 92 such aircraft. With delivery in 2018 of 12 new Su-34s, the total number of aircraft of this type transferred to the VCS under the contract of 2012 reached 82 units. The first two Su-34s under this contract were transferred to Novosibirsk by the Russian Air Force on December 24, 2013, the next 18 aircraft in 2014, another 18 aircraft in 2015, 16 in 2016, 16 in 2017, and now 12 - in 2018. At the end of 2018, the total number of Su-34s built under all contracts, including seven experimental and pre-production samples, reached 126 units.

10 Su-35S fighters. In 2018, the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant named after Yu.A. Gagarin (KnAAZ) JSC "Company" Sukhoi "transferred ten Su-35S fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces. They were built by KnAAZ as part of the five-year contract for the supply of 50 Su-35S fighters concluded in December 2015 by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The first ten Su-35S aircraft under this contract were built by KnAAZ in 2016, and another ten in 2017. Of this amount, six Su-35S aircraft built in 2016 and all ten buildings built in 2017 entered the 159th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 105th mixed aviation division of the 6th Leningrad Red Banner Army Air Force and Air Defense of the Western Military District, stationed at the Besovets airfield in Karelia, for the rearmament of the regiment with Su-27 and Su-27SM fighters.
In 2018, deliveries to the 159th regiment were continued, and on July 13, it received three new Su-35S KnAAZ with red side numbers "70", "71" and "72". Another new Su-35S for the 159th regiment was supposedly delivered on October 22 (no number installed). Taking into account the fact that in November 2017 and July 2018, four Su-35C fighters built in 2014 from the 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 303rd Guards Mixed Aviation Division of the 11th Air Force received a part of the 159th Regiment. and the air defense of the Eastern Military District, stationed at the Dzemgi airfield in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, by the end of October 2018, the full rearmament of the 159th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 24th Su-35C fighter was completed.
The remaining six Su-35S fighters built by KNAAAZ in accordance with the state defense order of 2018 were surrendered to re-equip the 790th Fighter Regiment of the 105th Mixed Aviation Division of the 6th Leningrad Red Banner Army of the Air Force and Air Defense of the Western Military District, stationed at the Hotilovo airfield in Tver Region. Now, the 790th regiment, according to known data, incorporates two squadrons of modernized MiG-31BM / BCM interceptor fighters and one squadron of modernized Su-27CM fighters. Su-35S fighters arrive to re-equip a squadron of Su-27SM fighter jets.
The first two Su-35S for the 790th regiment with red side numbers "11" and "12" arrived on October 22, 2018 at the airfield of the 159th regiment Besovets. In the second half of December, two more Su-35S fighters with red side numbers "14" and "16" arrived in Besovets. Apparently, these four aircraft were used in Besovets to study the personnel of the 790th Aviation Regiment.
On December 29, the last two fighters of the 2018 Su-35S program with red side numbers "15" and "17", apparently, proceeded directly to Khotilovo, where, apparently, after the New Year, four other aircraft from Besovets arrived.
Taking into account the first contract of 2009 for 48 Su-35S fighters, the Russian Aerospace Forces have thus received 78 production Su-35S aircraft since the end of 2012. With 24 Su-35 fighter jets built in 2016-2018 and delivered to China under the 2015 contract, this gives 102 Su-35 fighter jets built.

14 combat training aircraft Yak-130. In 2018, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAZ) of PJSC "Irkut Corporation" delivered 14 combat training aircraft Yak-130 to the VKS of Russia. However, only six of them were built in 2018, and the remaining eight aircraft were built in 2017, but delayed with the transfer.
All these 14 aircraft were the latest machines built by the IAP under the contract for the supply of the Russian Aerospace Force until the end of 2018 30 Yak-130 aircraft concluded by the Russian Ministry of Defense in April 2016. The first ten Yak-130 aircraft under this contract (cars with red side numbers from "40" to "49" - serial numbers from 1308 to 1317) were transferred to the VKS in October-December 2016 and entered the training aviation base in Armavir ( Krasnodar Territory), which provides training for the restored Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation Pilot School (KVVAUL) named after AK Serov.
The first six Yak-130 airplanes of the 2017 program were also transferred to Armavir in May-July 2017. However, from June to November 2017, eight more Yak-130s for the Russian HQ (serial numbers from 1404 to 1411) were flown at the IAP, however, none of them were handed over at the end of 2017 and all these boards remained in Irkutsk. The transfer of the Yak-130 VKS aircraft of Russia was suspended due to the ongoing modifications of the aircraft of this type after two flight incidents from the Yak-130 VKS in one day on June 21, 2017.
The transfer of the Yak-130 aircraft to the VKS of Russia was resumed only in 2018, when the VKS in March 2018 received four aircraft built in 2017 with serial numbers from 1404 to 1407 (the red side numbers "05", "06", "07" and " 08 "), and in June 2018 received four more aircraft, including three buildings of 2017 with red side numbers" 30 "," 32 "and" 33 "(serial numbers, respectively, 1408, 1409 and 1410) and the first Yak -130 built in 2018 (tail number "34 red", serial number 1412).
In July 2018, IAZ transferred three more Yak-130 airplanes with red side numbers "31", "35" and "36" to VKS (the estimated serial numbers were 1411, 1413 and 1414, respectively, the first of which was built in 2017, and two the others of 2018), and on October 8 - the last three aircraft of the program of 2018 with red tail numbers "37", "38" and "39" (serial numbers 1415, 1416 and 1417).
At the same time, according to known data, ten Yak-130 aircraft transferred from VKS from June to October 2018 with red tail numbers from "30" to "39", entered the training aviation base in Kushchevskaya (Krasnodar Territory) KVVAUL named after A. K Serov. The base in Kushchevskaya became the third training aviation base, which received the Yak-130 combat training aircraft, after the training airbases of the same KVVAUL in Borisoglebsk and Armavir.
The total number of production aircraft Yak-130, delivered to the Ministry of Defense of Russia, reached 109 units - of which 12 of the first two series were built at JSC Nizhny Novgorod Aviation Plant Sokol, and another 97 - at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant.

It is worth noting that in January 2018, flight tests of the construction completed at the Kazan Aviation Plant named after P.S. Gorbunova PJSC "Tupolev" for the Russian Aerospace Forces of the modernized strategic bomber Tu-160 with a serial number 08-04 (own name "Peter Deinekin"). In fact, this plane made the first flight at the end of 2017. However, according to available information, this board has not yet been officially handed over to the VKS. This Tu-160 with serial number 08-04 was the 35th instance of a Tu-160 (including flight prototypes) built since 1981. The previous Tu-160 bomber completed at KAZ (serial number 08-03, tail number 08), its own name Vitaly Kopylov was transferred to the Russian Ministry of Defense in 2008. In December 2018, flight tests of the first sample of the upgraded Tu-22M3M long-range bomber were launched .

In 2018, work continued on the modernization of a number of types of combat aircraft of the Armed Forces of Russia. The largest scale, apparently, had to work on upgrading fighter-interceptor MiG-31 - in 2018 to the level of the MiG-31BM / BCM, presumably, 24 aircraft were upgraded (although perhaps some of the latter have not yet been transferred to military units) In addition, several MiG-31DZ fighters were probably converted into MiG-31K aircraft carrying the Dagger missile system.

Also in 2018, after the modernization of the VKS of Russia was completed, one Tu-160 strategic bomber, four Tu-95MSM strategic bomber, six Su-27SM3 fighters, four Su-25SM3 attack planes, and one A-50U radar patrol aircraft .

Regarding exports, we can say that, according to our information, in 2018, the Russian aviation industry abroad delivered 26 combat aircraft of new construction, including 12 MiG-29M / MiG-29M2 fighters to Egypt, four Su-30CM fighters to Kazakhstan and ten Su-35 fighters to China, as well as four combat-training aircraft Yak-130 (in Laos). In addition, four used Su-30K (former Indian) fighters were delivered to Angola. It is possible that the transfer of combat aircraft from the presence of Syria.

As for the deliveries of non-combat aircraft to the Armed Forces of Russia in 2018, five or three new An-148-100E passenger airplanes and two special-purpose Tu-214PU-SBUS control aircraft were delivered. JSC Voronezh Aircraft Building Society (VASO) in 2018 handed over to the VKS of Russia the last three (13th, 14th and 15th) passenger aircraft An-148-100E under the contract for the supply of 15 An-148-100 aircraft, signed by Vaso (without UAC participation) with the Russian Ministry of Defense in May 2013. In 2018, An-148-100E aircraft with serial numbers 43-10 (registration number RA-61733, first flight on March 24, 2018), .44-01 (registration number RA-61734, first flight on July 11) were handed over. 44-02 (registration number RA-61735, first flight October 17, 2018). The first of these aircraft at the end of May 2018 was transferred to the 30th Separate Transport Mixed Aviation Regiment of the 4th Red Banner Army Air Force and Air Defense of the Southern Military District (Rostov-on-Don). The last two An-148-100E aircraft (with serial numbers 44-01 and 44-02) were to arrive in the 390th separate transport mixed aviation regiment of the Central Military District, stationed at the Koltsovo airfield in the Sverdlovsk region.
After the completion of the contract with the Ministry of Defense of Russia for the supply of 15 specified aircraft, the further construction of the An-148 aircraft in Voronezh was frozen. In total, 35 An-148 airplanes were built on VASO in Voronezh, and 47 An-148 / An-158 aircraft in general (including 12 units built in Ukraine).
In 2018, both built at the Kazan Aviation Plant (KAZ) named after S.P. Gorbunov (a branch of PJSC "Tupolev") of a special purpose-control aircraft Tu-214PU-SBUS under the contract in 2015 for two units. The planes were built by KAZ back in 2017 - the boards with serial numbers 529 (registration number RA-64529, first flight in Kazan on October 14, 2017) and 530 (registration number RA-64530, first flight December 1, 2017). Handing over them It was produced on March 26 and June 20, 2018, respectively.

It is possible that the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2018 received several light training aircraft Diamond DA42T. JSC "Ural Civil Aviation Plant" (UZGA, Yekaterinburg) in 2017 transferred the Russian Ministry of Defense’s three first light twin-engined training aircraft, the Diamond DA42T (estimated airborne numbers from “051” to “053”), assembled from vehicle sets manufactured by Austrian company Diamond Aircraft Industries. The aircraft are intended for use as training aircraft for the training of cadets of military transport aviation of the Russian Aerospace Force and, as stated, are the first to be delivered under a contract of 35 Russian vehicles by the Ministry of Defense of Russia. However, in 2018, information about the delivery of Diamond DA42T aircraft under this contract was not published (possibly due to the political sensitivity of these supplies in the light of the current international situation).

In 2018, there were shifts in the protracted program of organizing the production of the new Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft and machines based on it at Aviastar-SP JSC in Ulyanovsk. In 2018, after more than a three-year break, the Il-76MD-90A production aircraft with serial numbers 0109 (first flight on November 7, 2018) and 0110 ( first flight December 22), but both have so far not been handed over to the VCS. These are the second and third aircraft built under a contract with the Ministry of Defense of Russia in October 2012 for the production of 39 Il-76MD-90A units. It is significant that the head Il-76MD-90A aircraft under this contract (serial number 0108, registration number RF-78654 ) was built in Ulyanovsk in 2015 and was commissioned by the Russian Aerospace Forces in early 2016, enrolling at the 610th Center for Combat Use and Retraining of the Flight Personnel of the Military Transport Aviation named after Air Marshal N.Skripko in Ivanovo. Thus, to date, only seven flight IL-76MD-90A have been built (taking into account the prototype 0101 and three cars of the installation batch)

In addition, in 2018, Aviastar-SP JSC began testing the leading sample of the Il-78M-90A tanker aircraft. The plane (serial number 0201, registration number RF-78741) made the first three test flights in January 2018, but after that resumed factory flight tests after an 11-month break only on December 27, 2018. The machine is also not transferred to the VKS of Russia.

marat wrote:Are those SU 27SM3 new produced?  and in which unit they were sent?

Yes and no.

Su-27SM3 built in 201/11 are brand new 12 of them and this 8 was S/SM modernized to SM3 standard

marat wrote:Are those SU 27SM3 new produced?  and in which unit they were sent?

3rd Guards Aviation Fighter regiment at Krymsk.

Only the first 12 27SM3's were new builds. The other 14 are rebuilds.

https://ria.ru/20190610/1555427059.html

MOSCOW, June 10 - RIA News. The Ministry of Defense will continue the serial purchases of Su-35 fighters after the completion of the current contract in parallel with the purchases of fifth-generation Su-57 airplanes, a military source told RIA Novosti.

The first contract for the supply of 48 Su-35s was executed at the end of 2015, at the same time the second agreement was signed for another 50 such vehicles.
According to Deputy Minister of Defense Alexei Krivoruchko, the second contract will be completed before the end of next year, 20 more generation 4 ++ fighter jets are left to be placed by the Air and Space Forces.

Earlier, Vladimir Putin said it was necessary by 2028 to completely re-equip three aviation regiments of the VKS with Su-57 complexes.

Of course, the Su-35 wll be produced for more years , until the complete replacement of Su-27 units

At least 6 VKS regmiments and one in the Navy will be re-equiped with Su-35 in long term

This means continue with the procurement of at least one squadron per year of Su-35 until 2027 or more

In addition, three more regiments will be raised for the new Su-57.
Probably at the first time , the Su-57 regiments will be located at Krymsk, Besovets and Dzemgi , toguether with Flankers , and later, once trained and combat ready, three new airbases will be opened

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/6482454

Before the end of 2020, the aerospace forces of the Russian Federation will receive 20 fighter jets of the 4 ++ Su-35S, according the current contract
This year we will get several cars even ahead of time.

This means, this year 2019 , VKS will receive the most of the remaining 20 Su-35 under the contract of 2016
Then a new contract will be necesary before the end of next year, in order to mantain the procduction of Su-35 , about 20 machines per year

Between 2019 and 2020 , only 11 Su-35 will be for export to Indonesia, the rest of the production will be delivered to the VKS


https://www.tver.kp.ru/online/news/3501392/

According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the fighter regiment of the Leningrad Army Air Force and Air Defense of the Western Military District, based in the Tver region, will receive a batch of generation 4 ++ Su-35C fighters.

The planes will be delivered from the plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur according to the plan of the state defense order. For the preparation and technical acceptance of fighters the technical composition of the aviation regiment will arrive at the enterprise.

The pilots have already undergone retraining at the Center for Combat Use and Retraining of Flight Personnel in Lipetsk, where for several months they trained on specialized complex simulators, learned to perform complex aerobatics at extreme loads and speeds

790º Khotilovo regiment will receive the first Su-35 batch of 2019

AMCXXL wrote:
Of course, the Su-35 wll be produced for more years , until the complete replacement of Su-27 units

Replacement?

Going by these numbers, the Russian AF has less fighter aviation than the US Navy. Nevermind the entire US military. Nevermind all of NATO combined (!!!); which will outnumber Russia in this factor by as much as 5 to 1.
Just Germany + the former eastern bloc states alone already equal Russia's fighter and multirole aircraft inventory.
The Kazakh and Belarussian air inventories help a little but they aren't very impressive; and in any case, can't ultimately be relied upon.

Now I know that Russian doctrine doesn't nearly as much focus on air power as the NATO ones do, that many of the tasks performed by multirole aircraft in the NATO inventory are instead performed by more specialized planes or just ground vehicles (EW, etc...) in the Russian inventory, and that Russia has the largest and most sophisticated AD network in the world - but still, this sort of discrepancy is alarming.
NATO has enough planes and drones to simply saturate the Russian AF and its air defence network and achieve air superiority.
What's the plan? Launch cruise missiles and hope to hit these aircraft on the ground? Tear up some tarmac and air control infrastructure in the hope that it will disable operations for longer than a day?

Russia easily needs at least 1000 fighter/interceptor/multirole aircraft of all types. They can start by refurbishing and modernizing all the MiG-31s, MiG-29 and Su-27 variants currently in storage, and embarking on a program of raising new regiments, reactivating airfields & supporting infrastructure, accepting in a bigger influx of pilot cadets.
On top of that, make reserve provisions for arming and using Yak-130s in combat too.
Russia doesn't really need more tanks at the moment; tanks will be sitting ducks without air support anyway. They can take the funds from that.

Critical, absolutely critical complacency and ineptness. While all those generals would have us know that everything is under control and Russia's defence needs are being completely met.

Just Germany + the former eastern bloc states alone already equal Russia's fighter and multirole aircraft inventory.
The Kazakh and Belarussian air inventories help a little but they aren't very impressive; and in any case, can't ultimately be relied upon.

You forget that russia puts lot of money on air defence. Where would those germans fighter go when russia activates its air defence ? And what would these german fighters do against a volley of kalibr against their home bases ?

Mig-35 should come quickly to reinforce borders too. Even a small number of 48 jets, that they could sent anywhere needed on any border would be fine.

Nato is a box fighter that uses its two arms to send punches without any defence. Russia uses its left arm to defend and its right hand to punch. The thing is that Nato can't sustain any real hit.

Isos wrote:

Just Germany + the former eastern bloc states alone already equal Russia's fighter and multirole aircraft inventory.
The Kazakh and Belarussian air inventories help a little but they aren't very impressive; and in any case, can't ultimately be relied upon.

You forget that russia puts lot of money on air defence. Where would those germans fighter go when russia activates its air defence ? And what would these german fighters do against a volley of kalibr against their home bases ?

Mig-35 should come quickly to reinforce borders too. Even a small number of 48 jets, that they could sent anywhere needed on any border would be fine.

Nato is a box fighter that uses its two arms to send punches without any defence. Russia uses its left arm to defend and its right hand to punch. The thing is that Nato can't sustain any real hit.

I didn't forget. But no ground-based air defence is effective without supporting aircraft in their network. The fact is that aircraft are far more flexible and mobile.

Else the enemy can just launch munitions from stand-off range, pick-off unsupported elements, launch saturation attacks, employ different EW means at their leisure.
You have to assume that they'll know where the air defence systems are; most of them, and will stay out of range for the most part. All the air defence systems can do is deny airspace and defend against incoming missiles.
Which is great when you're launching cruise missiles at their bases; you'll be able to withstand the contest for longer. But cruise missiles are one-offs. Aircraft can be used again and again. And as missile stocks run low, the aircraft will still be there.

What's more, Russia's own assortment of tactical bombers and CAS aircraft, helicopters will be very vulnerable in any place where they aren't covered by a S-400 system. Anything else won't have the range to keep them out of the fire envelope of some long-range missiles from a F-15, F-16, F/A-18, Typhoon, F-35, Gripen or whatever.

You have to assume that the enemy will scramble their fighters, else relocate them, rebase them to facilities that haven't been targetted. Taking out the bulk of their airforce on the ground is only possible in a pre-emptive strike. Although in a recent exercise the US military performed; a simulation of war against Russia and China - that's exactly what they found. But you can't assume they'll be that stupid in a real war.

Hell in any real conflict with NATO, let's face it, Finland and Sweden will take their side too. That's another 130 modern fighters right on the border with St. Petersburg.

Russia does have a respectable amount of older MiG-31s, MiG-29s and Su-27s in storage. And it has the technology to upgrade them to modern MiG-31BM, MiG-29SMT and Su-27SM3 standards.
It would be a reasonable stop-gap for the next 10-15 years; with MiG-41s, Su-35s, MiG-35s, Su-57s and Okhotnik UCAVs steadily supplementing the force and aircraft only being withdrawn when they're right at the end of their tether. Far more important at the moment than upgrading older T-72s and whatever other ground elements, not to mention Avangards and autonomous nuclear torpedoes.
Develop some long-range missiles with EMP warheads for the MiG-31BMs; should even the playing field a bit more.
Double the amount of flight hours too and raise the pay. Russia will really have to bank on quality here.

Russia has an airforce to support its air defence network.

And no it will never have the same numbers as Nato. Even USA can't have the same numbers of planes as nato since nato is composed of the richest countries including USA.

Russia needs a fast army that can destroy anything anywhere it wants at its borders before escalation and mobilization happens. For that they need more missiles.

Su-35 with old r27 and dumb bombs is not better than a su-27. While an su-35 armed with r-77M and kh-59mk2 would destroy lot of targets in nato countries.

Numbers are not everything. On the paper polish army is not small. But if they manage to destroy their air force so that the bombers can hit power supply of the country and its major army infrastructure, the country won't be a threat. Then su24 would be free to hit anything they want there and destroy all its airport in 1 day... To do that they don't need more than 10 su-35. Once done, switch to another country.

Nato is not united at all. And they would have many time before allies send their forces. If the country is destroyed they will never send them. If they send them just move some nuks along the border and they will step back.

While i also think Russia needs a massive airforce to protect its massive airspace, it is rather a combination of military equipment they have that allows them to have this. Russia does indeed have a rather large airforce now if you account Su-34, MiG-31 and existing Su-27's and MiG-29's. But of course, what is important is their ability to strike back. Airforce bases where these planes take off from and resupply from would be first to be destroyed, resulting in the enemy planes sustaining heavy losses in ground assets destroyed and no way to refuel and rearm.

But for defense purposes, I agree, they need a huge fleet of aircraft. I think Russian MoD is fully aware of this too.

Sure they need a bigger air force right now. 90 su-35 and 100 su30sm isn't big and su27 and mig-29 are getting very old.

But they will never be able to catch nato.

Anyway on 1 vs 1 USA are not bigger att all.

They have like 240 f-15, 215 f-15E, less than 180 f-22 as many were destroyed, ~1000 f-16 to be replaced and 400 f-18 which are packed on 10 carriers that can be destroyed and brig tge f18 on the bottom with them.

Russia has something like 300 su-27/30/35 (and that number should grow up), 200 mig-31, ?? Mig 29 and hundreds of buks, s-300, s-400 and pantsirs. But a budget 10 times smaller if not more.

The only bad thing is that mig didn't produce a cheap 5 generation fighter. Mig-35 seems to be still expensive to buy hundreds of them and su57 isn't going to hit the 3 digit before 15 years.

I also like to count Su-34 since they can operate in mid range a-a combat and have pretty good maneuverability. MiG-31 is around 120 or so but there are possible prospects for further modernization of stored jets.

I think Russia's biggest mistake was getting rid of single jet engined aircrafts. If they had a single Al-41 based jet, they could have a relatively powerful little jet. As well, I would assume that the power generated from the engines should be enough to help power something along the lines of a decent powered radar. But they removed all single jet engine jets back it the 90's

Their last single engine jet was mig-23 which was an awfull plane. They need something new.

They should try a single engine mig-35. Maybe it could work fine and will definitly be cheaper.

Isos wrote:Their last single engine jet was mig-23 which was an awfull plane. They need something new.

They should try a single engine mig-35. Maybe it could work fine and will definitly be cheaper.

I think it had more to do with pilots then the jet itself.

Sukhoi had proposed a jet back in the day, a single jet engine called Su-54 or 55. Cant recall exactly. Would have been ideal. Initially it was supposed to be a trainer jet, but could have been expanded to a single jet engined fighter.

Hopefully they look back at it. Maybe use the current Flanker designs again.

Isos wrote:

They have like 240 f-15, 215 f-15E, less than 180 f-22 as many were destroyed, ~1000 f-16 to be replaced and 400 f-18 which are packed on 10 carriers that can be destroyed and brig tge f18 on the bottom with them.

Arrow wrote:

Some of them are definitely unserviceable

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Yes , this numbers was in the past, as in the past Russia had 400 Mig-31 , 450 Su-27 and 450 Mig-29

If you want to keep old airplanes in service, you must to reserve the half of the fleet for canibalization and then you will be able to keep in service only the other half

Today USAF have about 1200 fighters in active service: https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3661193.html

166 F-22 (9 squadrons) , 155 F-35 , 316 F-15 and 554 F-16

The Air National Guard (reserve) have other 500 fighter, but older and with reserve pilots. This includes 20 F-22 for training or reserve
In adition Navy and Marines have several hundreds of shipborne fighters (mainly F-18 and the new F-35 )


Rusian Armed forces has now about 140 MiG-31 , about 370 Flankers (Su-27/30/33/35) and about 150 Fulcrums (SMT , K and "soviet")
This is more of 650 (100 of those are under the Navy command)

In the fututure Russia must have:

90 to 115 Su-57  (3 to 4 regiments)
190 -215 Su-35 (7-8 reg)
240 Su-30SM (7 reg. + Armenia group)
190 MiG-31BM+MiG-31K (7 reg.)
24 MiG-35
50 MiG-29SMT
20 Su-30M2 (for training)
Also one or two shipborne regiments

In total near 900 figthers (650-700 in VKS and +200 in the Navy), a number in the level of year 2000
About 250 to 300 figthers in good shape (Su-27 , MiG-29, and a few MiG-31) will remain in reserve

Also will have about 200 Su-34 and 200 Su-25 as Frontal Aviation




By Miltary District , there should be these regiments:

West and East: 1xSu-57 , 2xSu-35 , 1xSu-30SM , 2xSu-34 and 1xMiG-31
South MD: 1xSu-57 , 2xSu-35 , 1xSu-30 , 2xSu-34 and aditional Air Group of Su-30SM in Armenia
Central MD will have only 2 MiG-31 rgts. and 1 Su-34 rgt.

Aditional Su-57 rgt could be formed in west or north district
One Mig-31K rgt, also will be in the VKS command

Also each fleet must have 1 Su-30SM rgt.
Baltic and North will have also a Flanker rgt.
North and Pacific will have a MiG-31 rgt. each

Add su-34 too as Mike said they have some air to air capability like f-15E.

The thing about your numbers is that there are lot of "big" sukhois and almost no "light" fighters.

Even USA can't affoard more than 400-500 big f-22/15 that's why they rely mostly on lighter f-35/18/16.

Su-57 maintenance will be a couple times harder and more expensive than other sukhoi which are also a couple times more expensive to operate than smaller jet.

Once they get their first 24 su-57 and increase the numbers of su35 they will face the rzality of the costs and will have to order more migs which can do most of the jobs for cheaper.

The operation in Syria coukd have been done mostly by a single engine mig-29SMT/35 or even yak-130 while su-35 would have been used to keep nato/israel away of them.