Despite rigorous international sanctions, Russia’s aerospace sector remains capable of supplying sophisticated military aircraft to its Air Force. On September 12, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a subsidiary of Rostec, reported the successful delivery of a new set of Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets and Su-35S fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS).
According to UAC, the newly delivered Su-57s and Su-35Ss underwent comprehensive factory tests and were evaluated in various operational scenarios by pilots from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
Following these rigorous assessments, the aircraft have been flown to their designated airfields. This marks the first reported delivery of Su-57s to the Russian military this year.
Although the press release did not specify the exact number of Su-57s delivered, accompanying footage suggests that three Su-57s were included in this batch.
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Russian blogger Fighterbomber on Telegram also corroborated this information, claiming that the three Su-57s were delivered last week. However, UAC did not provide any photos or videos of the new Su-35Ss, making it difficult to confirm the precise number of units delivered.
Nevertheless, this shipment represents the third batch of Su-35S fighters delivered to the Russian Ministry of Defense in 2024, with previous batches having been supplied in April and May, respectively.
The Su-35S, known for its high maneuverability and advanced avionics, continues to be a cornerstone of Russia’s air combat strategy.
Vladimir Artyakov, the first deputy general director of Rostec, praised the high flight performance of the newly delivered jets, noting the positive feedback from pilots. He said, “The Su-57s of the next batches are in varying degrees of readiness, and the Su-35S is in high readiness.”
Yuriy Slyusar, UAC’s general director, stated, “The number of fifth-generation fighters entering the Aerospace Forces Russia increases annually. To date, the promising fifth-generation Su-57 aviation complex is the most modern front-line aviation aircraft in Russia.”
Slyusar also noted ongoing efforts to expand production capabilities for the Su-57. Rostec has initiated the construction of an additional facility to enhance the testing and development of fifth-generation aircraft systems.
Russian Fighters Superior To Ukraine’s F-16s?
Russian Su-35 and Su-57 jets are currently the most advanced aircraft in the Russian Air Force’s arsenal. Following the West’s decision to supply F-16s to Ukraine, Russia has been increasingly boosting these jets’ capabilities.
On July 31, reports surfaced that Ukraine had received its first batch of F-16 fighters. In response, Russian officials swiftly dismissed the effectiveness of the Western aircraft, claiming that they would stand little chance against Russia’s more advanced fighter jets.
Last month, Russia’s state-owned Rostec corporation stressed that the Su-35S and Su-57 are far superior to the American F-16s in aerial combat.
“The American F-16s delivered to Kyiv are no match for our Su-35S and especially the Su-57. In direct air combat, our aircraft outperform the American fighters,” Rostec stated.
Rostec said that while the F-16 is not a cutting-edge aircraft, it can still carry advanced missile systems. However, the corporation confidently predicted that, like other Western equipment sent to Ukraine, the F-16s would ultimately be destroyed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been similarly dismissive of the F-16s, arguing that their arrival won’t change the situation on the battlefield. However, he also warned that the West’s supply of these jets to Ukraine would only serve to prolong the conflict.
Ukraine has already suffered the loss of one F-16, which crashed due to what was described as a pilot error. Yet, various theories have surfaced about the incident, including the possibility of friendly fire from a US-supplied Patriot missile defense system.
F-16 vs. Su 30
Ex-IAF Air Marshal says it’s unfair to compare a Su-30 class with a much smaller F-16. It is like comparing apples to pears. Su-27/30 should be compared to F-15 and MiG-29 to F-16.
The Su-30 is a bigger aircraft and will be seen earlier by both radar and visual combat. However, if such a situation evolves, the Su-30 will outscore in high-angle-of-attack maneuvering and weapon pointing.
The Sukhoi fighter has higher thrust and can sustain higher energy for longer. The Su-30 will also have higher endurance to sustain in longer combat. It is more agile and better armed with more missiles.
As of date, the AIM-120 has a range edge on the R-77, but the Russian R-37M outperforms most Western missiles. Newer missiles like the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) will not be available to Ukraine. The F-16s will also be threatened by the Russian MiG-31, which is armed with six very long-range R-37M AAMs.
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The F-16s being given to Ukraine do not have advanced radar or other sensors like those on Block 70/72. Similarly, the electronic protection suite is not the latest technology. The U.S. won’t risk giving it to Ukraine lest it fall into Russian hands.
The Israeli F-16s could outperform a Su-30 because of better and more aggressive pilot training, group tactics, and continuous war exposure. The same cannot be said of the still under-trained Ukrainian pilots, who have for years been groomed on Russian combat philosophy.
Russian state media, meanwhile, has even suggested that the F-16 may have been ambushed and shot down by a Russian Su-57 at the outer limits of the air-to-air missile range.
While this theory remains unverified, it seems unlikely that Russia would risk deploying Su-57s against F-16s, given that the Su-57’s combat operations have so far been limited. So far, the Su-57s have operated mainly from within Russian airspace, launching missiles at Ukrainian targets from a distance.
For now, Ukraine is unlikely to risk using its F-16s in offensive operations. Ukraine is expected to employ the F-16s to defend against Russian missile and drone strikes rather than for close air support or ground attacks.
