Summary and Key Points: The war in Ukraine has exposed the limitations of Russia's military, which, despite having the third-largest military budget, struggles to make significant progress against Ukraine.

-A key issue is Russia's inability to secure air superiority.

-Analyzing five Russian jets from least to most capable provides insight into their current air capabilities.

-The Su-24 is an outdated tactical bomber, the MiG-31 is a fast interceptor but lacks air-to-air prowess, the MiG-29 is maneuverable but technologically outdated, the Su-27 is a more modern air superiority fighter, and the Su-35 is a recent and advanced variant of the Su-27 but has still faced losses in Ukraine.

The Top 5 Russian Military Planes 

The war in Ukraine has shown the world how underwhelming Russia’s military is. Moscow has the world’s third-largest military budget, yet its forces are unable to make meaningful headway against a weaker immediate neighbor. It is much harder now to take Russia seriously as a world power.

Part of Russia’s problem is that it cannot secure the airspace above Ukraine. Kyiv has held back the Russian Aerospace Forces, contesting the airspace and causing heavy Russian losses.

Let’s walk through five of the jets in the Russian inventory, from least to most capable, to better understand what the Russians have at their disposal.

Su-24

The Su-24 Fencer is a sweep-wing, twin-engine, all-weather tactical bomber. Produced between 1967 and 1993, the Su-24 is somewhat outdated. The bomber has a poor thrust-to-weight ratio of just 0.6, and a low climb rate. The Su-24 also suffers from a limited combat range of 380 miles.

This aircraft is effective in a ground attack role but cannot compete in air-to-air encounters. The Su-24 is not an ideal aircraft for modern air forces. It is better suited to the smaller air forces of poorer countries such as Syria and Sudan. 

MiG-31

The MiG-31 is the fastest operational combat aircraft in the world, with a top speed of Mach 2.83.

Thanks to its speed, the MiG-31 is an effective interceptor aircraft – one that can fire hypersonic long-range missiles. It does not stand out in air-to-air situations, however.

The Russians rely heavily on the MiG-31, which looks similar to the American F-15 Eagle and has flown since 1981.

MiG-29

The MiG-29 is a fourth-generation air superiority fighter that is often outfitted for air-to-ground functions. In production since 1981, the MiG-29 is a commonly found airframe: more than 1,600 have been built.

The jet is renowned for its maneuverability, but the MiG-29 lacks the avionics and technological innovations found in modern fighters.

In Ukraine, the MiG-29 has proven deficient, in large part because the jet’s outdated tech is vulnerable against modern air defense systems. 

Su-27

The Su-27 air superiority fighter was built in the 1970s to compete with U.S. fourth-generation fighters like the F-14 Tomcat and the F-15 Eagle. Like the MiG-29, the Su-27 is a twin-engine aircraft with supermaneuverability.

But unlike the MiG-29, the Su-27 has sophisticated avionics that are more appropriate in the modern battlespace. Namely, the Su-27 has a fly-by-wire system, electronically scanned array radar, and advanced early warning radar.

Su-35

The Su-35 is a single-seat, twin-engine, supermaneuverable air superiority fighter. Introduced just 10 years ago, the Su-35 is much newer than fourth-generation counterparts like the MiG-29 and Su-27.

In fact, the Su-35 is essentially an upgraded Su-27 – a newer version with canards, improved radar, and control surfaces that eliminate buffeting at high angles of attack.

The Su-35 has recorded at least seven air-to-air victories over Ukrainian fighters. But multiple Su-35s have been shot down in the skies over Ukraine.

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,300 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

All images are Creative Commons.