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Russia Losing Own Position on International Military Aircraft Market

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Photo for illustration / russian Su-35, that was shot down by Ukrainian troops
Photo for illustration / russian Su-35, that was shot down by Ukrainian troops

Russia’s aerospace leadership had planned to market the next generation heavy fighter bomber, the Su-57, and its highly touted derivative the Su-75 to several foreign military buyers. After the invasion of Ukraine these plans were those plans are ruined

Accordind to the Defense News, the Su-57 suffers from a low production rate. Export models are unlikely to be available until the end of the decade. As for the medium-weight Su-75, the so-called “Checkmate” aircraft, it has been only realized in models and computer graphics. It’s yet to have a single successful test flight.

For foreign buyers, that leaves the Sukhoi 35 (Su-35), the only Russian military aircraft in serial production. This is Russia’s signature heavy fighter bomber — although its combat record over the skies of Ukraine is mixed. But even the Su-35 might not be successfully exported in any significant numbers this decade.

Read more: ​Two Squadrons of russian Su-35 Have Been Destroyed, the Occupiers Turn to Obsolete Su-24M
The Sukhoi Su-57 is a twin-engine stealth multirole fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi
The Sukhoi Su-57 is a twin-engine stealth multirole fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi

Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Counter America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) was an important factor in deterring potential buyers of the Su-35 such as Egypt, Algeria and Indonesia. To discourage countries from buying Russian weapons and deny Russia the revenue from those sales, Congress passed third-party sanctions legislation to require the executive branch to sanction them if they did. Several countries have cancelled contracts to buy Russian weapons and sought equivalent defense capabilities from other countries rather than face the prospect of U.S. sanctions.

Now the Ukraine war and ensuing sanctions are having a devastating impact on the Russian aerospace sector. Sanctions are crippling the Russian capacity to finish the development of, much less mass produce, next-generation combat vehicles such as the Su-57 and Su-75. Many Russian manufacturers depend on imported advanced machine tools. And analysis of the remains of Russia’s missiles, drones, and aircraft downed in Ukraine has revealed that they contain Western components and subsystems that can no longer be legally exported to Russia.

Russia’s Aerospace Forces also need to replace warplanes lost in combat — including some number of Su-35s.

Indeed, the military reputation of the Russian Aerospace Forces has been badly tarnished by its poor performance during the invasion of Ukraine — and that is rubbing off on the aircraft. Even with a clear numerical and quantitative superiority over the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia has failed to gain any measure of operational or tactical superiority over the battlefield from the air.

Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate is a single-engine, stealth fighter aircraft under development by Sukhoi for export and for the Russian Aerospace Forces
Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate is a single-engine, stealth fighter aircraft under development by Sukhoi for export and for the Russian Aerospace Forces

Furthermore, the military attractiveness of the Su-35 as a multi-purpose fighter bomber has been diminished since Russia has reportedly lost two squadrons in Ukraine due to various defects.

Both Ukrainian and Russian air forces have suffered fixed and rotary wing losses over a battlefield infested with a wide range of air defense capabilities. Less expensive systems like artillery, missiles, and drones have proven to be the more decisive weapons systems in the conflict. Reportedly, Russia traded more than 60 Su-35 to Iran in exchange for several thousand drones that they are now using to terrorize Ukrainian civilians and disabling elements of Ukrainian critical infrastructure.

russia's Su-35 / Illustrative photo from open sources
russia's Su-35 / Illustrative photo from open sources

Squeezed by sanctions and pressed to replace Russia’s destroyed equipment, Russia’s aerospace sector isn’t likely to have aircraft to sell, even if it wants to. If purchasing countries start to change their minds — and invest in drones and other less-expensive precision guided munitions — the market for Russian combat aircraft might start to rapidly decline.

Read more: Operational Command South: Six Helicopters Destroyed, Ukraine’s MiG-29 Shot Down russia’s Su-35
TAGS War