About 850 live sides: what is the state of combat aviation of the Russian Federation in the third year of the war - analyst

According to the Polish observer Macieus Shop, the PCS of the Russian Federation has several key problems, including the large wear of the operated equipment, as well as the low rates of production of new machines. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit in Washington said that Russia was using about 300 combat aircraft every day. This statement draws attention to the state of air and space forces (PCS) of Russia and their real opportunities today.

The Polish Defense Observer 24 Macieus Shop told detail about the combat readiness of Russian military aviation. Comparison of the state of combat readiness of the Russian PCS with NATO forces shows significant differences. While the average F-16 in NATO's combat readiness ranges from 40% (Greece) to 70% (USA), Russian air forces show lower performance due to a number of factors, including insufficient maintenance, corruption and wear of equipment.

Soviet and Russian aircraft have a smaller plaque resource compared to Western counterparts, which reduces their combat efficiency, says the analyst. "While American battle aircraft were built with a planned service life of 6,000-8,000 hours in the air, and the programs are currently being implemented to increase this term to 12,000 hours or more, Soviet and then Russian aircraft were designed for 4,000 ( MiG-29) or 5 000 (SU-27) hours of plaque, "-says Shopa.

Prior to the war in Ukraine, a Russian aircraft park had about 1,200 cars. However, many of these aircraft are approaching the end of their life cycle. Machines such as Su-24, Su-25, MiG-31, MiG-29 and Su-27 are actively used, but often experience problems with technical condition and modernization. Moreover, the Ukrainian forces regularly report the destruction of Russian aircraft, which is confirmed by video materials and reports from places.

Russia faces difficulties in the production of new aircraft. So in 2022 27 new aircraft were supplied, in 2023 - 24, and in the first six months of 2024 - only six new machines. This indicates significant problems in the airline industry related to the lack of modern components and sanctions.

The Polish analyst with reference to the data of the Rand Corporation Analytical Center, Michael Boonerta, emphasizes that only through operational wear of the Russians will have to decommissioate about 60 combat aircraft this year. And this is all without taking into account the downed and destroyed by the Ukrainian forces of Russian aircraft on their bases. The fact is that in the first six months of this year the Ukrainian side published evidence of complete destruction of 12 aircraft.

To this number you can add the destruction of two aircraft of the early A-50 warning. Thus, today the real number of Russian combat aviation park is about 850 aircraft. Of these, about 340-360 cars are considered relatively modern. Losses from combat and wear and tear of equipment, as well as the lack of production of new aircraft, weaken the opportunities of the Russian Air Force.