Some losses cannot be restored: how many aircraft can Russia produce?

Russian aviation constantly suffers losses due to the actions of Ukrainian forces. The enemy not only regularly experiences “airplane crashes,” but also experiences “pops” in production. Thus, on February 13, an aircraft manufacturing plant in Moscow was on fire.

Aviation expert Valery Romanenko told Channel about this 24, clarifying that the fire occurred directly in the design bureau where the all aircraft that were designated MiG. It was there that the first MiG-1 and the latest modification, the MiG-31 aircraft, were developed in 1940, which was converted to carry Kinzhal cruise and aeroballistic missiles, which are now shelling Ukraine.

At the same time, this MiG design bureau has been producing virtually nothing since the 2010s. . Also, MiGs have been withdrawn from service in all units of the aerospace forces and the Russian Navy.

We lost from a quarter to a third of the fleet

“Russians are now placing their main bet on aircraft from competitor Pavel Sukhoi. In particular, production of fifth-generation Su-57 fighters continues in Komsomolsk-on-Amur “In 2023, , as many as 2 aircraft were built, although 6 fighters were built in 2022. In total, only 10 aircraft have been built since the start of their production in 2019,” the expert explained on aviation.

This plant also produces Su-35 fighters, and the plant in Novosibirsk produces Su-34 bombers. The intensity of production of these aircraft is higher – in two years 18 bombers.

The Russians have restored 70–80% of the losses of the Su-34 during the war. As well as the losses of Su-30 fighters, which are produced in Irkutsk, he noted.

The enemy suffered the maximum losses during the war in Su attack aircraft -25. However, serial construction of this aircraft was completed during the Soviet era. The Russians lost approximately a quarter to a third of their fleet of these aircraft, and these losses are not restorative.

Regarding the production of fighter aircraft by the Russians, it developed quite actively before the war. For example, in 2022 they produced 29 combat aircraft, in 2023 – according to the most optimistic estimates, only 26 – 27 aircraft. That is, little by little, but the production of their combat aircraft is falling.

Sanctions are working

The production of Russian aircraft is critically dependent on Western procurement. Due to Western sanctions, their deliveries to Russia have become significantly more difficult.

The only Russian passenger aircraft that was made in all the years of Russia's existence, the Su-30SM consists of 80% of foreign parts for assembly. The situation is similar with the production of military aircraft. However, the Russians manage to circumvent the sanctions. a lot, although we are talking about details for weapons and equipment for all types of armed forces, in particular the fleet, ground forces, aviation,” noted Valery Romanenko.

Russians are losing aviation

• The enemy has been suffering painful losses since the beginning of the war against Ukraine. Vladimir Zelensky said that Ukrainian forces, with the help of long-range weapons provided by partners, managed to destroy 26 helicopters in a day and 12 aircraft at a time. This aircraft was supposed to bomb the territory of Ukraine.
• Also on January 29, Ukrainian defenders managed to eliminate an enemy Su-34 aircraft in the Lugansk region.

< li>In December 2022, our military immediately destroyed 3 Su-34 aircraft in the southern direction. Earlier, on December 5, a Russian Su-24M bomber was shot down near Zmeiny Island.