Russia's Operational Fighter, Interceptor, Bomber Class Fighters and Their Use in the Ukraine War

Once by far the largest in the world, although only a fraction of its Soviet-era size, the Russian tactical fighter jet fleet of Fighter, Interceptor, Strike (air-to-ground attack) class jets is still the third largest in the world, with over 800 aircraft in operational service (not including heavy bombers, cargo and training aircraft). As a General Air Force, the Russian Air Force is the second largest air force in the world after the United States).

Russia has a large number of Sukhoi-built fourth-generation tactical fighter jet classes and, since the break-up of the USSR, has strongly favoured the Su-27-35 series of "heavyweight" interceptors, capable of patrolling the country's vast airspace or, if necessary, penetrating deep into NATO territory.

More than 95 per cent of the fighter aircraft that have entered service since the mid-1990s are variants or derivatives of the Su-27 Flanker air superiority fighter, which was considered the best fighter aircraft used by any air force in the world when it entered service in the mid-1980s. The Flanker has been continuously developed in various categories of hunting, interceptors, air superiority, some of which are highly specialised.

Below we have made an overview of the leading 16 aircraft in the Russian Air Force in the fighter, interceptor, air superiority and air-to-ground attack category according to their combat capabilities. The number of aircraft and their use in the Russia-Ukraine war are given according to open source information.

Su-57 Felon

Su-57: 10 Aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: Unknown

The Su-57, Russia's only fifth-generation fighter jet, has been produced in small numbers after several serious delays in the programme. Only ten are currently in service and the fleet is scheduled to reach 50 aircraft in 2026 and 76 aircraft by the end of the following year, after which the production rate is expected to increase significantly. Meanwhile, the development of the aircraft continues.

The Su-57 is a heavyweight air superiority fighter with a stealth profile, extremely long range and high situational awareness provided by six AESA radars and an infrared search and track system, and is the direct successor to the Su-27 Flanker. As the upgraded Su-57M first flew in October 2022 and is expected to replace the original in production in early 2024, only a small number of basic Su-57s will be produced, while the actual mass and intensive production will be conducted with the Su-57M variant.

This upgraded aircraft is intended to serve as a '5+ generation' fighter, allowing Ruya to partially bridge the gap with the ambitious sixth generation fighters currently under development in China and the United States.

Some of its most valuable features are its extremely high manoeuvrability, the high capabilities of the R-77M and R-37M air-to-air missiles, and the fact that it will carry a wide range of cruise missiles, including hypersonic missiles in the near future.

The Su-57 is the only fifth-generation Russian fifth-generation fighter to have carried out ranged air strikes against an enemy after supporting operations in Ukraine, including missions to suppress enemy air defences (SEAD-Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses), a unique achievement for an aircraft of its generation. In addition, multiple reliable open source information suggests that it may also have been involved in air-to-air combat.

MiG-31BM/BSM: 105 Aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: Yes

Although Russia has not produced MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors since 1994, when the improved MiG-31M variant was cancelled, the MiG-31BM/BSM represents a vastly improved variant of a powerful Cold War-era design that is still unrivalled in many respects. 

As the world's fastest operational fighter jet, the Foxhound's operational performance is further enhanced by the combination of the Zaslon-M radar and an extremely large sensor suite, providing a level of situational awareness that few fighter jets can match.

The size of this interceptor's fuselage also allows it to carry six oversized air-to-air missiles and six standard-sized missiles in a standard configuration, placing it in a premier league of its own worldwide in terms of firepower.

The R-37M missiles have an exceptional engagement range of 400 kilometres and a speed of Mach 6, and the aircraft's powerful sensors are well suited for very high altitude ceiling and cruise speed, making Foxhound-launched R-37Ms even more lethal.

It is reported by open intelligence sources that MiG-31s carrying R-37Ms were among Russia's most powerful air warfare assets in the Russian-Ukrainian War; this information confirms that the MiG-31 entered the war for the first time.

The MiG-31 can operate its missiles at maximum altitude, allowing them to reach ranges much longer than those launched from any other Russian or NATO jet.

The Foxhound is the world's largest tactical fighter aircraft and can sustain a supersonic cruise speed for long periods of time, allowing Russia to respond quickly to threats over its vast territory.

MiG-31K/I: 32 aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: Yes

The MiG-31K, which first entered service in 2017, is a modified version of the Foxhound's fuselage for the air-to-ground strike role and uses the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missile. Russia claims to have hit Patriot batteries in Ukraine with Kh-47M2s launched from MiG-31Ks. The aircraft provide an asymmetric means to counter enemy air defences and potentially launch nuclear strikes, and according to Russia, proved to be highly effective when used in May 2023 to neutralise American Patriot air defence systems in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. (See Ref.-1 for more information).

With an extremely long range of 2000 km, a hypersonic speed of Mach 10 and high manoeuvrability, this missile makes the MiG-31K arguably the world's premier air-to-ground strike fighter, allowing it to neutralise any surface combatant with a single well-placed strike.

The MiG-31K has been continuously deployed in high-tension priority locations, including the Arctic in times of high tension with NATO, Syria in 2022, Kaliningrad and Belarus, in support of Foxhound's interceptor variants, the MiG-31BM/BSMs.

An advanced variant of the MiG-31K, the MiG-31I, was introduced to the press in August 2022, with improvements to the avionics.

The MiG-31K/I also served as the basis for the development of a space combat Foxhound variant optimised to neutralise satellites, which is expected to be designated MiG-31D.

Su-35S: 114 Aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: Yes

The Su-35S, the most recognisable post-Soviet Russian fighter, today forms the backbone of the Russian air superiority fleet and represents the most ambitious Su-27 derivative designed for air-to-air combat.

Although closely based on the Su-27M/35 and Su-37, which completed development and were ready for production in the 1990s, lack of funding and the continuing post-Soviet decline in Russia's military aviation sector meant that the Su-35S would enter service in 2014 at the earliest. 

The aircraft is closely based on previous Soviet programmes to increase the air-to-air potential of the basic Su-27 design, but benefits from conservative improvements in avionics and weapons over the 1990s Su-37 prototypes as these technologies advanced.

The Su-35 is the first fighter aircraft in the world to enter service using three-dimensional thrust vectoring engines for extreme manoeuvrability, and has a much higher endurance and significantly reduced radar cross-section compared to the original Su-27. The Irbis-E radar has a very wide maximum deflection angle of 120° and a detection range of 95 km against stealth targets, while the wing roots are equipped with two N036B-1-01 L-Band AESA radars, forming a triple radar set. It also has a complementary OLS-35 tracking system providing infrared search.

The Su-35S does not have the extreme radar size, altitude or missile-carrying capability of the MiG-31, nor the fifth-generation capabilities of the Su-57 or its six radars, but it is nonetheless widely accepted by aviation experts as a serious challenger to any of the existing NATO fighter jets, especially when supported by ground-based air defence systems. 

According to Russian claims, the Su-35S has won numerous air-to-air victories over Ukraine and probably has a higher air-to-air kill score than any other post-Cold War Russian fighter aircraft.

Su-34: 130 aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: Yes

Entering service in 2014 alongside the Su-35, the Su-34 was commissioned by the Russian Air Force in greater numbers than any other post-Cold War fighter jet, primarily to replace the fleet of Soviet-built Su-24M special attack aircraft.

The aircraft is also a derivative of the Su-27 Flanker and has been modified to be a superior attack platform with a range comparable to small strategic bombers, while having air-to-air combat capability.

With a reduced radar cross-section and access to a wide range of ranged weapons, its investment in the Su-34 reflects Russia's overriding tactical emphasis on retaining dedicated air-to-ground strike units, rather than relying on multirole fighters for strike missions.

It is an effective flying platform for suppressing targets far beyond the country's borders.

Over Ukraine, the Su-34 suffered significant losses in surface fire against a very different type of enemy and air defence network to that of NATO, which it was primarily designed to counter.

The Su-34M, a highly developed specialised Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) variant, benefited from design inputs based on the experience of operations over Ukraine and gained significant new capabilities.

Su-30SM/SM2: 113 aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: No

The Russian Air Force began commissioning the Su-35SM shortly before the Su-30, and the aircraft is based on the Su-30MKI (a Su-37 derivative that takes advantage of the advanced features of the Su-30 air superiority fighter, whose serial production was cancelled), developed for the Indian Air Force, with a special configuration for India.

The Su-30 is a cheaper complement to the Su-35 and is less specialised in the air superiority role, with weaker engines, a two-dimensional thrust vector instead of three, a single radar instead of triple radars, and a lower endurance.

The tandem twin-seat configuration optimises it to accommodate a weapons systems officer in addition to the pilot for air-to-ground strike missions, but its air-to-air capabilities are still in need of significant improvement over those of the basic Flanker airframe, and development continues.

The Su-30SM has also proved popular abroad, with Kazakhstan and Belarus being the leading customers, while Algeria has continued to purchase the very similar but customised Su-30MKA.

The Su-35SM2, an upgraded variant of the aircraft using the Su-41's AL-30 engines, entered service in January 2022, and the entire fleet is expected to be upgraded to this standard when the current AL-31 engines reach end-of-life.

The new engine has increased durability and also increases the manoeuvrability of the aircraft with three-dimensional thrust vectoring capabilities.

Su-27SM2/SM23: 24 aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: No

The Su-27SM2/3, the most capable Su-27 variant developed, represents an improved version of the Cold War-era design with the Su-35's Irbis-E radar and more powerful AL-31F-M1 engines.

Su-27SM2s are older Su-27s modernised to the same standard after entering service, and 12 older Flankers have received such upgrades.

In addition to new radars, the aircraft received completely new avionics and access to a wide range of new types of weapons, resulting in performances comparable to the Su-35 only in some respects, with higher radar cross-sections, the absence of triple radars and significantly lower flight performances. 

The Su-27SM2/SM23s can also be regarded as the Su-35s' successor.

Su-30M2: 19 aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: No

The Su-35M30M30, the last Su-30 fighter variant built at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant before it switched to Su-30 production, the Su-30M2 was ordered 20 aircraft to prevent this plant from stopping production lines in the gap before Su-35 mass production, and serves primarily in training roles.

The plant had been building Su-30s for export for about 15 years, starting with the customised Su-30MKK and then Su-30MK2 in 1997, funded by Chinese orders.

The Su-30M2s were a cheaper alternative to the Su-30MKI family built at the Irkutsk plant, sold to China, Venezuela, Vietnam and Uganda.

The Russian Air Force did not field an aircraft with similar characteristics until the Su-30M2 entered service in the early 2010s due to a lack of investment in the procurement of new combat aircraft, meaning that this was the first post-Cold War purchase of a fleet from a fighter class.

An extended-range two-seat aircraft, the Su-30 was originally developed as an interceptor to replace the MiG-25 in the Soviet fleet, but due to special configuration requirements from China and India, it became a multi-role fighter.

Su-24M/M2: 76 Aircraft 

Use in the Ukrainian War: Yes

The Su-24M, previously the most numerous single air-to-ground attack aircraft in the Russian Air Force, was rapidly decommissioned in the 2010s, replaced by the Su-30SM and Su-34.

The remaining aircraft have been extensively modernised with 21st Century avionics, advanced standoff weapons and electronic warfare systems.

Su-24Ms were heavily deployed for combat operations in Syria from 2015 onwards, but were largely withdrawn from the Ukrainian war against the much more capable air defence network established by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

While Su-34 production continues, all remaining Su-24Ms are expected to be retired well before the end of the next decade.

The Su-24M is the last variable-slope wing fighter in operation in one of the world's largest air forces, with other non-combat Su-24 airframes serving as specialised reconnaissance aircraft in the Russian fleet.

Su-27SM/Su-33: 53 (35/18) Aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: No

The Su-27SM represented a fairly conservative upgrade for part of the Su-27 fleet followed in the 2000s, as the Russian economy and defence budget slowly began to recover from the crises of the 1990s.

Improvements included the integration of satellite navigation systems, liquid crystal displays and a new radar and flight computer.

The aircraft were made compatible with guided bombs and Kh-31 cruise missiles, making them significantly more versatile, and their fuselage, wings and landing gear were strengthened so they could carry more weapons.

The first aircraft entered service in 2004, and at that time the package intended to extend the Su-27's service life until they were replaced by fifth-generation fighters from 2015.

However, a fifth-generation fleet was not realised this decade, and the Su-27s are expected to be retired before 2030.

The Su-33, which entered service in the 1990s, represents a derivative of the Su-27 optimised for deployment from aircraft carriers and has many avionics improvements very similar to the Su-27SM.

It was considered the most capable fighter aircraft in the Russian Air Force at the time, as more advanced designs such as the Su-30MKK and Su-37 were developed for export only.

Su-27: 30 aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: Yes

Designed to go head-to-head with and outclass the US Air Force's F-15C/Ds, the Su-27 remains one of the most effective fighters of its generation, with Su-27 derived variants of almost all Russian fighters built in the last 30 years. 

After the dissolution of the USSR, the US Air Force gained access to Su-27s via Belarus, while US F-15s flew against Russian Air Force Su-27s during exercises.

American observations consistently found the Su-27 to be far more capable in air-to-air combat than the F-15, and thus far more capable than any fighter aircraft fielded by a Western air force.

A revolutionary fighter aircraft for its time, the basic Su-27 is now considered an obsolete design and is expected to be phased out of the Russian Air Force before 2025.

The Ukrainian Air Force has tried to use its own Soviet-built limited-capability Su-27s against Russian fighter jets with disastrous results, resulting in crushing losses.

Although still impressive in terms of its range and manoeuvrability, the Su-27's avionics, especially those of the 1980s, leave much to be desired in air combat by the standards of the 2020s.

Su-25M

Su-25M: 192 Aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: Yes

The Sukhoi Su-25 is a subsonic, single-seat, twin-engined jet aircraft developed by Sukhoi in the Soviet Union. It was designed to provide close air support to the Soviet Ground Forces. The first prototype made its first flight in 1975.

It is a co-purpose aircraft with the US A-10.

In the early 1990s, modernised versions and variants developed for special roles entered service.

The Russian Air Force, which operates the largest number of Su-25s, planned to upgrade older aircraft to the Su-25SM variant, but funding shortfalls slowed this progress.

It is the aircraft most used by Russia for close air support in the Ukraine war.

MiG-35: 6 aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: No

An improved derivative of the MiG-29 medium-weight fighter, the MiG-35 represents the only non-heavy class of fighter to be commissioned by the post-Soviet Russian Air Force. Although the first production batch of 35 aircraft has been repeatedly announced, only six have been delivered in anticipation of further deliveries.

This was a direct result of the much greater interest of the Russian Ministry of Defence in acquiring heavyweight fighters based on the Su-27 design, which was considered to be more cost-effective, although more costly to both build and operate.

The MiG-29 was developed during the Cold War, with the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, for deployment close to the front lines with NATO in Central and Eastern Europe.

The MiG-35 is closely related to the advanced MiG-29M, which has proved popular in export markets and benefits from phased array radar, new engines, increased fuel capacity and fifth generation level avionics and armament.

The MiG-35 is a highly upgradeable aircraft that further enhances these features, including a larger missile carrying capacity and the option of integrating an AESA radar.

Three-dimensional thrust vectoring engines were developed for this aircraft, but were not integrated into production variants to reduce costs.

The intention to further reduce costs means that MiG-35s in Russian service do not benefit from advanced options such as AESA radars.

If the MiG-35s do not achieve foreign sales success, they will remain in front-line roles for only a short period of service, and are likely to be relegated to a trainer role if serial production does not extend beyond the first six aircraft.

MiG-29KR/KUBR: 23 aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: No

The Russian Navy purchased the MiG-29KR, a derivative of the MiG-29M designed for carrier operations, for its sole carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, after India ordered a much larger number of aircraft for its own navy.

Although the Russian Navy initially preferred modernised variants of the Su-27, another Su-33 derivative, it opted for the MiG-29KR due to insufficient orders from China for the Su-33 and India's preference for the smaller MiG-29K. This allowed it to avoid the costs of starting production for a relatively small Su-33 order.

The MiG-29K is much more capable than the Soviet-built MiG-29s with newer airframe materials, avionics, engines and armament, making it highly suitable for 21st Century warfare, but it still has a much lower endurance and smaller radar than the Su-27s.

MiG-29SMT/UBT: 17 aircraft 

Use in the Ukrainian War: No

The MiG-29SMT was developed as an upgrade package for Soviet-built MiG-29s in storage, most of which remained unassembled in storage, and was originally intended to be applied to the Russian MiG-29 fleet.

Although these MiGs were last used for export to Syria and India in the 2020s, plans to modernise the entire fleet were cancelled due to budget constraints.

The MiG-29SMTs sold to Algeria in the 2000s were significantly rejected on the grounds that they did not have new-built airframes and were of poor quality, due to the subsequent ordering of Su-30MKAs and the subsequent ordering of new MiG-29Ms.

The MiG-29SMTs built for Algeria were accepted for operational use by the Russian Air Force, although they were largely relegated to training roles.

The aircraft features new engines that are both more powerful and more fuel efficient, with an improved fuel capacity, as well as much improved avionics and sensors.

MiG-29/MiG-29UB: 70 aircraft

Use in the Ukrainian War: No

The MiG-29 fleet has faced some of the deepest cuts since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and while around 800 were in service in 1991, with dozens more joining the fleet each year, today there are only around 100 per cent of mostly unmodernised MiG-29s in Russia's skies. The aircraft is expected to continue to be rapidly decommissioned in favour of heavier fighter classes.

Although the original MiG-29 was a world leader in manoeuvrability for its time, it has avionics that are ill-suited to the network-centric battlefields of the 21st century and a very limited range for most air defence missions in Russia.

MiG-29 fighters are nevertheless potentially dangerous and can operate from makeshift runways, intercept almost all opponents, and exhibit the world's highest manoeuvrability without relying on thrust vectoring.

As one of the first fighter aircraft in the world capable of engaging at very high angles within their line of sight, MiG-29s are expected to make up the significant portion of the Russian Air Force's operational fighter aircraft in reserve until the 2030s, and potentially much longer, despite their phasing out of frontline roles

Reference

1st MiG-31K Kinzhal hits Patriots with hypersonic missile

https://strasam.org/savunma/havacilik-ve-uzay-sanayii/mig-31k-kinzhal-hipersonik-fuze-ile-patriotlari-vurdu-2002