Russia orders additional combat aircraft

The Russian aerospace and defense company PJSC United Aircraft Corporation has received new orders for the production of fighter and bomber jets for the Russian Ministry of Defense. Yuri Slyusar, the company's chairman, shared this with the Russian media. The order to produce tactical aircraft is related to the creation of two new inter-service strategic territorial military units of the armed forces in Russia in 2023, namely the Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts.

The two new territorial units will be deployed on the basis of existing and newly created military units and formations. It is known that as part of this process, a new air military will be created, for which new weapons have been ordered. To date, Russian aircraft manufacturers are actively producing three models of tactical aircraft: Su-30 and Su-35 fighter jets, and a Su-34 bomber.

In December last year, small-scale production of Su-57 fighter jets was also launched.

Increase of production

According to the aircraft manufacturer's representatives, the UAC has managed to significantly increase the production of fighters and bombers. In some cases, this regards a multiple increase in capacity.

Su-34 fighter-bombers handed over to the Russian Air Force, May 2023. Photo credits: UAC

Previously, the Russian State Corporation "Rostec", which includes the UAC, had allegedly modernized its facilities.

It was emphasized that the employees started working in three shifts. "For some items, we have doubled the number of combat aircraft we produce for the Ministry of Defense. These are Su-30, Su-34, and Su-35," Deputy Head of the Russian State Corporation Artyakov commented.

It is known that since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, two batches of Su-57 fighters (5 units), a batch of Su-30 (presumably 4 units), two batches of Su-34 frontline bombers (presumably 6 units), and three batches of Su-35 fighters (presumably 8 units) have been delivered to the Russian Defense Ministry. The Russian Federation has also been supplying fighter jets to foreign customers. For example, a batch of the export version of the Su-30SME was transferred to the Myanmar Air Force.

It is also reported that Iran has ordered an unknown number of Su-35 fighter jets.