Yuri Kobzar16:52, 10.02.24

Having a large numerical advantage, the Russians never gained air supremacy.

Russian military aviation was never able to fulfill its main task in the war against Ukraine – to gain air supremacy, but suffered heavy losses. This is stated in the analytical brief of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), which is the compiler of the authoritative reference book The Military Balance.

“The Russian air force has performed poorly in Moscow’s war against Ukraine, suffering significant losses of some key aircraft. Air parity, not air superiority, remains between the enemies, and this is a situation that Ukraine must maintain,” the publication said.

IISS notes that the Russian Military Space Forces (VKS) were unable to gain control of the skies despite their total numerical superiority over the Ukrainian Air Force, not because they were inactive, but because they were ineffective.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has lost about 40% of its Ka-52 attack helicopters, as well as a significant part of its Mi-35 and Mi-28. The fleet of Mi-8MTPR-1 electronic warfare helicopters has been reduced by at least 20%. The destruction of the A-50 long-range radio detection aircraft and the damage to the Il-22M command and staff aircraft was also a blow to the operational capability and morale of the Aerospace Forces. 

To reduce losses but maintain at least some influence on the situation at the front, Russian aviation is increasingly relying on long-range weapons. Thus, the Russians are increasingly using Su-34 aircraft to drop glide bombs, which can be fired from a greater distance to avoid short-range Ukrainian ground-based air defenses.

The Russians also use the aircraft to launch Kh-59 air-to-surface guided missile attacks. Similarly, Ka-52M and Mi-28NM attack helicopters now use LMUR air-to-surface missiles, which allow them to hit targets at greater distances without approaching the front line directly.

(C)UNIAN 2024