Behind the scenes: Russian military aircraft production faces reality check

The Russian Federation has released a propaganda video highlighting Su-35S and Su-57 aircraft production at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO) facilities. This move comes as the nation announced a shift to a war economy and mass armament. However, according to experts from the Defense Express service, the footage subtly uncovers some troubling realities about the war industry.

Following the escalation to a full-scale war with Ukraine, Russia transitioned its economy to focus on wartime production. There are claims of increased weapon production, and a former Russian government minister even suggested that Russia is out-producing the rest of the world in tank manufacturing.

However, the latest propaganda video boasting the manufacture of Su-35S and Su-57 aircraft at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur facility marks the first of its kind since the onset of the war with Ukraine. Defense Express experts note several aspects of the footage that hint at an uncomfortable truth about the Russian military production capabilities.

The video showcases the fuselages of seven Su-35S fighters in different stages of completion, along with layouts of Su-57 fighters.

The Su-35S is a versatile fighter for engaging air, ground, and naval targets. It features two engines with thrust vectoring for improved maneuverability, particularly at low speeds. The Su‑35S can reach a top speed of about 2.25 Mach, equivalent to around 2405 km/h. It can carry up to approximately 8000 kg of weaponry on its hardpoints.

Production of the fighter began in 2010, maintaining a consistent output before the war—yielding just seven aircraft in 2022 and around ten in 2023. Russia recently added a new batch of Su-35S fighters to its arsenal, employing them in covert operations against Ukraine.

The Su-57, a more recent model intended to phase out the older MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, entered mass production in 2020. Powered by two Saturn AL-41F engines, it can achieve a maximum speed of 2.0 Mach, or over 2449 km/h, with a cruising speed of 1.3 Mach, approximately 1600 km/h. This fighter has a 30 mm 9A-4071K cannon and boasts 6 internal and 6 external missile hardpoints.

Although the Su-57 has seen action in the war in Ukraine, the projected delivery of these aircraft seems modest. It's estimated that six units will be delivered in 2022, with forecasts of twelve for 2023 and potentially fifteen by 2024.

Defense Express analysts suggest that the production volume of Su-35S and Su-57 aircraft might fall short of what Russian propaganda claims. This discrepancy raises concerns about Russia's ability to procure necessary components and fulfil its military requirements.