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Russia has about 1,200 combat aircraft of various types, including strategic aviation. However, almost 550 of them are at the final stage of their life cycle, according to the Polish publication Defence24.
Soviet and Russian aircraft, such as MiG-29 and Su-27, have a flight life of only 4-5 thousand hours, which is significantly less than American aircraft designed for 6-8 thousand hours (with the prospect of increasing to 12 thousand).
In total, only 340-360 aircraft in the Russian Federation can be considered relatively modern, manufactured after 2010. These include such models as the Su-30, Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57. At the same time, due to significant wear and tear, Russia will be forced to decommission about 60 aircraft in 2024, not including those destroyed in combat.
Despite deliveries of new aircraft (27 units in 2022, 24 in 2023, and 23 planned for 2024), Russia has not been able to increase production capacity. The main problem is the shortage of modern components, many of which are imported illegally at high prices.
In addition, experts emphasize the low level of aircraft maintenance in Russia. Instead of being stored in specialized hangars with climate control, many aircraft are parked in the open air, which accelerates their wear and tear.
The crisis in Russian aviation is also due to the difficulty of producing modern aircraft compared to tanks or other armored vehicles. This is a serious challenge to Russia’s defense capabilities amid ongoing hostilities.
