Russian vs Ukrainian Fighter Jets: Which Reigns Supreme in Air Superiority?

International Military – Comparison of Russian and Ukrainian fighter jets is an interesting topic to discuss. Looking at it from a strength standpoint, some people certainly think that the Russian military with all its weapons is much better than Ukraine’s.

Currently, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is still ongoing. Since the Kremlin launched its invasion on February 24, 2022, the battle between the two countries has not yet reached a peaceful path.

However, throughout the conflict, observers have assessed that there has not been a more superior party in the air power sector. So, how exactly does the power of Russian and Ukrainian fighter jets compare?

Quoting information from the Warrior Maven page, Ukraine operates around 69 fighter jets, while Russia has 772 combat aircraft (Global Fire Power), a number that is not quite balanced. In this case, even though Moscow has a larger quantity of fighter jets and is more sophisticated, Kiev is still able to survive.

The Pentagon said that this was likely to happen because Ukraine had managed to operate its air defense system properly. To note, Ukraine operated a Soviet-made SAM system in the Cold War era. One of the newest is the SA-15 Gauntlet from 1986.

On the other hand, Russia also has a strong air defense. So that the fighter jets belonging to the Kiev forces also could not defeat them. Moreover, the Kremlin has a sophisticated missile system that can easily reach various parts of Ukraine.

Turning to the type used, Russia operates aircraft such as the 4th generation Su-35 to the Su-34. This variant of the Su-34 is nicknamed the “bomber” which has a long-range attack capacity, while the Su-35 is known as a multi-role fighter. The Su-34 type is actually a bomber aircraft intended to replace the Su-24. She had a top speed of 1,110mph, could carry 20,000 pounds of ordnance, and was equipped with a 30mm automatic cannon. While the Su-35 is also equipped with anti-radiation missiles.

Then, Ukraine itself is reported to have used most of the Soviet-made fighter jets in the 1970s to 1980s. One of them is the Su-24 type registered since 1974. The Su-24 can reach a top speed of 1,000mph and can also carry more than 17,000 pounds of ordnance such as missiles, guided bombs, and others. In addition, he is also equipped with a 23mm swivel cannon.