The latest Russian aircraft, military and civil

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The Russian Federation, like other countries that emerged in the post-Soviet space, experienced hard times in the early and mid-nineties of the last century. The industry, deprived of the usual markets, stalled. Many productions stopped, including the most advanced ones.

The aviation industry has always been the pride of our country. It did not spare appropriations, and its products (both civil and military) plowed the skies of all continents. In the context of the almost complete collapse of cooperation ties, it can be considered a miracle that the aircraft building school was not lost.

Not all industrialized countries can afford the production of aircraft. For example, Germany, which produces many models of equipment that are rightfully considered the best in the world, does not build aircraft on its own, although quite recently (by historical standards), during the Second World War, the Messerschmitts and Henkel were quite level. Lost School…

However,despite the high operational characteristics of Soviet aviation technology, its potential is gradually decreasing, it is becoming obsolete. The latest Russian aircraft will soon replace it. First of all, this concerns combat vehicles, the fleet of which will be renewed by half in the next two or three years.

Local conflicts, when they are resolved by force, require special tools. One of them is front-line aviation, designed to support ground troops and deliver ultra-precise strikes against communication centers, headquarters, infrastructure and transport routes of a potential enemy. The new Russian military aircraft Su-34 and MiG-31, which are, in fact, air-based strike systems, and the modernized Su-24M attack aircraft, capable of operating around the clock, are quite capable of solving combat missions, taking into account the threats from enemy fighter aircraft.

The newest fifth-generation Russian aircraft differ from their predecessors, in addition to improved maneuverability and dynamic characteristics, by less visibility for warning systems. It is difficult to detect and, consequently, to bring them down. This quality is achieved by using largely unique electronic radar suppression technologies. Special coatings are also used to reduce the reflectivity of surfaces.

Long-range aviation was not left without attention. Traditionally considered long-lived aircraft, strategic bombers (for example, the American B-52 was developed in the 50s of the XX century, the grandchildren of its first pilots fly on it) inour country is also used long term. The latest Russian aircraft of this class are the product of a deep modernization of the well-proven base models Tu-160, Tu-22MZ and Tu-95MS. In addition to the bomb load, they are capable of carrying ultra-precise missile weapons with special charges.

New Russian civil aircraft, unlike most samples of the Soviet aviation industry, are developed from the very beginning as passenger liners, taking into account all the requirements for comfort and economy. The Sukhoi company, traditionally specializing in the creation of military vehicles, has developed the Sukhoi Superjet-100 for medium-haul airlines. Other well-known companies are also working in this direction, such as Ilyushin Design Bureau, Tupolev OJSC, Sokol and Aviakor plants.

There is reason to hope that the latest Russian aircraft will soon compete with Boeings and Airbuses both on the domestic and international aviation markets.