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This time, Russia is preparing to expand its dominance in the skies. After completing the entire factory testing cycle, its flagship 4++ generation fighter jet has officially entered a new chapter. United Aircraft Corporation, part of the defense technology giant Rostec, has just delivered the latest batch of Sukhoi Su-35s fighters to the Russian Air Force. At the same time, Ukraine is also opening a new chapter. The Gripen era is beginning to emerge on the battlefield, bringing new hope to Kyiv's air power. Two forces, two combat philosophies. So, which one shows the greatest promise in the skies of modern warfare? Let's dive deeper.
Amid the roar of a conflict now entering its fourth year, a major narrative is being written across the skies of Eastern Europe. Many Western observers predicted that Russia's defense industrial base would collapse under the weight of crippling sanctions and economic isolation. Yet, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Factories in Komsomolsk-on-Amur continue to operate at full capacity, sending waves of advanced fourth generation fighter jets to the front lines. This latest production delivery is more than just a logistical routine. It is a statement of strength, proving that Russian military aviation remains resilient and capable of producing world-class war machines despite the attrition caused by intense combat
operations. At the top of this production pyramid stands the sky predator, the Su-35s. This aircraft is far more than an ordinary fighter jet. It represents the highest level currently achievable by aviation industry on a large scale. Classified as a 4+++ generation aircraft, the Su-35S is Russia's answer to the need for a combat platform capable of bridging the gap toward fifth generation technology. Although it technically lacks the full stealth capabilities and complete sensor fusion found in America's F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, the Su-35S compensates with raw power, unmatched maneuverability, and deadly sensor systems. At the heart of the aircraft's strength lies the revolutionary AL-41F1S engine.
This engine uses three-dimensional thrust vectoring technology, a feature that transforms this multi-ton jet into a graceful yet lethal aerial dancer. With this capability, pilots can point the aircraft's nose in directions that would be aerodynamically impossible for conventional fighters, especially at low speeds or extreme altitudes. In close-range dogfight scenarios, the ability to aim the aircraft and lock weapons onto a target faster than the opponent is the thin line between victory and destruction. Combined with advanced radar systems and a massive weapons payload, the Su-35S possesses genuine long-range strike capability, making it a terrifying threat to anyone daring enough to challenge it.
What about the aircraft's mission profile? The Su-35S is a highly agile multirole fighter. Its electronics and avionics operate reliably under extreme combat pressure, providing pilots with a high level of confidence and operational comfort. Russian pilots use the aircraft for a wide range of missions, intercepting long-range aerial targets, protecting strike groups and ground assets, destroying drones, and carrying out precision strikes against ground and surface targets using guided munitions. This flexibility is crucial. A single platform can serve as an escort for bombers, a drone hunter, and an executioner for enemy ground installations all at once. Furthermore, pilots can also conduct reconnaissance and identify enemy positions
deep beyond the line of contact, providing clear intelligence for Central Command. The world is watching closely. How has the Su-35S performed on the Ukrainian battlefield? Actual operational records show that this aircraft has become the backbone of Russia's air superiority. It is not only used for routine air superiority patrols, but also serves as a loyal escort for strike packages entering enemy territory. As the threat posed by Ukrainian drones began to increase exponentially, the Su-35S quickly adapted, taking on a new role in highly effective anti-drone operations. References to its reconnaissance capabilities deep behind the line of contact reflect the evolving role of this jet in an ever-changing conflict.
On a battlefield where portable air defense systems and short-range missiles are scattered along the front lines, sending multi-million dollar jets on risky close air support missions is now considered an outdated strategy. Instead, Russia employs the Su-35S to gather intelligence far behind enemy lines, utilizing its long-range sensors to monitor enemy movements without unnecessarily exposing itself to danger. However, an intense war inevitably brings losses. The open-source intelligence project Oryx, which documents equipment losses through photographic evidence, has confirmed that Russia has lost at least 140 combat aircraft, including at least
eight Su-35S fighters, since the beginning of the conflict with Ukraine in 2022. This figure is often used as propaganda material by opposing sides, but from a military perspective, the loss of eight of these arguably highly capable fighter jets does represent a reduction in the fleet's overall combat capacity. The SU-35S fills a role that older aircraft such as the SU-27 or MiG-29 cannot fully replicate. Every confirmed loss is not merely about the destruction of an airframe estimated to cost around $85 million per unit. There is a far greater investment involved, years of pilot training and invaluable operational experience. Real combat experience cannot simply be replaced by delivering new jets from factories to combat units.
It takes time to restore full combat readiness. Nevertheless, for Russia, its ability to continue producing new SU-35S units demonstrates that it is prepared for a prolonged war of attrition, something many Western countries may struggle to match. The earliest prediction points to May 28th of this year. Although the exact number of aircraft to be transferred remains unclear, the Swedish government's decision to order components for 14 JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets for Ukraine is a strong indicator of the scale of this assistance. But which jets is Sweden actually sending? The transfer is expected to involve used Gripen C or D aircraft, the single-seat Gripen C and the two-seat Gripen D. Based on common military force configurations, this group of 14
aircraft will most likely include two-seat jets dedicated to training as well as command and control roles, while the rest will be single-seat combat-ready fighters. If Sweden ends up providing only the two-seat versions in the initial phase, it would most likely indicate that the aircraft are primarily intended for pilot training in Sweden. This would mean that the integration of the Gripen into Ukraine's Air Force is still in its early stages. There are also reports that in the long term, Ukraine plans to purchase between 100 and 150 of the latest Gripen EF fighter jets. What do you think about Kyiv's intention? Will it become a reality? Or will Russia's SU-35s continue to dominate the battlefield skies? That's
all for today's episode, and thanks for watching.
