There is currently much discussion about a possible direct confrontation between Russia and NATO forces. Some believe that Russia has surged ahead thanks to its combat experience and the development of unmanned systems in the war against Ukraine.

A crutch is a crutch is a crutch even if a jet engine is affixed to it.

The Soviet – and now Russian – aviation schools were psychologically unable to abandon super-manoeuvrability. Thrust vectoring, the ability to perform widely publicised advanced aerobatic manoeuvres, and extreme agility at low speeds were, in a sense, a cult – almost part of the Sukhoi’s DNA.

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A key issue nevertheless remains the electronic domain, which is directly dependent on the level of development of the semiconductor industry. Since the Su-35 features a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mode whose resolution roughly corresponds to that of the mechanically scanned radar of an F-15E from 20 years ago, this clearly illustrates the central limitation of Russian radar systems – namely their restricted operating frequency bands.

Also not a very practical crutch either…

  • MrMakabar@slrpnk.netEnglish
    10·
    13 days ago

    The design priority was almost certainly to build a “stealth” plane cheaply and quickly. So the Russians took the Su-27 and put a new body around it. Hence the very similar dimensions, wide spread out engines and so forth. Without modern jets Russia just can not claim to be a superpower and Russia really wants to be seen as one.

    EDIT: Also to scam the Indians out of money. That was a key part as well.

    • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyzOP
      8·
      13 days ago

      The fact that India is still looking at russian air defense systems like the S-300, S-400 etc… and most of all Pantsir after their performance in Ukraine and still thinking “yeah, let me buy some of THOSE!” is hilarious.