Air forces in comparison: Ukraine fights with old jets against better-equipped Russia

Created: 04/13/2022, 16:37

By: Andreas Schmid

Russian Air Force SU-30SM fighter jets.

(Iconic photo) © Evgeny Biyatov/Imago Images

The Russian air force is clearly superior to the Ukrainian one.

In the Ukraine war, some old Soviet jets are still used.

Kyiv – The Ukraine war* takes place in different areas.

At the military level, there are attacks from the ground, threatening battles in tunnels - and attacks from the air.

In this area, Russian troops seem superior.

Alone as far as the equipment of the Luftwaffe is concerned.

Because: Russia not only has the more modern, but also significantly larger air force.

Only the US has more operational helicopters than Russia.

While the Ukrainian troops can always push Russia back on land, they have far fewer chances in the air.

Ukraine war: "We have no real air superiority"

Ukraine still works partly with planes from the Soviet era, i.e. before 1991. A disadvantage in the air.

"We have casualties in our air force almost every day," a Ukrainian fighter jet pilot tells the Washington Post.

"You won't see it on TV because everything is secret at the moment, but we actually have a lot of losses." That's why Ukraine* has to be "technically on par" with Russia*.

“Our mental advantage alone is not enough to fight with these technologies.

Unfortunately, we cannot achieve real air superiority.”

Ukraine was able to keep the airspace relatively competitive.

Nevertheless, the Russian military carries out airstrikes over the country almost every night.

According to the Kremlin, this is primarily about the destruction of military objects.

On Tuesday (April 12, 2022), Russia fired at an anti-aircraft missile system, an ammunition depot and an aircraft hangar with Ukrainian air force technology, among other things.

But there are also allegations of attacking civilians.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj* has long called for a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

NATO rejects this because it fears it will lead to a direct conflict with Russia.

The background is the question of what will happen if Russia invades Ukrainian airspace despite the ban.

The position to impose such a no-fly zone would actually only have NATO* - which would then also be responsible for controlling and sanctioning violations.

The result: a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia – and possibly a further escalation in the Ukraine conflict*.

Ukraine war: Ukraine demands planes - and probably gets Soviet jets

Instead of a no-fly zone, Selenskyj is now demanding more war supplies: fighter jets and modern air defense systems.

Ukraine's demands are still being discussed in the West.

For example, the MiG-29 fighter jets that were developed in the Soviet Union are under discussion.

Slovakia but also Poland could probably provide these jets.

The advantage: Ukrainian troops are familiar with the Soviet models.

The downside: In order not to hand over the jets directly to Ukraine, the aircraft should first be handed over to the US armed forces.

This move was rejected by the United States.

Such a measure could lead to a direct confrontation between NATO forces and the Russian military, which could lead to an escalation of the war, the reasoning said.

It also seems questionable to what extent the provision of old Soviet jets will help Ukraine.

They already own planes like this.

There are also reports that the Polish deliveries are supposed to be even older than the Ukrainian stocks.

They would date from the 1980s, the British Independent reported.

Ukraine War: Air Force Comparison (Source: World Air Forces)

Ukraine war: "The enemy does not control the sky"

There are also discussions about the provision of Stinger and Strela missiles.

They can be fired from the ground.

With such defense systems, the Ukrainian armed forces were able to shoot down some helicopters and a few combat aircraft.

However, they are inaccurate and difficult to use.

Ukraine wants more modern anti-aircraft missile systems.

Overall, Ukrainian demands for arms and Western offers are far apart.

Ukraine is still confident of victory.

Air Force Chief Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk said in early April: "The enemy has not and does not control the Ukrainian skies." The war in the air also continues.

(as) *