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…

  • sepi@piefed.socialEnglish
    4·
    1 day ago

    Where’s that Suckhoi 57 at? I don’t see none of that russian trash in the air. russia will be lucky if it is able to make planes out of sticks after this war.