Russia’s MiG-35 will not likely impact the Russo-Ukraine War much, given that only eight of the new jets are known to have been delivered. The MiG-35 thus marks another small entry in a long list of military, industrial, and diplomatic failures that have plagued the Russian war effort.
Russia is the world’s leading pariah after invading Ukraine in early 2022. It has lost all sorts of credibility along the way. Most acutely, the Russians have bled diplomatic credibility, but they have lost military credibility, too.
Russia has the world’s third-largest military budget, but it has failed to make significant territorial gains against its weaker neighbor, Ukraine. On paper, the Russians were supposed to steamroll the Ukrainian resistance. Instead, Russia has spent more than two years bogged down in a war of attrition featuring the most vicious fighting on the European continent since World War II ended in 1945.
This all suggests that the Russians would struggle in a conventional military conflict against just about anyone.
As the conflict drags into its third year, questions are being asked about the quality of Russia’s military equipment. And while Russia may viably argue that Ukraine’s resistance was in large part a Western effort, the undeniable truth is that Russia’s equipment has failed to get the job done.
Despite the questions and the loss of credibility, aerospace design is one arena where the Russians still earn respect. For decades, the Russians have pushed their rivals to keep pace with a steady stream of reliable aircraft. The West, especially America, surpassed the Russians with the design and production of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. However, Russia is still credited with designing high-quality airframes like the MiG-35, which first flew in 2016.
Unfortunately for the Russians, however, producing the aircraft that they design is often a problem. To date, there are only eight known MiG-35s. And while the jet’s existence speaks to the capabilities of Russian aerospace designers, the failure to produce and supply Russian forces with the jet showcases the shortcomings of Russia’s military effort.
The MiG-35 was introduced to the Russian government and potential export customers in January 2017. The new jet incorporated a variety of updated technologies, including a new fly-by-wire system, an upgraded cockpit, advanced avionics, and an integrated precision-guided targeting capability for air-to-ground weapons. It was also outfitted with the NPK-SPP OLS-K electro-optical targeting and surveillance system pod.
The MiG-35 showed marked improvements over the preceding MiG-29 and MiG-29M, especially with respect to combat efficiency, universality, and operational characteristics – all factors key to a war effort.
While the MiG-35 is technically a fourth-generation-plus aircraft (rather than a fifth-generation fighter like the Americans are currently producing in volume), it does have a fifth-generation information-sighting system for enhanced situational awareness.
The MiG-35 is well equipped to serve a multirole function, but it seems unlikely the airframe will get the chance to make a meaningful contribution to the skies above Ukraine.
Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
Image: Shutterstock.
Russia's MiG-35 Nightmare Just Won't Seem to End
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20.04.2024
Russia’s MiG-35 will not likely impact the Russo-Ukraine War much, given that only eight of the new jets are known to have been delivered. The MiG-35 thus marks another small entry in a long list of military, industrial, and diplomatic failures that have plagued the Russian war effort.
Russia is the world’s leading pariah after invading Ukraine in early 2022. It has lost all sorts of credibility along the way. Most acutely, the Russians have bled diplomatic credibility, but they have lost military credibility, too.
Russia has the world’s third-largest military budget, but it has failed to make significant territorial gains against its weaker neighbor, Ukraine. On paper, the Russians were supposed to steamroll the Ukrainian resistance. Instead, Russia has spent more than two years bogged down in a war of attrition featuring the most vicious fighting on the European continent since World War II ended in 1945.
This all suggests........
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