How many russian jet fighters are used in Ukraine

 Deployment and Usage of Advanced Russian Jet Fighters in the Ukraine War: A Detailed Report with NATO and Ukrainian Comparisons.

1. Introduction

The Russia–Ukraine war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, has been a turning point in the military landscape of modern Europe. Among the many facets of this war, the role of air power — particularly advanced Russian jet fighters — stands out. While artillery, drones, and missile strikes dominated many headlines, Russia’s use of fixed-wing combat aircraft, especially advanced fighters, has had a significant impact on the conflict’s progression.

This report analyzes the quantity, deployment, and role of Russian advanced jet fighters in the Ukraine war. It also compares these aircraft with Ukraine’s defensive air capabilities and incorporates assessments from NATO and Western intelligence.

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2. Overview of Russian Air Power and Strategy

2.1 Doctrine and Objectives

Russia's initial military doctrine was built on the concept of Blitzkrieg-style combined arms operations — overwhelming air and ground forces working in coordination. In theory, advanced fighter jets were to suppress Ukrainian air defenses, establish air superiority, and provide close air support for rapid ground advances.

2.2 Strategic Goals

The goals of Russia's air power deployment included:

Achieving air superiority in Ukrainian airspace.

Destroying key infrastructure and military depots.

Supporting ground operations in Donbas, Kharkiv, Kherson, and other regions.

Countering Ukrainian aircraft and aerial drone assaults.

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3. List and Description of Advanced Jet Fighters Used by Russia

Russia possesses several advanced jet fighters, developed mostly under the Sukhoi and Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureaus. Below is an overview of the key aircraft deployed in the war.

3.1 Sukhoi Su-35S “Flanker-E”

Role: Multirole air superiority fighter

Engaged Missions: Combat air patrols, air-to-air engagements, escort missions

Features: Advanced radar (Irbis-E), thrust-vectoring engines, superior agility

Estimated Deployed: ~70–100 units

3.2 Sukhoi Su-30SM / Su-30SM2

Role: Multirole combat aircraft

Engaged Missions: Ground attack, electronic warfare support

Features: Capable of carrying a wide range of guided and unguided munitions

Estimated Deployed: ~60–80 units

3.3 Sukhoi Su-34 “Fullback”

Role: Strike fighter

Engaged Missions: Precision bombing, battlefield interdiction

Features: Heavily armored cockpit, advanced avionics for long-range strikes

Estimated Deployed: ~90–120 units

3.4 Mikoyan MiG-31BM “Foxhound”

Role: Long-range interceptor

Engaged Missions: High-altitude defense, Kinzhal hypersonic missile delivery

Features: Extremely fast (Mach 2.8+), long radar range

Estimated Deployed: ~30–40 units

3.5 Sukhoi Su-25SM (Upgraded Frogfoot)

Role: Close air support (CAS)

Engaged Missions: Tank and artillery support, anti-personnel strikes

Estimated Deployed: ~100–120 units (technically not an advanced fighter but relevant)

3.6 Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon”

Role: Fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter

Engaged Missions: Limited use – combat tests, standoff attacks

Features: Stealth, supercruise, internal weapon bays

Estimated Deployed: 4–8 units (experimental deployment)

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4. Deployment Data and Estimates (2022–2025)

Based on open-source intelligence (OSINT), satellite imagery, and Western defense reports, the total number of advanced Russian jet fighters used or rotated into combat roles over three years can be estimated as follows:

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5. Combat Missions and Operational Roles

5.1 Su-35S Operations

Frequently patrolled contested airspace.

Engaged Ukrainian MiG-29s and Su-27s.

Provided air cover for bombers and surveillance aircraft.

5.2 Su-30SM Missions

Versatile role in bombing, reconnaissance, and escort.

Used KAB-500 guided bombs in precision strikes.

5.3 Su-34 Bombing Campaign

Conducted numerous long-range bombing raids on Ukrainian infrastructure.

Responsible for several controversial attacks near urban zones.

5.4 MiG-31BM’s Hypersonic Role

Carried Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

Used mainly for high-profile strategic strikes on weapons depots.

5.5 Su-57 Deployment

Rarely seen in open battle.

Believed to have launched standoff weapons (missiles from afar) in limited operations.

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6. Losses and Damage Assessments

6.1 Confirmed Losses

Open-source intelligence and Ukrainian Ministry of Defense estimates (as of May 2025):

6.2 Factors Leading to Losses

Ukrainian MANPADS (Stinger, Starstreak)

NATO-supplied radar-guided SAMs (e.g., NASAMS, IRIS-T)

Poor coordination in contested zones

Operating in environments saturated with air defense systems

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7. Comparison with Ukrainian Jet Fighters

7.1 Ukrainian Air Assets

Ukraine entered the war with a small fleet:

MiG-29 Fulcrum: ~40 operational at start

Su-27 Flanker: ~30–35 units

Su-25 Frogfoot: ~20–30 units

L-39 Albatros trainers pressed into combat

Western additions (2023–2025): MiG-29 (Slovakia, Poland), F-16s (limited delivery in 2024)

7.2 Combat Asymmetry

Ukraine’s fighters were largely outclassed in range and sensors.

However, Ukrainian pilots demonstrated agility, innovation, and tactics that often neutralized Russian superiority.

Western assistance in avionics, radar, and early warning systems helped Ukraine survive against larger Russian squadrons.

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8. NATO Intelligence and Western Military Assessments

8.1 NATO Findings (2022–2024)

Russia failed to establish total air dominance due to poor coordination and Ukrainian resistance.

Russian Air Force was reluctant to operate deep into Ukrainian airspace.

Aircraft frequently launched weapons from standoff distances to avoid SAM traps.

8.2 Western Intelligence Estimates

RAND Corporation (2023): Russia deployed ~300 aircraft within range of Ukraine.

UK Ministry of Defence (2024): Su-34 had highest usage rates among all Russian aircraft.

U.S. DoD (2024): Estimated that only 30% of deployed Russian jets could operate daily due to maintenance/logistics issues.

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9. Impact of Russian Air Superiority on the War

9.1 Tactical Effects

Russian aircraft contributed significantly to early battlefield wins in Luhansk and Kherson.

Close air support disrupted Ukrainian armor movements.

Long-range bombings damaged critical infrastructure, such as power grids and bridges.

9.2 Strategic Limitations

Russia never gained full control over airspace.

Precision was lacking in many bombing runs.

Civilian infrastructure and casualties from airstrikes created international backlash.

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10. Challenges Faced by Russian Air Operations

10.1 Ground-Based Air Defense

Ukraine’s Soviet-era S-300 systems and NATO-supplied defenses posed constant threats.

Air denial zones created “dead zones” for low-flying jets.

10.2 Logistics and Maintenance

Sanctions affected spare parts supply.

Harsh wartime conditions reduced operational readiness.

10.3 Pilot Fatigue and Attrition

High sortie rates led to pilot exhaustion.

Loss of skilled pilots reduced the effectiveness of squadrons over time.

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11. Conclusion

Russia has deployed an estimated 468 advanced jet fighters over the course of the Ukraine war from 2022 to 2025. While these aircraft brought significant firepower, they failed to achieve complete air superiority. Their impact has been constrained by effective Ukrainian air defenses, intelligence sharing with NATO, and logistical challenges within the Russian military structure.

Russian aircraft like the Su-35S and Su-34 proved valuable but vulnerable. Despite technological advantages, the Kremlin’s inability to dominate the skies reveals that superior technology cannot guarantee success without coordination, training, and strategy.

With further escalation unlikely, the war has shown that the age of air power dominance is entering a new phase — one where advanced jets must contend with evolving threats from drones, electronic warfare, and asymmetric tactics.