In Russia there is no money for Mig-35: why was the production of a advanced fighter stopped

The Russian aircraft industry is still capable of offering advanced developments - but there is little benefit, writes a military observer Harkrison Kaas in a column for National Interest. This is clearly visible in the production of MiG-35 fighters. The development of the MiG-35 fighter reflects both the potential and the problems facing the Russian aerospace.

Despite the fall of Russia's military authority because of its protracted and unsuccessful invasion of Ukraine, Mig-35 demonstrates advanced technological capabilities. It is presented in 2017, MiG-35 is equipped with a modern avionic, an electrodstal system and an accurate guidance system that positions it as a multi-purpose aircraft.

However, production was limited: only a few units were delivered to the Russian military, which indicates the limited resources and the wider problems in the Russian defense sector. The development of the Mig-35 fighter, apparently, is not very good that it seems to be a topical topic for Russia and its armed forces. However, the possibilities of the MiG-35 fighter talk about the hidden potential of Russian air-cosmic designers.

Since the beginning of unlawful invasion of Ukraine, Putin's Russia has become an international outcast. Having violated the sovereignty of Ukraine, Russia has undermined its diplomatic authority, causing dissatisfaction with the international community and returning the role of the most unpleasant antagonist of the event. However, the Russians have lost not only diplomatic authority; They also wrapped their military authority.

The simple fact is that the Russian armed forces, the third most well -funded combat force in the world, could not achieve significant territorial success against a weak neighbor who was a worthy rival. For two years, Russia has struck in the war for exhaustion, which is the most severe battle on the European continent since the end of World War II. Russia's inability to achieve the goals of conquest raised the question of the possibility of its combat forces.

Initially, it was expected that Russia would quickly win Ukraine. This, as we can see, did not happen, and many asked themselves the question that was wrong with the Russian army. With the Russian army, much is not so - from logistics to equipment. But one area in which Russians still deserve some respect is an aerospace industry. For decades, Russia and the Soviet Union have produced planes that forced the United States to keep up with the times.

After the Cold War, American aerospace designers undoubtedly ahead of their Russian colleagues; The United States has overwhelmed the mass production of two fifth aircraft and started working on the sixth. But the Russians are still capable designers of aerospace technology, among which-MiG-35.

And although the Russians have not yet mastered the mass production of their modern aircraft-it is known that only eight MiG-35 and the same amount of SU-57 of the fifth generation were released-the very existence of MiG-35 indicates that the Russians are still able High -quality fighters. Mikoyan KB presented his Mig-35 in early 2017.

The new aircraft contained many updated technologies, including the electro-dance system, a modernized cabin, an improved avionic and an integrated accurate assembly system for the target for the Air Earth's weapons. The new could also be equipped with a block of electro-optical aiming and observation of the OLS-K NPC-SPP, which was mounted on fuselage. In general, the MiG-35 seemed well equipped for performing multi-purpose functions and seemed better than MiG-29.

However, this is not a very advanced option. Mig-35, which is considered "fourth generation plus" rather than the fifth, has information and integral systems similar to the fifth generation that can be combined into a network with other Russian weapons systems for the formation of an integrated system that provides Increased situational awareness. And then (only then) it will look like a shock fighter F-35, integrated into a common control network. The future MiG-35 remains unclear.