In the extremely unstable geopolitical and economic environment of the second decade of the 21st century, any detailed forecasting analysis is a very difficult and thankless task, especially when it comes to assessing the future technological potential and the numerical strength of the armed forces of the state in question. Meanwhile, from individual "sketches" presented by the trends observed today in the development of elements of on-board electronic equipment for the fleet, ground forces and aerospace forces, as well as the progress in the development of missile and bomb weapons, it is often possible to draw up a very clear overall picture for at least 3-5 years ahead. Today we will try to most accurately predict the appearance of our aerospace forces by the middle of the third decade of the 21st century, as well as “probe” all its positive and negative aspects that have a direct impact on the defense capability of the Russian Federation.
The reason for the forecast analysis was the very optimistic statements of two Russian experts in the field of military technology, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev. On June 20, just a week before the information appeared in the media regarding the probable resignation from the post of commander-in-chief of the Aerospace Forces and further transfer to the Federation Council for the Kirov region, V. Bondarev made a very loud statement about the future formation of the modern appearance of the ground and air components of the Russian Aerospace Forces up to 2025. According to him, until the mid-20s, the share of new technology in the fleet of tactical, strategic, reconnaissance, military transport and army aviation in Russia will be from 80 to 90%, while today this figure ranges from 52 to 55 %, which is noticeably lower than in the US Air Force and NATO Air Force.
THE DYNAMICS OF A WIDE-SCALE UPDATE OF THE AIR-DEFENSE OF THE VKS RUSSIA KEEP POSITIVE
In the ground component of the aerospace forces, represented by the air defense troops, electronic warfare and radio engineering troops, a diametrically opposite situation is observed: the share of advanced anti-aircraft missile systems. radar complexes of electronic intelligence (RTR), AWACS and air traffic control radars, as well as high-potential multipurpose interspecific radars is more than 70-75%, which not only does not differ from Western indicators, but in some aspects is significantly ahead of them. In particular, unlike the US Army, the Russian Aerospace Forces have at their disposal a much larger number of types of modern anti-aircraft missile systems of various classes, both in range and in purpose. This can be seen especially clearly if we take into account the military air defense of the Russian Ground Forces. For example, in the American army and the armed forces of Western European states, the ground component of the air defense is built on the basis of the Patriot PAC-2 and SAMP-T long-range anti-aircraft missile systems, the Patriot PAC-3 and SLAMRAAM medium-range launch of guided missiles such as AIM-120C-5/7 / D).
The near line is covered by various self-propelled short-range anti-aircraft missile systems, including MANPADS, the most famous and effective of which are: the American self-propelled air defense system "Avenger" (based on the FIM-92E Block I SAM-MANPADS with a dual-band infrared-ultraviolet seeker), and also the British short-range air defense system "Starstreak", using a high-speed small interceptor missile "Starstreak HVM" with a multiple 3-element warhead, represented by three guided tungsten "spears". Each "spear-interceptor" (also called a "dart") is equipped with laser beam sensors for semi-automatic laser guidance of the "saddled beam" type ("SACLOS beam-riding"), a two-way section of nose aerodynamic rudders, as well as a light fragmentation warhead weighing about 500 gram; 900-gram "darts", due to their small 20-mm caliber, have a low speed of ballistic braking, which allows hitting targets at a distance of more than 7 km and an altitude of 5000 m.
The disadvantage of the "Starstrek" complex is the impossibility of working in difficult meteorological conditions and a smoky atmosphere. Meanwhile, the semi-automatic laser guidance system has high noise immunity against defensive means such as infrared traps and dipole reflectors; to suppress it, it is necessary to use promising countermeasures based on laser emitters, which are capable of "dazzling" the "Starstreak" optical-electronic complex located on the LML multi-charge launcher. The above list contains the most advanced air defense systems in service with the United States and the states of Western Europe.
In our Armed Forces, only one "Three hundred" is represented by 4 main modifications: S-300PS, S-300PM1 (in the Aerospace Forces), as well as S-300V and S-300V4 (in the military air defense), not counting the intermediate modifications of the S-300V1 / 2 / 3 / VM1 / 2. The former still continue to meet the conditions of modern network-centric warfare and are capable of intercepting operational-tactical ballistic missiles at ranges from 5 to 35 km; the latter can be classified as specialized anti-missile systems capable of striking both ballistic targets and hypersonic aerodynamic targets at speeds up to 4500 m / s. It is worth noting that if the American ERINT anti-missile missile (Patriot PAC-3 complex) is capable of destroying a ballistic missile at an altitude of 22 km, then the 9M82M air defense missile (S-300VM / V4 complex) performs a similar procedure 30 - 35 km above the surface … As for the S-300PM1 complexes, they are ahead of the Patriot PAC-2/3 in terms of the missile component: 48N6E anti-aircraft missiles have a maximum flight speed of about 7300 km / h, while the MIM-104C accelerates to about 5500 km / h.
Special attention should be paid to the advanced 9M82MV anti-missile missile, which is designed to radically expand the combat potential of the S-300V4 complex. This product brings the range of the improved Antey complex to 350 km and the interception height to more than 45 km. This is possible due to the high flight speed of the 9M82MV of 2700 m / s (9720 km / h): at this speed, the aerodynamic rudders partially retain their effectiveness in the upper layers of the stratosphere. The combat (second) stage of the anti-missile is quite compact and has an aerodynamic "bearing cone" design, due to which a low coefficient of ballistic braking is observed: a high supersonic flight speed remains at a distance of more than 300 km. A similar anti-aircraft guided missile with anti-missile capabilities, a range of 350 km, and even on a mobile launcher, is not part of the US missile defense ground component, nor is it in service with the air forces of Western European countries. Complexes GBMD and "Aegis Ashore" with exoatmospheric interceptors GBI and RIM-161C (SM-3 Block IB) cannot be considered as rivals of the C-300B4, since they are stationary based.
There is also a good rate of entry into service of the Aerospace Forces and the military air defense of the S-400 Triumph long-range anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as the Tor-M2 and Tor-M3 medium-range complexes. The latter are gradually replacing the outdated Buk-M1 air defense systems. In particular, the Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system is already ahead of the S-300PS in terms of combat qualities. The speed of the targeted target for the battery of the promising Buk is 11,000 km / h, the altitude is 35,000 m, and the range is about 75 km. As you remember, the S-300PS is capable of destroying targets at speeds up to 4600 km / h: the PS is ineffective against high-speed hypersonic targets. The speed of the 9M317M anti-aircraft missile reaches 5600 km / h, which corresponds to that of the ERINT interceptor. Maneuvering with overloads of more than 45 units. is carried out thanks to the gas-jet system of deflection of the solid propellant rocket thrust vector. "Buk-M3", like its early modifications "M1 / 2", is designed to work on ballistic targets, and copes with this task no worse than the Patriot PAC-2 anti-aircraft missile system.
To several dozen long-range S-400 "Triumph" air defense systems that have entered combat duty, the divisions of the advanced S-350 "Vityaz" air defense system will soon begin to be added. By the presence of an active radar guidance system, the S-350 and S-400 can be viewed in one team. "Triumph" can be used for long-range interception of aerospace attack weapons at a distance of 250 km (using the 48N6DM missile defense system, the target speed for which was increased to 4800 m / s), while at a distance of 130 - 150 km it can be easily supported by C -350 "Vityaz" (50R6A). The advantage of "Vityaz" is the fact that the ammunition load of the 9M96DM anti-aircraft guided missiles is approximately 2, 7 times greater than in one anti-aircraft missile division of the S-400 complex. For example, on each launcher "Chetyrehsotki" 5P85TE2, instead of one transport and launch container for 48N6DM missiles, a triple module for 9M96DM missiles can be placed. With regard to 12 launchers, only 36 9M96DM interceptors are obtained. The standard battalion "Vityaz" includes 8 self-propelled firing installations 50P6A, each of which is equipped with a box "farm" for 12 transport and launch glasses 9M96DM SAM, which determines the presence of ammunition from 96 anti-aircraft missiles. The Vityaz's capabilities in repelling a massive strike with the enemy's operational-tactical ballistic missiles should be much higher than that of the S-400 Triumph in the configuration observed today.
Today, the 48N6DM interceptor missiles continue to be used as part of the Chetyrehsotok. Despite their large flight range and speed of 8, 47M (9000 km / h), the maximum overload during interception can reach 30-40 units, which is not enough to destroy modern small-sized and intensively maneuvering combat "equipment" of ballistic missiles. The 9M96DM antimissile, thanks to the presence of transverse gas dynamic engines (DPU), can maneuver with overloads of up to 65 units. at low altitudes and up to 20 units. - in the stratosphere. Due to the creation of a thrust moment at the center of mass of the rocket (where the DPUs are located), the 9M96DM momentarily moves in space towards the target, while the 48N6DM maneuvering by means of standard tail aerodynamic rudders is quite viscous. There is practically no information about the presence of 9M96DM in the S-400 divisions adopted for service, and therefore all hope remains on their successful promotion due to the ambitious program of the S-350 Vityaz air defense system. The S-350 "Vityaz" is able to work in a systemic linkage with the S-300P series, the S-300V family, and the S-400 "Triumph" due to integration into a single air defense-missile defense system through automated control systems for anti-aircraft missile subunits " Polyana-D4M1 ". At the same time, in each of the cases "Vityaz" will increase the survivability of the mixed anti-aircraft missile brigade by about 30-40%.
The most noticeable effect from the integration of Vityaz into mixed air defense missile and air defense missile systems will be observed in the case of joint work with the S-300PS / PM1. These complexes, due to the use of a semi-active radar guidance system, do not have the ability to perform an all-aspect anti-missile defense. The 50R6A complex solves this problem without delay. As the long-term practice of updating the Russian Air Force and Aerospace Forces with modern anti-aircraft missile systems shows, it is we who continue to hold a strong leadership in this area of the defense industry, designed to preserve the sovereignty of the state and the safety of its economic infrastructure in times of major military-political crises of regional and / and global significance. And this we have not yet taken into account the huge number of short-range anti-aircraft missile and anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems (Tor-M1 / 2, Tungusska-M1, Pantsir-S1, Gyurza, Verba and etc.), on which the unprecedented protection of long-range air defense missile systems from strikes of such air attack weapons as cruise missiles of the Tomahawk families, KEPD-350 Taurus, AGM-158 JASSM-ER, NSM and AGM- 154 JSOW / -ER.
The indisputable advantages of the Russian Aerospace Forces are also observed in terms of the equipment of the Radio Engineering Troops and the Electronic Warfare Troops. For the highest situational awareness of the command posts of anti-aircraft missile divisions, brigades and regiments about the surrounding air situation, radio engineering units armed with advanced radar systems of the meter, decimeter and centimeter ranges are being used today. A real masterpiece in the field of radar of a new generation can be considered a promising interspecific multi-band radar 55Zh6M "Sky-M". It can participate in air traffic control, long-range detection of ballistic and aerodynamic targets (instrumental target detection range with an RCS of 0.3 m2 is 350 - 380 km at a flight altitude of 15 - 20 km, "linking tracks" of 20 complex maneuvering ballistic targets simultaneously, tracking 200 aerodynamic targets, including hypersonic objects during the passage. The Sky-M radar complex is represented by 3 antenna modules based on solid-state AFAR operating in the meter (RLM-M), decimeter (RLM-DM) and centimeter (RLM-CE) ranges The energy potential and wavelength of the first 2 modules makes it possible to detect large aerospace objects at a distance of 1800 and an altitude of 1200 km.
The RLM-SE centimeter module is of particular interest. With the installation of the appropriate software and hardware base, this antenna post can quickly turn into a multifunctional combat mode radar that allows target designation, or to illuminate targets for a wide range of anti-aircraft guided missiles (from 9M96DM to 48N6DM and 9M82MV). With regard to functionality, here "Sky-M" is head and shoulders above not only the Israeli radar "Grine Pine", but also the American AN / TPY-2, used as the radar of the THAAD anti-missile complex. Today "Nebo-M" actively enters the Russian RTV divisions responsible for the most missile-hazardous air routes, including the Kola, Baltic and Balkans. Adopted and such advanced highly specialized radars as: 48Ya6-K1 "Podlet-K1" (decimeter low-altitude detector with a phased array, capable of easily detecting radar at speeds of 1200 m / s in the range of heights from 5 m to 10 km), an all-altitude detector (VVO) 96L6E, the protivnik-G long-range radar detection radar (“sees” low-orbit space objects 200 km from the ground), the 64L6 Gamma-C1 multifunctional centimeter C-band radar complex.
The Gamma-S1 complex was designed to replace the outdated P-37 two-coordinate radar detector with attached PRV-13/16 altimeters. The product was created by the "Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Radio Engineering" back in the late 90s, and, despite this, remains one of the best radar equipment in the XXI century. The uniqueness of its element base lies in the fact that a large number of hardware modules and software filters are used to neutralize the effects of various types of radio-electronic interference (noise, barrage, asynchronous, noise sliding in frequency, response, response pulse, etc.). Consequently, due to its high level of adaptability, the Gamma-C1 station is capable of performing basic tasks even in the face of opposition from such air-based systems as the F / A-18G Growler. The detection range of a typical fighter-type target for Gamma-C1 is about 300 km in the standard mode, and about 400 km in the “narrow sector” of scanning. Due to the use of the centimeter range of operation, the accuracy of target detection in range is about 50 m, which is much better than that of most well-known domestic and foreign radars. What is the situation for the Americans?
The Air Force and the United States Marine Corps cannot boast of the same range of radar capabilities that the Russian Aerospace Forces have. The main US multipurpose radar is the AN / TPS-75 "Tipsy-75" operating in the decimeter S-band. The prototype of this radar appeared in the late 60s, and was distinguished by much higher throughput, reliability and resolution in comparison with the previous generation AN / TPS-43 radar system. Even then, this radar was distinguished by the presence of a phased antenna array. Nowadays "Tipsy-75" has received a modern digital element base, represented by advanced high-performance CPUs, display equipment based on large-format liquid crystal MFIs for operator staff, etc. It is known that the AN / TPS-75's throughput has increased to 1000 simultaneously tracked air targets. However, the Tipsy radar is not as accurate in comparison with the Gamma-C1, the 96L6E all-altitude detector or the RLM-SE centimeter module of the Sky-M complex. The instrumental range of the AN / TPS-75 is completely standard and is 430 km, which is 3.5 times less than that of the 55Zh6M. The maximum detection altitude reaches about 30,000 m, which is why the Tipsy-75 cannot be used to detect operational-tactical ballistic missiles in the upper section of the trajectory, as well as on its ascending and descending branches, when the altitude reaches more than 35 - 70 km …
The second most famous radar is the more modern complex with an active phased antenna array AN / TPS-59. It features a large, vertically oriented AFAR operating in the decimeter D / L-band (1215 to 1400 MHz). The use of this frequency in the modernized version of AN / TPS-59 (V) 3 made it possible to increase the operating range to 740 km, and the detection height to 152.4 km. The carrying capacity was increased to 500 targets. Thus, in terms of tactical and technical parameters, this radar is at an intermediate stage between the "Adversary-G" and "Nebom-M". The range resolution of this radar is about 60 m. In the Marine Corps, this radar received the index "GE-592". At the same time, this radar complex also has a significant technological disadvantage, represented by a small elevation scanning area, which barely reaches 20 degrees: there is no possibility of detecting threatening targets located "over the head" of operators. Specialists from Raytheon and Northrop Grumman are now actively working to remedy the situation. The first is actively developing a promising modular "expeditionary" radar 3DELRR, operating in the centimeter C-band, and possibly in the decimeter wavelength range to increase the range in the mode of observation and target designation. The second company is designing a multifunctional radar complex AN / TPS-80, which should replace several types of radars at once,including AN / TPQ-36/37 Firefinder counter-battery radars and AN / TPS-73 air traffic control radars.
From this, we conclude that the technological level of ground mobile radar detection and target designation among the Americans is noticeably lagging behind the indicators of Russian radar equipment. Now let's return to the consideration of the most controversial moment of our today's work - the success of the Aerospace Forces fleet renewal program.
DIFFICULT TECHNOLOGICAL "GAP"
According to the commander-in-chief of the Aerospace Forces Viktor Bondarev, as well as military expert and retired colonel Viktor Murakhovsky, the trend of updating the tactical fleet has reached an excellent level. Yes, this is partly true: there are already more than 110 high-precision front-line fighter-bombers Su-34 in the bombing squadrons of the Aerospace Forces. Tactical fighters, unique of their kind, are capable not only of inflicting decapitating strikes on enemy targets with Kh-59MK2 tactical missiles, Kh-58UShKE anti-radar missiles and promising multipurpose Kh-38, but also stand up for themselves in close and long-range air combat using R- 73RMD-2, RVV-SD, R-27ER. Despite the fact that the thrust-to-weight ratio of the Su-34 with a normal take-off weight is only about 0.72 kgf / kg, the maneuverability of the machine after accelerating to speeds of 600 - 800 remains at a decent level due to the huge structural similarity with the Su-27 and Su-30 gliders. Due to the low thrust-to-weight ratio, the Su-34 cannot perform long-term energy maneuvering without losing speed, but in short periods of time, the angular turn rate may well reach 19 - 20 deg / s.
The aircraft fleet is also replenished by the Su-30SM and Su-35S multipurpose super-maneuverable fighters of the 4 ++ generation. At the moment, the combat units of the Aerospace Forces and the naval aviation of the Navy are armed with about 120 vehicles of two types, the total number of which, according to GPV-2020, should approach 300 units. It is not yet known whether the new state armament program will include an increase in the series of the above-mentioned vehicles, but it is clear that this number will not be enough to effectively counter the threat from the 184 F-22A "Raptor", more than 200 - 300 F-35A, and also several hundred Typhoons of the last tranche and Raphale F-3Rs. Moreover, further plans to restart the Raptor production line continue to be under the veil of secrecy. At the moment, a secret report passed by Lockheed and the US Air Force is under consideration by the US Congressional Arms Commission. Restarting the production branch of the F-22A will cost the American treasury about $ 2 billion, and the production of the first 75 fighters - another $ 17.5 billion, because the cost of the upgraded machines will be more than $ 220 million per unit.
Here you can have no illusions: Washington will always have enough money to restart the Raptors, and for us it can become a very unpleasant moment. If Congress deems it necessary and gives the green light for the continuation of the updated ATF program, then by 2025 the number of F-22A in combat units may increase to about 230-250 vehicles. These will be completely different from the F-22A that rolled off the assembly line in the early 2000s: the future belongs to the advanced modifications of the F-22A Block 35 Increments 3.3 and F-22C Block 35 Increments 4/5 (the latter is also classified as Block 40) … It is most likely that fighters of these modifications will receive new network-centric interfaces for exchanging tactical information with an integrated radio channel MADL (for exchanging data with the F-35A / B / C), TTNT (with the F / A-18E / F / G "Super Hornet / Growler") etc. Moreover, according to sources from Lockheed Martin, the avionics of the new F-22A are planned to be equipped with an optical-electronic surveillance and target designation system with a distributed aperture AAQ-37 DAS, after which the Raptors will not be inferior to the F-35 family in any parameter …As a result, by 2025, the US Air Force will have at least 400-500 5th generation F-22A and F-35A / B / C fighters equipped with modern AN / APG-77 and AN / APG-81 AFAR radars. … In addition to everything, the "Raptors" of the last "blocks" are endowed with full-fledged striking qualities: in the AN / APG-77 airborne radar, the GMTI mode has been worked out, which allows you to accompany moving enemy ground targets.
Now we look at our situation. The Russian Su-30SM and Su-35S are equipped with airborne radars with passive phased antenna arrays Н011М "Bars" and Н035 "Irbis-E", respectively. The Su-34 heavy strike fighter received the Sh-141-E airborne radar system, developed by SKB Zemlya, TsNPO Leninets, which is also represented by a passive phased array. These radars have high energy capabilities and an impressive list of operating modes, including: air-to-ship, air-to-surface, air-to-air, synthetic aperture modes (SAR, including terrain mapping with classification of ground objects), moving targets (GMTI), following the terrain, scanning the meteorological situation, etc. The N011M Bars radar, with a pulse power of 4.5 kW, is capable of detecting an F-35A-type target (RCS is about 0.2 m2) at a distance of 80 - 90 km, Irbis-E detects a similar object at a distance of 200 km. This is enough for our transitional fighters to be able to conduct an equal long-range air battle with the Lightnings. Possible long-range aerial combat with Raptors for the Su-30SM will be very difficult to "take out", since the estimated RCS of the American vehicle reaches only 0.07 m2 (such a target is only detected by the Bars from 55-60 km), while The F-22A detects the Su-30SM at ranges up to 300 - 320 km.
For the Su-35S, at first glance, everything turns out to be many times "rosy": "Irbis-E" is able to track the F-22A at a distance of 120 - 140 km, but not everything is so simple. The passive phased antenna array of the Irbis, just like the Bars, has much worse noise immunity than the AN / APG-77. PFARs are technically incapable of creating "zero sectors" of the radiation pattern in the direction of the source of electronic interference, and therefore any air-based electronic countermeasures system following the Raptor will inexorably reduce the chances of interception by our fighters in long-range air combat. The Khibiny container electronic warfare system is capable of providing the Sushki with a high degree of protection against modern American AIM-120D long-range missile missile systems, but this will not change the essence of the problem - the Irbis's passive phased array is unlikely to be able to "capture" the stealthy F-22A, especially if its on-board APG-77 radar itself also emits complex types of radio-electronic interference (Reyteon's and Lockheed's AFAR-radars are adapted to operate in the directional radiation mode of REB).
And that's only half of the problem. It is well known that almost all modern long-range air combat missiles are equipped with multi-mode active radar homing heads capable of passively targeting the radiation of an enemy airborne radar or an electronic jamming emitter. One of these missiles is the RVV-SD ("Product 170-1"). This product has already been adopted by the Aerospace Forces of Russia, and can be equipped with an active-passive radar homing head 9B-1103M-200PS, which is capable of aiming at a radio-emitting object at a distance of about 200 km, which for a modern aerial game in "cat and mouse " enough. But the point here is not the GOS. The solid-propellant solid propellant rocket has only one mode of operation, providing a maximum range of 110 - 120 km, which is definitely not enough to intercept the maneuvering F-22A, or to destroy the "penguin" F-35A.
The only way out of this situation could be the earliest launch of serial production of a promising long-range air combat missile RVV-AE-PD with an integral ramjet rocket engine,having the ability to control the thrust, and, accordingly, the consumption of the charge of the gas generator. The radius of action of the RVV-AE-PD ("Product 180-PD") should be about 160 - 180 km, which makes it possible to launch a rocket at the F-22A, relying solely on the radiation of its radar. At the same time, the pilots of "Sushki" will not fall into the effective area of the AIM-120D, which is limited to about 140 km. As we have already considered in previous works, the main advantage of the URVV with an integral rocket-ramjet engine (IRPD) is the maintenance of high speed indicators throughout the entire flight trajectory. If, for example, R-33 or AIM-120D at a distance of 140 - 160 km (as a result of ballistic braking) lose speed from 4500 to 1500 km / h, and there is no longer a fuel charge to increase it, then RVV-AE-PD, on the contrary, is able to increase the speed at the final stage of the flight due to the opening of a special valve located in the nozzle of the gas generator (on the front wall of the combustion chamber).
The RVV-AE-PD long-range guided missile is quite capable of changing the alignment of forces in the air theater of military operations of the XXI century, but its project, for unknown reasons, stalled around 2013, and over the past 4 years not a single message has been received regarding the state of a program capable of at least slightly equalizing the ratio of technological potentials between the Russian Aerospace Forces and the US Air Force fleets. Both representatives of the Ministry of Defense and representatives of the company-developer of the State Design Bureau "Vympel" are silent. While the program for the development of our "direct-flow" missile "slips", and the "close" RVV-SD (barely corresponding to the American AIM-120C-7) enter the Aerospace Forces, the defense structures of Western European states very quickly picked up the "chip" while maintaining " energy "and the speed of the rocket at the time of approach to the target. This is embodied in a unique "ramjet" long-range air combat missile from MBDA - "Meteor".
Having entered service with the Swedish Gripen multipurpose fighters in July 2016, the Meteora first received initial operational combat readiness, after which it is expected to actively enter service with the air forces of other European states. The main operators are considered to be the Air Forces of France, Great Britain and Germany, which possess Rafale and Typhoon fighters. In particular, the EF-2000 "Typhoon", upgraded with new onboard AFAR-E radars with a range of 250 km and equipped with "Meteors", will noticeably outstrip our Su-30SM in long-range combat capabilities and practically reach the Su-35S. Equally alarming is the integration and constructive adaptation of the MBDA "Meteor" missiles to the weapons control complex and internal compartments of the British F-35B.
If the project of the RVV-AE-PD "direct-flow" missile continues to be postponed "on the back burner", then in the near future the Su-30SM and Su-35S will not be able to oppose anything to Western tactical aviation, which has received all the necessary update packages. The promising 5th generation T-50 front-line aviation complex is capable of seriously changing the balance of forces in the modern theater of operations, but do not flatter yourself: by 2025, as agreed by the VKS Commander-in-Chief Viktor Bondarev, combat units will have no more than 70 - 90 T-50 PAKs FA, while the total number of US Lightnings and Raptors will approach 600!
Also, do not forget about the modernization of existing fighters such as Su-27SM and MiG-29S. While our "Falkrums" and "Flankers" continue to serve with the "old" slot-type radars N019MP and Cassegrain AR N001VE, the American F-16C Block 52+ and F-15C / E continue to actively receive the most modern radars with active HEADLIGHTS AN / APG-83 SABR and AN / APG-63 (V) 2/3, as reported with enviable regularity by the official representatives of Northrop Grumman and Raytheon. In our country, not a single MiG-29S / SMT fighter squadron was equipped with Zhuk-AE-type airborne radars, discussions about which have been an integral part of most analytical forums devoted to Russian military aviation for 12 years. Consequently, it is necessary to predict the future combat potential of the Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft fleet not only on the basis of the amount of incoming new equipment, but also through the "technological prism" and the available missile weapons, with which at the moment not everything is going smoothly.
