Russia fears flying best jets over Ukraine in case they’re shot down and Nato gets hold of the wreckage, military expert says
- The modern Russian Sukhoi Su-57 aircraft, prized for their stealth, have not featured regularly in the war despite Moscow’s efforts to hype their capabilities
- British military intelligence says Russia won’t send the jets over the border and risk them being shot down as Nato could study them and learn their secrets
Russia is avoiding flying its advanced combat jets over Ukraine for fear of the wreckage from a crash giving away the plane’s secrets, an expert said.
The update said Russia sends the jets up and has them fire long-range missiles at targets in Ukraine, but it won’t risk sending them over the border, where Ukrainian air defences could knock them out.
Justin Bronk, an air power and technology expert with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank in London, said Russia is scared of the consequences if a Su-57 was shot down and Ukraine’s allies in Nato could study the wreckage.
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These partners “would certainly be very interested to know more about” some of the jet’s unique features, he said. In particular, he highlighted its “innovative radar arrangement” as of particular interest.
The UK update said Russia was holding back with Su-57s because it was “avoiding the reputational damage, reduced export prospects, and the compromise of sensitive technology which would come from any loss” of the craft.
Bronk agreed that a crash over Ukraine would be “extremely embarrassing” for Russia “because it would expose the stealth as really not being particularly effective”.
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“The aircraft has a very high degree of protection against various air defence systems, has protection against missiles. There is a lot of stuff there. Most importantly, it has very powerful weapons,” he said, per state media.
Russia’s tactic of using the jets from its own territory is indicative of its continued risk-averse approach to employing its air force in the war against Ukraine.
“They’re being very cautious with their entire combat aircraft fleet, and despite that, they continue to take a steady trickle of losses,” Bronk said.
“So the fear of losses to a degree where technology is compromised has certainly caused the Russians to be pretty cautious across the board.”
