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On June 8, Ukraine demonstrated its capabilities by damaging at least one of Russia’s highly touted Su-57 stealth fighters during an attack on planes stationed at a Russian airbase. This incident serves as a stark reminder of Ukraine’s ability to penetrate Russian defenses, targeting high-value aircraft within Russia’s borders using drones.
Ukraine’s strategy appears to involve consistent drone attacks on Russian airbases, a tactic that significantly challenges the Russian Air Force. These drone strikes underscore Ukraine’s response to Russian aerial bombardment, which has included the use of glide bombs against Ukrainian targets.
According to an essay by Justin Bronk, an airpower analyst with the Royal United Services Institute, a leading defense and security think tank based in the UK, this method forces the Russian Aerospace Forces to reconsider the positioning of their bases near Ukraine. If bases remain close to the border, they risk attack, but moving them further away necessitates allocating extensive resources to their defense.
The logistics of where to base aircraft pose a complex problem. Basing aircraft closer to the front line improves efficiency in terms of fuel versus ordnance capacity and reduces transit time to and from the combat zone.
However, this proximity also increases vulnerability to attacks from rockets and drones. Ukraine’s use of drones in 2022 and 2023 to attack Russian aircraft on the ground, including those parked at airfields near the border and deep inside Russia, highlights this dilemma.
Recent drone strikes, particularly on the Su-57 (NATO code name: “Felon”) at the Akhtubinsk airbase near Volgograd, illustrate the persistent threat these attacks pose to high-value Russian military assets. Ukrainian intelligence has released images showing damage to one of these stealth fighters, with claims that a second may also have been hit.
The extent of the damage to the Su-57 is not fully clear, but satellite photos suggest minor explosions occurred close to the aircraft without causing a fire, indicating non-catastrophic but significant impact. Damage to essential components, such as the radar array or electronic systems, could have serious implications for the aircraft’s functionality.
Questions arise regarding why Russian electronic warfare capabilities, known for jamming GPS-guided weapons and drones, failed to prevent the drone attack. This incident hints at limitations in Russia’s electronic defense coverage, revealing weaknesses in protecting its territory beyond the frontline.
While the strike on the Su-57 may symbolize a minor tactical victory for Ukraine, it reflects ongoing challenges Russia faces in projecting airpower without risking advanced assets like the Su-57, which has been notably absent from frontline operations. Russia continues to rely on older Su-34 and Su-35 jets to carry out bombings against Ukraine, employing a strategy of aerial bombardment followed by ground assaults.
As Ukraine anticipates the arrival of F-16 fighters from the United States, the effectiveness of drones as a countermeasure against Russian air attacks remains a critical aspect of Ukraine’s defense strategy, highlighting the evolving dynamics of modern warfare.
(Original article from Business Greek)