Kanal13

Two Russian planes collided; Putin's aviation is experiencing serious problems

Duration: 4:32 615 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

Recent days have seen a series of setbacks for the Russian military aviation sector, marked by multiple losses in combat aircraft across different regions. In the Kursk region, two Su-35S fighter jets tragically collided midair, while at the Taganrog air base, Ukrainian drones successfully destroyed an Mi-8 helicopter and damaged another Mi-35 model. Just prior to these incidents, operators of the GUR reportedly shot down a Russian aircraft, likely an Su-24, in occupied Crimea. These consecutive events have raised questions about the operational safety and readiness of Russian forces, prompting an analysis of whether these were isolated accidents or symptoms of deeper systemic issues within their aviation command structure. The primary focus of this analysis centers on the mysterious collision between the two Su-35S fighters, with military expert Roman Svitan offering a detailed assessment based on his experience as a retired pilot and instructor. He suggests that the most probable cause was a piloting error occurring during a paired formation flight, a scenario where pilots practice complex maneuvers like dogfights at close proximity. In such high-stakes environments, maintaining visual contact is critical; however, when aircraft enter cloud cover or face poor visibility, the wingman can lose sight of the leader without reporting it, leading to disorientation and eventual collision. The expert notes that in these specific configurations, the lead pilot often lacks visual control over the wingman, creating a dangerous asymmetry where the follower is more likely to strike the leader, resulting in the loss of both aircraft and their crews. Beyond the immediate mechanics of the crash, the transcript highlights a strategic shift in Russian air operations driven by the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone attacks and anti-aircraft systems like the ADAMS missile. Initially repelled by these defenses within a 300 km zone, Russian forces were forced to withdraw their aircraft beyond this range, effectively doubling the number of assets required to accomplish the same missions. This expansion of operational scope has led to a significant increase in the consumption of aviation resources, fuel, and pilot hours. Since aircraft have finite service lives, typically estimated around 10,000 flight hours before being dismantled for spare parts, this accelerated usage rate means that planes are reaching their end-of-life much sooner than planned, leaving them stranded at airfields for decades without immediate replacement. Ultimately, the combination of increased operational demands and the inherent dangers of complex formation flying has created a volatile situation for Russian aviation. The expert argues that while experience is a crucial factor, the fundamental difficulty of maintaining safe distances between aircraft flying at transonic speeds in close formation makes such missions inherently accident-prone. This trend applies not only to combat operations but also to training and check flights, suggesting that the current high rate of losses may be a direct consequence of stretching thin an already strained fleet. As Russia attempts to maintain air superiority under these new constraints, the risk of further catastrophic failures appears to be rising, turning what was once a manageable logistical challenge into a critical vulnerability in their military strategy.

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In recent days, Russia has suffered several losses in combat aircraft. Two Su-35S fighter jets collided in the Kursk region. At the Taganrog air base, Ukrainian drones destroyed an Mi-8 helicopter and damaged an Mi-35. The day before, GUR operators also shot down a Russian aircraft, presumably an Su-24, in occupied Crimea. What could have happened to the two Su-35S fighters in the Kursk region? Why did the Russian fighters collide in midair? Charter 97 spoke with retired Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel, military expert, and pilot instructor Roman Svitan about this. Most likely, it was a paired flight. The pilots were practicing formation flying, and one of the Russians made what's called a piloting error. I think so because it's the most common cause. When two similar aircraft collide in midair, it most often happens during a paired flight. The thing is, this is a very complex flight. The interval and distance between aircraft are very small. This is especially true if complex formation flying techniques are being practiced, such as dogfights. During certain flight elements, visual contact can be lost and then restored. For example, if the aircraft enter cloud cover, the wingman loses sight of the leader and begins searching for him without reporting. These moments ultimately lead to one aircraft colliding with another. Very often, the pilot of the lead aircraft is killed. The wingman is monitoring the leader, but the leader has no visual control over the wingman. As a result, the wingman can strike the leader. In such cases, both aircraft can be lost and the pilots can be [music] killed. I believe that's exactly what we're seeing now, expert added. He said, "Obviously, a lot depends on experience. That's a 100% factor, but the main reason is the difficulty of the formation flight itself. It's very challenging in itself. Two aircraft are flying close together at transonic speeds. Imagine this. Let's say the standard separation and distance are 50 m [music] by 70 m. 70 m for the separation and 50 m for the separation. But, this separation can decrease, especially when passing through clouds. In poor visibility, it is intentionally shortened. The aircraft approach close to each other. The pilots lose control of their flight techniques, and one aircraft collides with the other. Formation flying is the most [music] difficult type of flight. Therefore, such flights are among the most accident-prone. This applies to combat, training, practice, and check flights. So, I think the main reason is precisely this, a piloting error during a formation flight. That's the correct term. But, for now, what happened remains a mystery. This is just my analytical assessment, so to [music] speak. No one yet knows the real reason." Expert added, "After we used our drones to drive Russian aircraft beyond the 300 km zone, the situation changed. Initially, [music] Russian aircraft were repelled by ADAMS missiles. When ADAMS missiles, with a range of up to 300 km, began hitting Russian airfields, the Russians withdrew their aircraft beyond 300 km. This exactly doubled the number of assets the Russian Air Force must deploy. They have to deploy twice as many aircraft and pilots. Consequently, the consumption of aircraft resources doubles. Airplanes don't have an infinite service life. Let's say an aircraft's estimated service life is 10,000 flight hours. Once that lifespan is exhausted, [music] the aircraft is dismantled and left at the airfield. It's like that Su-24 that was minus. It could sit there for decades until someone salvages a spare part for another aircraft. So, this approach is also positive for us. The Russians require twice as many aircraft, pilots, aviation resources, and fuel to accomplish the same task. >> [music]