Russian Air Force Deploys Latest Flanker Derivatives with Foxhounds for Live Fire Drills in East Asia

Russian Air Force pilots from the Eastern Military District carried out live fire drills over the Sea of Japan on October 10th. The drills featured four of the country’s most advanced combat platforms, including MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors and the three most capable variants of the Flanker heavyweight fighter design - the Su-34 strike fighter, Su-35 air superiority fighter and Su-30SM twin seat heavy fighter. The drills saw all four classes of aircraft carry out operations in unison, with Su-30SM fighters planting targets at altitudes of over 9km which were targeted by the Foxhounds, Su-35s and Su-34s. These three classes of combat jet all launched air to air missiles, and trained to detect, follow and approach the targets. Over 30 flight missions were carried out as part of the exercise.

Russia’s Flanker’s and Foxhounds subsequently carried out joint manoeuvres to practice evasion of an enemy retaliatory strike - although the adversary was not stated. The U.S. and Japan notably both deploy considerable air assets in the region, and the British Royal Air Force has in recent years also on occasion dispatched fighters to Japan. The main classes of fighter expected to be faced include F-15 and F-22 air superiority fighters, and increasingly lighter F-35A stealth fighters of which Japan alone plans to field well over 100. Russia’s Far East has increasingly become a priority region for deployment of the country’s most elite fighters - facing both sizeable American units in Alaska, overseas forces in Japan, and a fast growing Japanese force which is likely to participate in any U.S. or Western led war effort. The Su-34 and Su-35 both entered service in 2014, while the Su-30SM represents an enhanced derivative of an older design which was first delivered in December 2012. These aircraft are the most modern heavyweight fighters in frontline service in the Russian Air Force.