“We have surprises for our neighbors”: Ukraine’s aviation commander says new aircraft developments are essentially finished and already in testing
Ukraine has already rebuilt what it flies. Its crews turned the 1970s-era Su-24 bomber into a launcher for SCALP cruise missiles.
Ukrainian military aviation commander Colonel Oleksandr Diakiv announced that new aircraft developments are essentially finished and already in testing, with combat-ready aircraft expected soon. He emphasized that Ukraine has moved away from using jets built decades ago, instead transforming the 1970s-era Su-24 bomber into a launcher for British-French Storm Shadow and SCALP cruise missiles.
These missiles, capable of delivering a 450-kilogram warhead up to 250 kilometers, were used to strike a Russian command post in occupied Luhansk Oblast on May 25. Diakiv hinted that further advancements are on the horizon, stating that the aircraft will prove their capabilities and potentially surprise Ukraine's neighbors. The MiG-29 and Su-27 aircraft have also been adapted to serve as multirole fighters, capable of striking both air and ground targets using new weapon types.
These adaptations have been made possible through the integration of new technologies during the ongoing war, with the Ukrainian aviation force constantly evolving to counter Russian air defenses, fighters, and electronic warfare.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
