Although feeling the pressure from aircraft manufacturers in China spitting out passable knock-offs of its own designs, Russia will maintain its second place position behind the U.S. in global fighter sales at least until 2013, according to a Moscow think tank.
Russia sold 476 fighters worth $27.7 billion from 2006 to 2009. That number is expected to double in the next four years with the global demand for Sukhois and MiGs rising to nearly 200 planes a year. India is the top buyer of Russian fighter jets. Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport says Russia could sign its first contract for the export of the Su-35 Flanker-E by the end of the year.
Russia has begun to restrict the export of some advanced aircraft components, mostly engines and avionics, to China, as Chinese manufacturers steal market share away by offering Russian knock-offs at far less cost. China currently sits in third place in terms of aircraft exporters, followed by Britain, Sweden and France.
– Greg Grant
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
That plane in the picture looks badass. I don't care about what generation it is, if its Russian, or even if the Chinese make a cheaper one. It is simply a technological marvel.
India’s M-MRCA Fighter Competition and Indian investment in T-50 is crucial for them.
Wait, we're number one? What are we exporting? And to who?
My guess is mostly F-16's, F-15's, and F-18's. I'm sure we export quite a few support a/c as well. Although I'm not sure what, exactly.
almost every Nato country has F-16's. Just sold 24 F-18's Super Hornets to the Aussies. We also sold 12 F-15SG's to Singapore. C-17 has been a good export for U.S. so far, along with the C-130H's & C-130J's. Since the A400M has been delayed
Some Nato counties added some deliveies of C-17's & C-130's. 2009 Pakistan bought 18 new F-16 Block 52's. Also Belarus is looking at Getting some surplus F-16's as well.
F-15 to South Korea and Singapore, F-18's to Canada and Australia and F-16's to UAE
Yes, but some numbers. Allegedly according to this article we exceeded 476 jets from 2006 to 2009…
They might be including Helo's with this total. From what i know we have sold and
selling blawkhawks to Taiwan. Thats part of that recent arms deal that China is upset about. Also we are selling AH-1 "used" Cobra's to Pakistan. Pakistan tries to keep there arms buying from the U.S. under wraps. They dont want thier people to know how much they buy from the infidels.
To be fair, every single arms manufacturer is infidel. Except Iran. But they're Shia, not Sunni, so maybe they're a little better or a little worse.
It could be a $ value not numbers
Great paint job!
I have to say, the Su-27 looks more like a "generic MIG" than any of the real life Mikoyan fighters.
The Su series from Su-27 to SU-30mki & 35's are all very big aircraft,with a big radar cross
section.
Latest Su-35 have reduced radar cross section by many times. They used composites and some radar absorbent materials.
Russian avionics may be pretty poor and the Indians have had plenty of maintainability problems, but they sure can make a very good looking plane and give it a great paint-job.
>Russian avionics may be pretty poor and the Indians have had plenty of maintainability problems
Wrong. Indians bought Russian radar and electronic equipment which they prefered over some Israeli-made stuff.