Russia’s military aviation: What happens to 1,100 aircraft not in combat over Ukraine?

Defense Express explains. 

Russia operates about 300 aircraft daily in its war against Ukraine, while its military fleet totals nearly 1,400 units, including 1,169 under the "Russian Aerospace Forces" and 208 in naval aviation, according to The Military Balance 2024. Naval aviation, based in occupied Crimea, also supports operations in Ukraine.

This raises a question: What is Russia doing with the remaining 1,100 aircraft? While the fleet includes transport and support aircraft, the large number still seems disproportionate to the aircraft actively engaged in combat.

A report by Defense News sheds some light. NATO’s air policing jets intercepted Russian aircraft 300 times in 2024 near the Alliance’s borders, out of 400 total sorties. Similar figures were recorded in 2023, but interceptions peaked at 570 in 2022. This suggests a portion of Russia’s fleet is used to pressure NATO on its eastern flank.

However, the numbers still don’t fully add up. Russian military aviation is approaching its limits, notes Defence24. Around 550 Soviet-era aircraft are nearing the end of their service life, with at least 60 expected to be retired this year. In a potential large-scale conflict with NATO, experts estimate Russia could deploy up to 400 combat aircraft, including 360 tactical planes.

Moreover, Russia’s readiness rate for military aviation is typically 30-40%. This indicates a focus on maintaining its most combat-ready aircraft for the war in Ukraine or show-of-force operations near NATO borders.

Experts speculate Russia may also be conserving its aging Soviet-era jets — like the Su-24, Su-25, Su-27, MiG-29, and MiG-31BM — for a future conflict with NATO. This resource management highlights the challenges faced by Russia’s defense industry in replacing outdated aircraft.