The Friendly Fire on a SU-35: A Moment That Reveals the Larger Picture
The shocking event that unfolded on the night of September 28, 2023, near the occupied city of Tokmak in southern Ukraine, should serve as a wake-up call not just for the Russian military but for anyone who thinks modern warfare is solely a game of technology and firepower. The Russian SU-35, one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, was shot down — tragically, by Russian’s own S-300 air defense system. The incident, captured in vivid detail by local residents and spread across the web, epitomizes more than just an operational failure.
The Irony of Friendly Fire
Firstly, let’s talk about the bitter irony that is “friendly fire.” While any loss of advanced machinery and potentially human life is tragic, there’s an added layer of grim irony when it comes from your own side. The incident near Tokmak wasn’t an isolated event; Russia has lost four other SU-35s to friendly fire since the conflict in Ukraine began. These recurrent incidents pull the curtain back on a pressing issue — lack of proper training and coordination in a theater of war that is already fraught with tension and unpredictability.
The Expensive Downfall
The SU-35 is no ordinary machine. It’s a state-of-the-art, fourth-generation jet imbued with fifth-generation technology. Developed by the esteemed Sukhoi Design Bureau and manufactured by the United Aircraft Corporation, this beast in the sky costs about £82 million. This expensive debacle wasn’t just a blow to the aircraft’s pilot and the soldiers manning the S-300; it was a severe financial and operational setback for Russia. We can’t ignore the symbolic weight of this loss, either: it’s a stark demonstration of how even the most advanced and costly military assets can be vulnerable when human elements like training and coordination fail.
The Frontline Dilemma
Notably, the SU-35 was operating close to the frontlines, a departure from the standard operating procedure where Russian jets have generally stayed outside the range of Ukrainian surface-to-air missiles. The aircraft was reportedly on a counter-air or air-to-ground mission, targeting Ukrainian air defenses or ground forces. This exposes another chink in the armor — perhaps a sense of overconfidence or desperation that led to the modification of rules of engagement. This deviation in tactics further emphasizes how high the stakes are, but also how mistakes can occur when the ‘playbook’ is changed on the fly, especially without adequate preparation or communication.
The Struggle for Air Superiority
Despite its technological and numerical advantage, Russia’s air force has struggled to establish air superiority over Ukraine. This latest mishap adds salt to the wound, illuminating the vulnerabilities plaguing Russian air operations. Losing a sophisticated piece of machinery to your own air defense system questions not just the machine’s efficacy, but the entire underlying strategy and execution. When the very systems designed to protect your military assets turn against them, it’s time to rethink the game plan fundamentally.
