Report

Vulnerabilities in Sukhoi production: Clipping Russia’s wings

This report from UK think tank RUSI provides actionable insights for NATO and its allies to counter Russia’s military–industrial capabilities.

This research paper examines the critical vulnerabilities in the production of Russia’s Sukhoi combat aircraft and its implications for NATO and global defence markets. The paper reveals significant dependencies on foreign components, materials and machine tools and highlights the growing capability gap between Russian aircraft and their NATO and Chinese counterparts and the challenges Russia faces in retaining skilled engineers in the global market.

The paper provides actionable insights for NATO and its allies to counter Russia’s military–industrial capabilities and reduce its influence in the global defence sector.