Russian aviation is likely to continue to lag far behind in the war

British intelligence believes that Russian Air Force aviation lags far behind in the war against Ukraine.

This is stated in the daily report of the UK Ministry of Defence.

It is unlikely that the Russian Aerospace Forces (ASF) are preparing for a rapidly expanded air campaign. 

"The Russian Aerospace Forces continue to deploy the same number of aircraft in support of the operation in Ukraine as they have for many months. Likewise, the Russian Aerospace Forces (ASF) continue to deploy the same number of aircraft in support of the operation in Ukraine as they have for many months," the report says.

The intelligence notes that Russian warplanes operate almost exclusively over Russian-controlled territory, which does not allow them to effectively fulfil their key strike role.

Currently, approximately 1,500 military aircraft with crews may be stored on Russian territory, even though Russia has lost more than 130 aircraft since the beginning of the invasion.

Intelligence suggests that the Russian army understands that it may suffer unjustified losses of aircraft in the current circumstances on the battlefield.