As of April 2026, the Russian Aerospace Forces have received a new batch of Su-35S multirole fighters from the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to bolster air superiority and support long-range strike capabilities. These fourth-generation jets, built by Rostec, are intended for frontline use in Ukraine to compensate for 32 Su-35 operational losses and sustain combat power.
These Su-35s may look the same as previous Models, but this batch lacks a GLONASS receiver and targeting pod due to international sanctions on dual-use technology. Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau could not manufacture several core components of the Su-35, including the guidance and modern avionics suite.
A Russian Su-35 fighter jet reportedly dropped a FAB-500 high-explosive aerial bomb on a railway line in Russia’s Belgorod region during a combat sortie, causing a commuter train to derail on May 13, according to the Russian Telegram channel MNS.
Without the targeting pod and proper navigation, the pilot assumed his Su-35 aircraft was in Ukraine, not in Russia. The report stated that the bomb failed to detonate but damaged approximately 25 meters of the Belgorod railway track.
Former Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said an electric train travelling on the Razumnoye–Tomarovka route derailed after a section of the railway line measuring around two meters was missing.
According to Gladkov, 15 people were aboard the train at the time of the incident. One woman was injured and hospitalized with a leg wound and bruises.
Russian media reports noted that Gladkov initially suggested the derailment may have been caused by an explosion on the railway tracks, though he later deleted references to that version from his statement.
On May 14, Gladkov announced that he was stepping down from his post as governor of Belgorod region.
According to MNS, Russian Defense Ministry sappers were dispatched to the site and allegedly removed the unexploded munition for disposal at a military training ground.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of reported accidental munitions releases involving Russian military aviation.
In a separate case, a Russian military aircraft allegedly unintentionally released an X-59 missile that fell near the village of Staroseltsevo in Belgorod region, according to the Astra Telegram channel, which cited unnamed sources. The missile was reportedly discovered on February 3 in a field in the Volokonovsky district.
According to the report, the missile was found on February 3 in a field near the village of Staroseltsevo in the Volokonovsky district of Belgorod region.
Russian military personnel allegedly told investigators that the missile had “detached unexpectedly” during the flight. No injuries or casualties were reported.
Astra noted that this was not an isolated incident. According to the outlet, Russian aircraft have accidentally dropped at least 16 FAB bombs, two missiles, and one UMPB-250 munition in Russia and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine since the start of 2025.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian interceptor drone manufacturer Wild Hornets said its STING drone teams shot down more than 300 aerial targets over a single day-and-night combat period, with one unit reportedly accounting for 120 interceptions on its own.
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