MiG -29 was designed as a front-line fighter belonging to the Soviet Air Force, while Su -27 was designed as a long-range interceptor belonging to the air defense forces. Because the Soviet air defense forces applied the equipment concept of "simplicity, portability, low cost, and easy production to maintain the superiority of equipment quantity" which was different from the front fighters of the Soviet Air Force, the special interceptor of the air defense forces was heavier, larger in size, more complex in aircraft structure, better in radar and fire control system, and more powerful in range and power than the Air Force. The interceptors equipped by the air defense forces have the command and communication capabilities needed to cooperate with the ground air defense command system and ground air defense weapons, and are more comprehensive and perfect than the air force frontline fighters in airborne avionics and command automation equipment. The interceptors of air defense forces are generally equipped with an automatic interception guidance system consisting of radio navigation equipment, ground guidance radar and command and control center. In addition, the interceptor in the Soviet air defense forces generally has good all-weather capability, and it also has great advantages over the air force fighters in detail design, manufacturing technology and service life. Enemy fighters are not the main operational targets of interceptors for air defense missions, which makes them partially give up their air combat capability in order to improve interception performance, and some models can even be said to have no air combat capability. This situation did not improve until the Su -27 began to serve.

air force

The Soviet air force is an important part of the Soviet air force and the main offensive and strike force of the Soviet Union. It mainly carries out offensive tasks such as frontier air superiority and attacking the enemy. Equipped with fighters, fighter bombers, attack aircraft, strategic bombers and some special aircraft such as reconnaissance and electronic warfare. Its typical combat mode is to use long-range strategic bombers such as Tu-160 and Tu -22. Under the escort of Su -27, MiG -29 and other air superiority fighters, large-scale bombing was carried out in the depth of the enemy. In addition, the early warning aircraft guided MIG -29 and MIG -23 to form a "high and low" fighter group to cover fighter-bombers such as Su -24 and MIG -27 to carry out air-to-ground attacks on the enemy. Therefore, the Soviet Air Force mainly competed for air superiority at the front. Its operational thinking is mainly to fight outside the Soviet Union. The Soviet Air Force is equipped with nearly 10,000 aircraft of various types, all of which are provided by the Soviet aviation industry. The Soviet aviation industry has a very high level of science and technology, ranking second in the world in scale. It is the only important force in the development of military aircraft that can compete with the United States. Its MIG, Su Huoyi, tupolev and other military aircraft not only serve the Soviet army in large quantities, but also are the main equipment of the air forces of dozens of countries in the world. The strategic bombing force of the Soviet Union has the same nature as the SAC of the US Air Force. It is an air force directly under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Unified Division Command. There are about 700~ 1000 combat aircraft with a total strength of 654.38+10,000. It consists of the 24th Air Force, 4th Air Force, 46th Air Force, 36th Air Force and 30th Air Force. In addition to equipped with long-range and medium-range bombers. It can intercept, attack and support the ground at high altitude, and has advanced fighters such as MIG -29, MIG -3 1 and Su -27 as base air defense aircraft. Other fixed equipment, such as reconnaissance plane, ECM machine, tanker, etc. , enabling aviation to fight independently. The strategic bombing of Soviet aviation mostly uses ASM with long-range attack performance to replace bombs.

National air defense force

In addition to having a huge air force, the Soviet Union also set up a national air defense force to take charge of local air defense tasks. Compared with the air force, the national air defense force has air defense missiles and radar units in addition to aviation. The air defense air force is mainly equipped with fighters and interceptors. The number of aircraft responsible for strategic air defense has remained at around 2,250, and there are other auxiliary aircraft. Bombers, attack planes, fighter-bombers and other attack planes are mainly used to equip the air force, that is, the Soviet Air Force is an offensive force, not for defense. Compared with the more aggressive air force, the national air defense force is mainly used for local air defense missions, its troops are never stationed in foreign bases, and the combat aircraft equipped by aviation are rarely exported. Because air defense forces shoulder the heavy responsibility of defending national airspace and strategic locations, they enjoy certain priority in the allocation of national defense funds and the procurement of technical equipment. The Soviet Union divided fighters into air defense interceptors (Figure -28/ 128, Soviet Union-15/2 1, MIG -25/3 1) and frontline fighters (MIG -2 1, MIG -23). And Su-15/2 1, Tu -28/ 128 and other front-line bombers (Su -24) are not found in the air force or naval aviation, while MiG -2 1, MiG -23 and other front-line fighters are equipped with both air force and air defense forces, but the air defense forces are equipped with