Two Russian Su-35 Jets Collide in Mid-Air Over Kursk Region

Two Russian Su-35S fighter jets collided in mid-air in the Kursk region, according to Militarnyi on September 7. The crash resulted in the death of one pilot, while the second pilot managed to survive. We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field. DONATE NOW The exact circumstances and reasons behind the mid-air collision remain unknown, as Russian authorities have not yet established the cause of the incident. The full consequences of the collision have not been officially disclosed. The Su-35S is a core multirole fighter jet utilized by the Russian military alongside the Su-30 and Su-34 platforms. Derived from the Soviet-era Su-27, the aircraft was developed as a generation 4+ upgrade to perform both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions. The Russian Aerospace Forces received their most recent delivery batch of Su-35S jets on August 27. On July 21, 2026, a Ukrainian F-16 scored its first air-to-air victory by shooting down a Russian fighter jet, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Dan Caine said during a Senate hearing. Caine did not identify the Russian aircraft or disclose when, where, or under what circumstances the engagement occurred. Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi assessed that the aircraft was likely the Russian Su-35 lost on July 8, 2026.