Russian military aviation has significantly sharpened its combat edge over the course of the conflict in Ukraine, Business Insider reports. According to the publication, sustained participation in hostilities has provided pilots with hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of modern aerial warfare.

The report notes that Russia has not only upgraded its aviation systems and weaponry but has also maintained aircraft production at a pace that outstrips losses, allowing the overall fleet to grow rather than shrink.

Where Russian pilots once lagged behind their NATO counterparts in flight hours, the ongoing conflict has effectively closed that gap, the authors suggest.

President Vladimir Putin has previously stated that the country’s armed forces are operating at what he described as the highest level of combat readiness globally, adding that the same assessment applies to the defense-industrial sector.

Within the framework of the special military operation, army aviation continues to carry out a wide range of missions — from escorting convoys and targeting Ukrainian armored vehicles to transporting troops and military cargo, as well as providing air support to units operating in the combat zone.