Why do the Russians use so many planes that look so similar and seem to do the same thing like the Su-35, Su-30, MiG-30, Su-34? How are these employed?

The Sukhoi

Su-30

Su-33

Su-34

and Su-35

All look similar because they are all based on the Su-27 Flanker

The Su-27 was developed along side the MiG-29

starting in the late 1970’s to counter the 4th generation American planes. Mainly the F-15 and F-16. The Su-27 was designed as a high-end fighter with a better radar and data link while the MiG-29 had limited ability in beyond visual range combat.

The Su-27 Flanker would fly around receiving updated information from ground-based airborne radars allowing them to keep their radars off until they see a target in range.

About the same time the Su-27 and MiG-29 were being developed the Soviet Navy was finishing their first conventional carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov.

When it was being built- Sukhoi developed a navalized version of the Su-27 and Su-25. The original designation for both were the Su-27K and Su-25UTG - the K is short for корабль (korabl said core then able with a like ab)

and there was also a MiG-29K

Sukhoi decided to change the designation to Su-33. The Su-33 is either being retired or has been retired in favor of the MiG-29. Originally there were supposed to be two Kuznetsov class aircraft carriers which were small for fleet carriers to comply with limits on a 1936 treaty that limits what warships can pass through the Bosphorus Strait.

I always figured the USSR designed the three carrier planes because they were developing an American style carrier when they collapsed. that’s another question though. Now the rest of the Flanker family.

The Su-30 originally called the Su-27PU - and it was originally designed to be a command plane. The Su-30 had the addition of a weapons systems officer (WSO). Originally the Su-30 was designed to be the lead plane in a flight of flankers they would turn their radar on when there was no AWACS or ground-based radar keeping the flight updated and designating targets for them. Later it was expanded to have an air to ground role. It is the plane I compare to the F-15E

Now the Su-34. Some people try to compare this aircraft to the F-15E which I believe is inaccurate. Since it has lost a lot of dogfighting ability. The Su-34 was developed to replace the swing wing Su-24

and in some roles the Tu-22M

the Su-34 may have actually begun life as a carrier plane

The carrier version never got any place.

The Su-35 Super Flanker originally the Su-27M the degination was late changed because Sukhoi thought it sounded better. There was a version called the Su-37 .

There is no MiG-30 but there is a MiG-33 and MiG-35. The MiG-33 was changed to MiG-29M and the MiG-35. The MiG-35 Super fulcrum is slightly larger than a regular MiG-29

while the MiG-29M has been upgraded with a lot of the MiG-33’s technology