The Aesthetics of Violence: 8 Stunning High-Tech Soviet Weapons, Sadly Obsolete Now

A Glimpse of Soviet Technology

At its peak, the Soviet Union covered over 22 million square kilometers, had a population of 290 million, the second-largest GDP, the second-highest power generation, the largest steel production, and a military of 5.13 million soldiers, 54,000 main battle tanks, 11,000 aircraft of various types, and over 1,300 intercontinental missiles.

Slava-Class Missile Cruiser

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union was the only superpower capable of rivaling the United States.

Although it existed for only 74 years from inception to dissolution, Soviet scientists invented many remarkable high-tech innovations.

This article explores these high-tech innovations imbued with the aesthetics of violence.

1. Su-47 Heavy Fighter Jet

Codenamed “Golden Eagle” and NATO designation “Firkin,” it was developed in 1985 by the Sukhoi Design Bureau as a multi-role supersonic fighter.

It features advanced forward-swept wings and the world’s first vector engine, allowing it to perform zero-radius…