Last month, in a single day the Russian military lost two Mi-8 transport helicopters, a Su-34 fighter/bomber, and a Su-35 air superiority fighter. All were shot down over the Bryansk region of Western Russia by air-to-air or surface-to-air missiles that were launched from within Ukraine.
It was the worst day for the Russian Aerospace (Air Force) in decades.
The loss of the aircraft can’t be overstated, but on Thursday, Russian state media outlet Tass reported that the Russian Aerospace Forces has received a new batch of Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO reporting name Fullback) fighter-bombers to bolster its strength. The exact number of aircraft that were delivered by the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) wasn’t stated, however.
“The UAC has delivered a new batch of Su-34 frontline bombers to the Russian Aerospace Forces. These splendid aircraft have been manufactured at the Chkalov Novosibirsk Aviation Plant. The planes have undergone a set of ground and flight tests and have been delivered to the Defense Ministry of Russia,” the press office of the UAC said in a statement on its Telegram channel.
“The Su-34 features extended combat capabilities, enabling it to employ advanced air-launched munitions, increase the range of striking ground and naval targets and expand the conditions and accuracy of bombing runs,” UAC added. “Su-34 frontline bombers are a major part of the Russian frontline aviation’s strike power.”
The Russian Fullback
Based on the Sukhoi Su-27 “Flanker” air superiority fighter, the twin-seat, all-weather supersonic medium-range Su-34 was designed to serve as a fighter-bomber and strike aircraft.
The fourth-generation aircraft was further developed to be deployed in a tactical role against ground and naval targets on solo and group missions.
However, the development of the fighter-bomber was actually slow.
Initial research and development (R&D) began in the early 1980s, as the Soviet Air Force sought to phase out its aging Su-24 “Fencer” attack fighter and Tu-22 bomber with a single platform. As with many other late Soviet-era programs, it was put on the proverbial “back burner” following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and it then remained in limbo during Russia’s economic crisis that followed.
The Su-34 program was only revived in earnest in the early 2000s and the Fullback only formally entered service in 2014.
Su-34 Capabilities
The Su-34 has been touted as one of Russia’s most capable combat aircraft. It is reported to be equipped with counter-fire and electronic warfare (EW) counter-measures systems.
The Su-34’s surface design includes a duckbill-shaped nose cone, two tail fins broadly reminiscent of the Su-27, canards to assist with maneuverability, and a side-by-side cockpit that can potentially facilitate improved communication between the two pilots.
According to Tass, the Su-34 can carry long-range air-to-surface and air-to-air missile armament with multi-channel employment capability. In addition, the Su-34 has an operating range of 4,000 km (2,485 miles), a maximum speed of 1,900 km/h (1,180 mph), and it is capable of carrying a weapon payload of up to 8 tons.
Russia reportedly had 153 in service, including seven test prototypes, and 146 serial-produced aircraft. However, one was lost in an accident last year after it crashed into a residential building in the Russian city of Yeysk, killing 15 people on the ground. As noted a second Su-34 was shot down last month.
Author Experience and Expertise
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
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