Sukhoi Su-34

Su-34
A Russian Air Force Su-34 performing at the 2015 MAKS air show
Role	Fighter-bomber
Manufacturer	Sukhoi
First flight	13 April 1990
Introduction	2012
Status	In production
Primary user	Russian Air Force
Produced	2006–present
Number built	36 of which 29 series 7 prototypes
Unit cost	US$36 million
Developed from	Sukhoi Su-27

The Sukhoi Su-34 (Russian: Сухой Су-34) (export designation: Su-32, NATO reporting name: Fullback) is a Russian twin-seat fighter-bomber. It is intended to replace the Sukhoi Su-24.

Development

Origins and testing

The Su-34 had a muddied and protracted beginning. In the mid-1980s, Sukhoi began developing a new multirole tactical aircraft to replace the swing-wing Su-24, which would incorporate a host of conflicting requirements. The bureau thus selected the Su-27, which excelled in maneuverability and range, and could carry a large payload, as the basis for the new fighter. More specifically, the aircraft was developed from T10KM-2, the naval trainer derivative of the Sukhoi Su-27K. The development, known internally as T-10V, was shelved at the end of the 1980s sharing the fate of new aircraft carriers; this was the result of the political upheaval in the Soviet Union and its subsequent disintegration.

In August 1990 a photograph taken by a TASS officer showed an aircraft making a dummy approach towards Tbilisi carrier. The aircraft, subsequently and erroneously labelled Su-27KU by Western intelligence, made its maiden flight on 13 August 1990 with Anatoliy Ivanov at the controls. Converted from an Su-27UB with the new distinctive nose, while retaining the main undercarriage of previous Su-27s, it was a prototype for the Su-27IB (Istrebitel Bombardirovshchik, or "fighter bomber"). It was developed in parallel with the two-seat naval trainer, the Su-27KUB, although, contrary to earlier reports, the two aircraft are not directly related. Flight tests continued throughout 1990 and into 1991.

In 1992, the Su-27IB was displayed to the public at the MosAeroshow (since renamed "MAKS Airshow"), where it demonstrated aerial refuelling with an Il-78, and performed an aerobatic display. The aircraft was officially unveiled on 13 February 1992 at Machulishi, where Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the CIS leaders were holding a summit. The following year the Su-27IB was again displayed at the MAKS Airshow.

The next prototype, and first pre-production aircraft, T10V-2, first flew on 18 December 1993 at the controls of Igor Votintsev and Yevgeniy Revoonov. Built at Novosibirsk, where Su-24s were constructed, this aircraft was visibly different from the original prototype; it had a modified vertical stabilizers, twin tandem main undercarriage and a longer "sting", which houses a rearward-facing warning radar. The first aircraft built to production standard made its first flight on 28 December 1994. It was fitted with a fire-control system, at the heart of which was the Leninets OKB-designed V004 radar. It was different enough from the earlier versions that it was re-designated the "Su-34". However, at the 1995 Paris Air Show, the Su-34 was allocated the "Su-32FN" designation, signalling the aircraft's potential role as a shore-based naval aircraft. Sukhoi also promoted the Su-34 as the "Su-32MF" (MnogoFunksionalniy, "multi-function").

The first phase of the state tests ended on 30 October 2006 with the implementation of more than 200 flights involving five Su-34s. The final stage of the state tests were completed on 19 September 2011. 2012 is planned to be its official introduction.

Production

Initially only a handful of pre-production models were built. Only in March 2006, Russia's Minister of Defence Sergei Ivanov announced that the government had purchased the first pair of Su-34s for delivery in 2006. A total of 200 aircraft were to be purchased by 2015 to replace some 300 Russian Su-24s, which were at the time going through a modernization program. Ivanov claimed that because the aircraft is "many times more effective on all critical parameters" the Russian Air Force will need far fewer of these newer bombers than the old Su-24 it replaces.

In December 2006, Ivanov revealed that approximately 200 Su-34s were expected to be in service by 2020. This was confirmed by Air Force chief Vladimir Mikhaylov on 6 March 2007. Two Su-34s were delivered on 4 January 2007, and six more were delivered by the end of that year. On 9 January 2008, Sukhoi reported that the Su-34 has begun full-rate production. At this time Russia planned to have 24 Su-34s operational by late 2010. In June 2009, Sukhoi was awarded a five-year contract for Su-34 production. The Russian Air Force received another four Su-34s on 28 December 2010, and expects to receive 70 Su-34s by 2015. A Russian military source announced in September 2011 that Air Force had finished pre-deployment tests of Su-34. The model will receive approval for further testing by bomber units. Delivery came in the form of two contracts, the first in 2008 for 32 aircraft and the second in 2012 for a further 92 aircraft, totaling 124 to be delivered by 2020. In December 2012 it was reported that Sukhoi delivered five aircraft (transferred under the 2012 State Defense Order). In January 2013 Sukhoi delivered another batch of 5 Su-34 strike aircraft. They flew from the Novosibirsk aircraft plant to an air base in Voronezh, Russia. On May 6, 2013 the first Sukhoi Su-34s under defence procurement plans in 2013 were delivered to the air force. On July 9, 2013, three more Su-34s were delivered to the Russian Air Force, with the official acceptance ceremony taken place directly at the Novosibirsk Aircraft Plant. The appearance of the three Su-34s in the new Russian air force camouflage, a black top, blue bottom, and white nose, suggests that the livery is official and will be kept.

In August 2013 Sukhoi signed a contracted with the Kazan-based Radiopribor holding company for 184 "friend-or-foe" transponders for the Su-34. The transponders are do be delivered by 2020.

Design

The Su-34 shares most of its wing structure, tail, and engine nacelles with the Su-27/Su-30, with canards like the Su-30MKI, Su-33, and Su-27M/35 to increase static instability (higher manoeuvrability) and to reduce trim drag.

The Su-34 is powered by a pair of Saturn AL-31FM1 turbofan engines, the same engines used on the Su-27SM, giving the aircraft a maximum speed of Mach 1.8+ when fully loaded. Although having a slower maximum speed than the standard Su-27, the Su-34 can still handle high G-loads and perform aerobatic maneuvers. When equipped with a full weapons load, the Su-34 has a maximum range of 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) without refuelling, this can be extended further via aerial refueling. The airframe is cleared to perform maneuvers of up to +9 g. The noise level of the Su-34 is two times lower than the level of its predecessors.

The Su-34 is a three-surface design having both a conventional horizontal tailplane at the rear and a canard foreplane in front of the main wings. The foreplane provides both additional lift (force) and greater maneuverability. It has twin tail fins like those of Su-27 from which it is derived. The Su-34 has 12 hardpoints for 12,000-14,000kg (26455.47-30864.717lb) of ordnance, intended to include the latest Russian precision-guided weapons. It retains the Su-27/Su-30's 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon, and the ability to carry R-77 air-to-air missiles (6 pcs) and R-73 (also 6), with the air-to-air missiles being primarily for defense against pursuers if detected by the rearward facing radar. The maximum weight of any single munition carried is 4000 kg. Its stand-off weapons have a range of up to 250 kilometres (160 mi). A Khibiny electronic countermeasures (ECM) system is fitted as standard.

Compared to other members of the Flanker family, the Su-34 has an entirely new "Duckbill" nose and forward fuselage designed to increase cabin room and maximize crew comfort and safety, giving the Su-34 the nickname ‘Hellduck’ or ‘Platypus’. The pilots are arranged in a side-by-side layout, with the pilot-commander to the left and navigator/operator of weapons to the right in NPP Zvezda K-36dm ejection seats. An advantage of the side by side cockpit is that duplicate instruments are not required for each pilot. Since long missions require comfort, the pressurization system allows operation up to 10,000 metres (32,800 ft) without oxygen masks, which are available for emergencies and combat situations.

The crew members have room to stand and move about the cabin during long missions. The space between the seats allows them to lie down in the corridor, if necessary. A hand-held urinal "toilet" and thermos "kitchen" are provided. A ladder attached to the nose landing gear and a hatch in the cockpit floor is used to enter the cockpit. The cockpit is a continuous capsule of armour (17 mm).

The multifunctional Leninets V-004 main radar has terrain-following and terrain avoidance modes. Maximum detection range for the passive electronically scanned array forward radar is 200–250 km (against large surface targets), to cover the rear a second aft-facing radar is mounted. The main radar can simultaneously track ten air targets and attack four targets (in the air, on land or on the water). The radius of detection for fighter-sized targets is up to 120 km, the range of the survey is +/- 60 degrees. The rear warning radar system can warn of attack from behind and allow it to fire its R-73s against pursuers without needing to turn the aircraft. The rear radar is from Phazotron/Rassvet] and is unofficially called the N-012. The Su-34 reportedly has a frontal radar cross-section that is an order of magnitude smaller than prior generation fighters.

Operational history

The Su-34's long range was shown in a July 2010 exercise when Su-34s and Su-24Ms were moved from Russian bases in Europe to one on the Pacific coast, 6,000 kilometres away, which requires in-flight refuelling. The Su-24Ms were refuelled three times, while the Su-34 was refuelled twice.

Su-34 was rumored to have been utilized by Russian command during the 2008 South Ossetia war, playing a vital role in suppressing Georgian air defences.

Variants

• Su-34 – basic aircraft model.
• Su-32 – export model, offered to Algeria in 2012
• Su-34M / Su-34 NVO – modernized version. Russian contract was to be signed in 2021 and replace basic Su-34 in production. According to reports, this upgrade will seriously affect almost all of the aircraft's avionics. The radar, sight, communication system will be improved. The range of "smart" bombs and missiles that the bomber can use will be significantly expanded. EW capabilities will also be expanded with introduction of new hardpoints.
• Su-34ME – version of Su-34M for Algeria. The export version differs from the Russian Su-34M only in communication systems and "friend or foe" system. On 18 March 2021, Russian official denies delivering Su-34 fighter jets to Algeria.

Operators

Su-34 Russian Air Force in new camouflage

Russia

Russian Air Force – 33 aircraft + prototypes http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-8.html

• Lipetsk Air Base - 6
• Voronezh Malshevo - 20+4 planned on summer 2013
• Chelyabinsk Shagol - planned from 2013

Specifications (Su-34)

Data from Sukhoi data, Gordon and Davison, AF Technology, Airwar.ru

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 23.34 m (72 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)
• Height: 6.09 m (19 ft 5 in)
• Loaded weight: 39,000 kg (85,980 lb)
• Useful load: 8,000 kg (17,600 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 45,100 kg (99,425 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Lyulka AL-31FM1 turbofans, 13,500 kgf (132 kN, 29,762 lbf) with afterburner each

Performance

• Maximum speed: ** High altitude: Mach 1.8 (2,200 km/h, 1,375 mph)
  • Low altitude: Mach 1.2 (1,400 km/h, 870 mph) at sea level
• Range: 1,100 km (680 mi)at low level altitude^{[citation needed]}
• Ferry range: 4,000 km(2,490 mi)
• Service ceiling: 15,000 m (49,200 ft)
• Wing loading: 629 kg/m² (129 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.68

Armament

• Guns: 1× 30 mm GSh-30-1 (9A-4071K) cannon, 180 rounds
• Hardpoints: 12× wing and fuselage stations with a capacity of 8,000 kg (17,630 lb) and provisions to carry combinations of:
  • Rockets: ***S-8, S-13, S-25 rocket pods
  • Missiles: ***R-27 air-to-air missile
    • R-73 air-to-air missile
    • R-77 air-to-air missile
    • Kh-29L/T (AS-14)
    • Kh-25MT/ML/MP (AS-10)
    • Kh-59 (AS-18)
    • Kh-58 (AS-11)
    • Kh-31 (AS-17)
    • Kh-35 (AS-20)
    • Kh-65SE or Kh-SD cruise missile
    • Kh-41 or Yakhont anti-ship missile
  • Bombs:
    
    • KAB-500L or KAB-500KR or KAB-1500L/KR guided bombs
    • FAB-250, FAB-500, FAB-1500 unguided bombs, Nuclear bombs.
  • Other: *** Fuel tanks, EW and reconnaissance pods.

Gallery

A Russian Air Force Su-34

Fixing KAB-500S GLONASS Satellite-guided bombs to a Sukhoi Su-34 at Bassel Al-Assad International Airport, 2015

A Su-34 during a bombing run

A Head-on view of Su-34, showing its Duckbill nose

Refuelling mid-air

A Su-34 taking off

Water condensation forming around a Su-34's wings

Taxiing

See also

Related

• Sukhoi Su-30
• Sukhoi Su-33
• Sukhoi Su-35

Similar aircraft

• McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
• Panavia Tornado

References

Bibliography

• Eden, Paul, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. London: Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1-904687-84-9. 
• Gordon, Yefim. Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker: Air Superiority Fighter. London: Airlife Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-84037-029-7. 
• Gordon, Yefim and Peter Davison. Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker. North branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2006. ISBN 978-1-58007-091-1. 
• Kopp, Carlo. "Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback". Ausairpower.net, January 2011 (last updated). http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Fullback.html. 
• Spick, Mike. "The Flanker". The Great Book of Modern Warplanes. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International, 2000. ISBN 0-7603-0893-4. 
• Williams, Mel, ed. "Sukhoi 'Super Flankers'". Superfighters: The Next Generation of Combat Aircraft. Norwalk, Connecticut: AIRtime Publishing Inc., 2002. ISBN 1-880588-53-6. 
• Wilson, Stewart. Combat Aircraft since 1945. Fyshwick, Australia: Aerospace Publications, 2000. ISBN 1-875671-50-1. 

External links

• Official Sukhoi Su-32 (Su-34) webpage
• Russian Su-34 web page
• Su-34 page on MILAVIA.net
• Su-34 on Airforce Technology
• Su-34 page on aerospaceweb.org
• Su-34/32FN Long range fighter-bomber
• Su-34 Fullback on Globalaircraft.org
• Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback: Russia's New Heavy Strike Fighter
• Russia gets first new fighters for 15 years as Sukhoi Su-34 debuts – 4 January 2007, Flight Global.
• Russian Air Force to adopt Su-34 "flying tank". INFOgraphics
• Su-34/Su-32FN bomber family