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The Sukhoi Su-34 (;
NATO reporting name NATO uses a system of code names, called reporting names, to denote military aircraft and other equipment used by post-Soviet states, former Warsaw Pact countries, China, and other countries. The system assists military communications by providi ...
: Fullback) is a
Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
-origin
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
n twin-engine, twin-seat, all-weather supersonic medium-range
fighter-bomber A fighter-bomber is a fighter aircraft that has been modified, or used primarily, as a light bomber or attack aircraft. It differs from bomber and attack aircraft primarily in its origins, as a fighter that has been adapted into other roles, wh ...
/ strike aircraft. It first flew in 1990, intended for the
Soviet Air Forces The Soviet Air Forces (, VVS SSSR; literally "Military Air Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics"; initialism VVS, sometimes referred to as the "Red Air Force") were one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Sovie ...
, and it entered service in 2014 with the
Russian Air Force The Russian Air Force () is a branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces, the latter being formed on 1 August 2015 with the merging of the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the reb ...
. Based on the
Sukhoi Su-27 The Sukhoi Su-27 (; NATO reporting name: Flanker) is a Soviet Union, Soviet-origin twinjet, twin-engine supersonic Supermaneuverability, supermaneuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi. It was intended as a direct competitor for the lar ...
Flanker air superiority fighter, the Su-34 has a wider, armoured cockpit with side-by-side seating for its two pilots. The Su-34 was designed primarily for tactical deployment against ground and naval targets (
tactical bombing Tactical bombing is aerial bombing aimed at targets of immediate military value, such as combatants, military installations, or military equipment. This is in contrast to strategic bombing, or attacking enemy cities and factories to cripple ...
/ attack/ interdiction roles, including against small and mobile targets) on solo and group missions in daytime and at night, under favourable and adverse weather conditions and in a hostile environment with counter-fire and electronic warfare (EW) counter-measures deployed, as well as for
aerial reconnaissance Aerial reconnaissance is reconnaissance for a military or Strategy, strategic purpose that is conducted using reconnaissance aircraft. The role of reconnaissance can fulfil a variety of requirements including Artillery observer, artillery spott ...
. The Su-34 is planned to eventually replace the
Su-24 The Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO reporting name: Fencer) is a supersonic, night fighter, all-weather tactical bomber developed in the Soviet Union. The aircraft has a variable-sweep wing, Twinjet, twin engines and a side-by-side seating arrangement for it ...
tactical bomber and the Tu-22M long-range bomber.


Development


Beginnings (1980s)

The Su-34 had a murky and protracted beginning. In the mid-1980s, Sukhoi began developing a new tactical
multirole combat aircraft A multirole combat aircraft (MRCA) is a combat aircraft intended to perform different roles in combat. These roles can include air to air combat, air support, aerial bombing, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and suppression of air def ...
to replace the swing-wing
Su-24 The Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO reporting name: Fencer) is a supersonic, night fighter, all-weather tactical bomber developed in the Soviet Union. The aircraft has a variable-sweep wing, Twinjet, twin engines and a side-by-side seating arrangement for it ...
, 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-bomber. More specifically, the aircraft was developed from , 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 the aircraft carrier ''
Ulyanovsk Ulyanovsk,, , known as Simbirsk until 1924, is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Volga River east of Moscow. Ulyanovsk has been the only Russian UNESCO Ci ...
''; this was the result of the political upheaval in the Soviet Union and its subsequent disintegration.


Prototypes (1990–1993)

In August 1990, a photograph taken by a
TASS The Russian News Agency TASS, or simply TASS, is a Russian state-owned news agency founded in 1904. It is the largest Russian news agency and one of the largest news agencies worldwide. TASS is registered as a Federal State Unitary Enterpri ...
officer showed an aircraft making a dummy approach towards the aircraft carrier ''
Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი, ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), ( ka, ტფილისი, tr ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia ( ...
''. The aircraft, subsequently and erroneously labelled Su-27KU by Western intelligence, made its
maiden flight The maiden flight, also known as first flight, of an aircraft is the first occasion on which it leaves the ground under its own power. The same term is also used for the first launch of rockets. In the early days of aviation it could be dange ...
on 13 April 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 (IB stands for ''istrebitel-bombardirovshchik'', or "fighter bomber"). It was developed in parallel with the two-seat naval trainer, the Su-27KUB. However, 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 (later 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 Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin (1 February 1931 – 23 April 2007) was a Soviet and Russian politician and statesman who served as President of Russia from 1991 to 1999. He was a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) from 1961 to ...
and the
Commonwealth of Independent States The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a regional organization, regional intergovernmental organization in Eurasia. It was formed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It covers an ar ...
(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, with Igor Votintsev and Yevgeniy Revoonov at the controls. Built at Novosibirsk, where Su-24s were constructed, this aircraft was visibly different from the original prototype; it had modified
vertical stabilizer A vertical stabilizer or tail fin is the static part of the vertical tail of an aircraft. The term is commonly applied to the assembly of both this fixed surface and one or more movable rudders hinged to it. Their role is to provide control, sta ...
s, twin tandem main undercarriage and a longer "stinger", which houses an APU in order to balance out the weight from the cockpit.


Standard Su-34 (1994)

The first aircraft built to production standard made its maiden flight on 28 December 1994. It was fitted with a
fire-control system A fire-control system (FCS) is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a director and radar, which is designed to assist a ranged weapon system to target, track, and hit a target. It performs the same task as a hum ...
, at the heart of which was the Leninets OKB-designed V004 passive electronically scanned array 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 Paris Air Show (, ''Salon du Bourget'') is a trade fair and air show held in odd years at Paris–Le Bourget Airport in France. Organized by the French aerospace industry's primary representative body, the ''Groupement des industries frança ...
, the aircraft was allocated the "Su-32FN" designation, signalling the aircraft's potential role as a shore-based naval aircraft for the Russian Naval Aviation. Sukhoi also promoted the Su-34 as the "Su-32MF" (''MnogoFunksionalniy'', "multi-function"). Budget restrictions caused the programme to stall repeatedly. Nevertheless, flight testing continued, albeit at a slow pace. The third pre-production aircraft first flew in late 1996.


Further development (2016–present)

Russia's
Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...
plans to modernize the Su-34; according to the deputy head of the military department, Yuriy Borisov, "We are planning to modernize the aircraft: prolong its service life, increase the number of airborne weapons. Plane is in great demand in our armed forces, and it has a great future." Russia is developing two new versions of the aircraft: one for electronic warfare (L700 Tarantul ECM pod can provide electronic cover for a group of aircraft) and one for
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance ISTAR stands for Military intelligence, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. In its macroscopic sense, #ISTAR, ISTAR is a practice that links several battlefield functions together to assist a combat force in employ ...
. ''Su-34M'' modernised version is to feature a new electro-optical infrared targeting pod, a Kopyo-DL rearward facing radar that can warn the pilots if missiles are approaching, combined with automatic deployment of countermeasures and jamming.


Orders and deliveries


Su-34 (2004–2021)

An initial batch of eight aircraft was completed by the Novosibirsk factory in 2004. In March 2006, Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Ivanov announced the purchase of the first five pre-production Su-34s for the Russian Air Force. In late 2008, a second contract was signed for delivery of 32 aircraft by 2015. A total of 70 aircraft were to be purchased by 2015 to replace some 300 Su-24s in service at the time, which were then undergoing a modernization program. Ivanov claimed that as it is "many times more effective on all critical parameters", fewer of these newer bombers are required than the old Su-24 it replaces. In December 2006, Ivanov stated that approximately 200 Su-34s were expected to be in service by 2020. This was confirmed by Russian Air Force chief Vladimir Mikhaylov on 6 March 2007. Two Su-34s were delivered in 2006–2007, and three more were delivered by the end of 2009. On 9 January 2008, Sukhoi reported that the Su-34 had begun full-rate production. The final stage of the state tests were completed on 19 September 2011. The Russian Air Force received another four Su-34s on 28 December 2010, as combat units in airbases first received six Su-34s in 2011. 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, Sukhoi reportedly delivered five aircraft under the 2012 State Defence Order. On 6 May 2013, the first Su-34s under the 2013 defence procurement plan were delivered. On 9 July 2013, three more Su-34s were delivered in an official acceptance ceremony held at the Novosibirsk Aircraft Plant. By the end of 2013, Sukhoi completed the 2008 contract and started deliveries of aircraft under the 2012 contract. In August 2013, Sukhoi ordered 184
identification friend or foe Identification, friend or foe (IFF) is a combat identification system designed for command and control. It uses a transponder that listens for an ''interrogation'' signal and then sends a ''response'' that identifies the broadcaster. IFF syst ...
transponders for the Russian Su-34s from the Kazan-based Radiopribor holding company, to be delivered by 2020. On 10 June 2014, a further delivery of Su-34s was made to the 559th Bomber Aviation Regiment at Morozovsk Air Base. Another three aircraft were delivered on 18 July 2014. In total, 18 aircraft were delivered in 2014, with 20 planned to be delivered in 2015. Sukhoi delivered the first batch of Su-34s under the 2015 defence procurement plan on 21 May 2015. On 16 July 2015, the Sukhoi Company handed over another batch of Su-34 frontline bombers to the Russian Defence Ministry. The transfer took place in the framework of the Unified Military Hardware Acceptance Day in the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association Plant. Algerian deal: after eight years of negotiations,
Rosoboronexport JSC Rosoboronexport (ROE; , ''Rosoboroneksport'') is the sole state intermediary agency for Russia's exports/imports of defense-related and dual use products, technologies and services. The Rosoboronexport Federal State Unitary Enterprise (FSU ...
received official request to supply the Su-34 to the
Algerian Air Force The Algerian Air Force (, ) is the aerial arm of the Algerian People's National Army. History The Algerian Air Force was created to support the fight of the People's National Army against the French occupying forces. It came as part of the ...
. The last two Su-34s of the 2012 contract were delivered to the 968th Fighter Aviation Regiment at the Lipetsk Air Base in December 2020. This brought the total number of operational aircraft delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces to 131 (not counting crashes and aircraft written off). Apart from this, also seven pre-production units were built under previous contracts. On 25 August 2020, the Russian Defence Ministry signed a third contract for a further 24 Su-34 aircraft for the Russian Aerospace Forces. The deliveries will stretch over three years. By December 2021, the Russian Aerospace Forces received six new aircraft of the third order.


Su-34M (2022–present)

In June 2022, the Russian Aerospace Forces received another four aircraft of the third order. These were the first aircraft built under the new "Su-34M" standard. They became part of the 277th Bomber Aviation Regiment. In August 2022, the Russian Ministry of Defence signed a new contract for supply of Su-34 bombers. In November 2022, Russia received a new batch of Sukhoi Su-34s of the modernized Su-34M variant; the number is yet unknown but it is safe to assume it was at least four units. Another batch of modernized Su-34Ms was handed over to the Russian Aerospace Forces in late December 2022. At this point, the total number of Su-34s produced under all contracts, including seven prototypes and pre-production units, reached at least 153 units. New batches were delivered in June, October and November 2023 and in April, June, September, October, November and December 2024 with at least 10 aircraft delivered in total throughout the year. The first batch for the 2025 was delivered on 18 April with two aircraft.


Design

The Su-34 shares most of its wing structure, tail, and engine
nacelle A nacelle ( ) is a streamlined container for aircraft parts such as Aircraft engine, engines, fuel or equipment. When attached entirely outside the airframe, it is sometimes called a pod, in which case it is attached with a Hardpoint#Pylon, pylo ...
s with the Su-27/ Su-30, with canards like the
Su-30MKI The Sukhoi Su-30MKI (NATO reporting name: Flanker-H) is a two-seater, twinjet multirole air superiority fighter developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi and built under licence by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for th ...
, 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 A turbofan or fanjet is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used in aircraft engine, aircraft propulsion. The word "turbofan" is a combination of references to the preceding generation engine technology of the turbojet and the add ...
engines, the same engines used on the Su-27SM, giving the aircraft a maximum speed of
Mach The Mach number (M or Ma), often only Mach, (; ) is a dimensionless quantity in fluid dynamics representing the ratio of flow velocity past a Boundary (thermodynamic), boundary to the local speed of sound. It is named after the Austrian physi ...
1.8+ when fully loaded. Although slower 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 , or further with
aerial refueling Aerial refueling ( en-us), or aerial refuelling ( en-gb), also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to an ...
. 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 lifting surface design having both a conventional horizontal
tailplane A tailplane, also known as a horizontal stabilizer, is a small lift (force), lifting surface located on the tail (empennage) behind the main lifting surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft as well as other non-fixed-wing aircraft such as helicopters ...
at the rear and a canard foreplane in front of the main wings. The foreplane provides both additional
lift (force) When a fluid flows around an object, the fluid exerts a force on the object. Lift is the Euclidean_vector#Decomposition_or_resolution, component of this force that is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction. It contrasts with the drag (phy ...
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 of ordnance, intended to include the latest Russian precision-guided weapons. It retains the 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon of the Su-27 and Su-30, and the ability to carry six R-77 or R-73 air-to-air missiles, with these being primarily for defense against other fighters. The maximum weight of any single munition carried is . Its stand-off weapons have a range of up to . A Khibiny
electronic countermeasure An electronic countermeasure (ECM) is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar, or other detection systems, like infrared (IR) or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting info ...
s (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 "Duckling", "Hellduck" or "Platypus". The two pilots sit side-by-side in NPP Zvezda K-36DM ejection seats: the pilot-commander on the left with the navigator and weapon operator on the right. 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 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, if necessary. A hand-held urinal "toilet" and vacuum flask "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 V004 main radar has terrain-following and terrain avoidance modes. Maximum detection range for the passive electronically scanned array radar is against large surface targets. 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 Su-34 reportedly has a frontal radar cross-section that is an order of magnitude smaller than prior generation fighters. A new 4th generation radar Pika-M of the complex BKR-3, having a range up to 300 km, passed state tests in 2016. As of 2021, several aircraft of the RuAF have passed modernization with special equipment that increases capabilities in detecting air and ground targets and expand the types of weapons used.


Operational history


Russia


Trials, early service

The Su-34 is rumoured to have made its combat debut during the 2008
Russo-Georgian War The August 2008 Russo-Georgian War, also known as the Russian invasion of Georgia,Occasionally, the war is also referred to by other names, such as the Five-Day War and August War. was a war waged against Georgia by the Russian Federation and the ...
. In July 2010, several Su-34s and Su-24Ms conducted a non-stop flight from air bases in
European Russia European Russia is the western and most populated part of the Russia, Russian Federation. It is geographically situated in Europe, as opposed to the country's sparsely populated and vastly larger eastern part, Siberia, which is situated in Asia ...
to the
Russian Far East The Russian Far East ( rus, Дальний Восток России, p=ˈdalʲnʲɪj vɐˈstok rɐˈsʲiɪ) is a region in North Asia. It is the easternmost part of Russia and the Asia, Asian continent, and is coextensive with the Far Easte ...
. The exercise included aircraft carrying weapons at full load and simulated delivering them on targets, demonstrating the Su-34's long-range capability. The Su-24Ms were refuelled three times, while the Su-34s were refuelled twice. The final stage of the Su-34's state trials was completed on 19 September 2011 and the aircraft entered service in early 2014.


Crashes, other accidents

* On 4 June 2015, an Su-34 slid off the runway and flipped over when its parachute failed to open after landing. Nobody was injured. The aircraft was returning from a routine training mission in Russia's Voronezh region. In June 2016, the damaged aircraft was transferred on board an Antonov An-124 to the
Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association JSC Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association Plant named after V.P. Chkalov (NAPO) is one of the largest aerospace manufacturers in Russia. The company produces, repairs and upgrades Su-34 fighter-bombers. It is also involved in the Sukhoi ...
plant for repairs, and was likely returned to service the same year. * On 18 January 2019, two Su-34s collided mid-air in Russia's Far East region, while performing a scheduled training flight. Two pilots were killed, one was rescued and one remained missing. All Su-34 flights were suspended throughout Russia following the accident. * On 6 September 2019, two Su-34s again collided mid-air, this time in the western Russian city of
Lipetsk Lipetsk (, ), also Romanization of Russian, romanized as Lipeck, is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Lipetsk Oblast, Russia, located on the banks of the Voronezh (river), Voronezh River in the Do ...
. According to a Russian source the collision happened due to pilot error. Both pilots managed to land after the accident. * On 21 October 2020, an Su-34 crashed performing a training flight in Khabarovsk region. * On 17 October 2022, a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber crashed into the courtyard of a residential apartment complex in the Russian city of Yeysk during a training flight, setting two blocks on fire. 15 people were killed and 19 were treated in hospital. A school was evacuated. Russian defense ministry sources stated the cause of the crash was an engine fire on takeoff and that both pilots ejected safely. Locals were seen rescuing one of the pilots. Russian naval aviation uses Yeysk as a main training area. * On 20 April 2023, an Su-34 of the Russian Aerospace Forces was performing a flight over the Russian city of Belgorod when a release of an air ordnance occurred, shattering windows, damaging cars and leaving a crater of about 20 meters in diameter. Three people were injured. * On 20 September 2023, an Su-34 "Red 05", RF-95806 crashed in Russia's Voronezh region, without any damage to personnel or ground structures. Both pilots ejected safely. * On 10 June 2024, an Su-34 crashed during a training flight in the mountains of
North Ossetia North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north'' is ...
, killing both pilots.


Syrian Civil War


=(2015–2020)

= In September 2015, six Su-34s arrived at Latakia airport in Syria, for attacks against rebel and ISIL forces. Russian air attacks in Syria started on 30 September, in the Homs region. On 1 October, the Su-34 was used to bomb Islamic State targets in Syria. The Russian Aerospace Forces Su-34 fighter-bombers destroyed an Islamic State command center and training camp south-west of the city of Raqqa. These included precision strikes from an altitude of over 5,000 m (16,400 ft). Russian Su-34 and Su-25 attack aircraft carried out air strikes the next day against Islamic State targets in Syria's Hama province using precision bombs. According to Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, Su-34s hit an ISIL fortified bunker in the Hama province with guided bombs. Fortifications, ammunition depots, seven units of the military equipment near Syria's Maarrat al-Numan were also destroyed by the Russian Aerospace Forces. An ISIL command center and underground depot were also destroyed with explosives near Raqqa. Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said in a statement on 3 October: "Accurate delivery of a concrete-piercing bomb BETAB-500 launched from an Su-34 aircraft near Raqqa destroyed a hardened command centre of one of the illegal armed groups as well as an underground bunker with explosives and an ammunition depot." A Russian Aerospace Forces representative stated Su-34s acquire targets using the
GLONASS GLONASS (, ; ) is a Russian satellite navigation system operating as part of a radionavigation-satellite service. It provides an alternative to Global Positioning System (GPS) and is the second navigational system in operation with global cove ...
satellite system for bombing. During this time six Su-34s were in Syria. Following the downing of an Su-24 by Turkey, Russia announced on 30 November 2015 that Su-34s in Syria had begun flying combat missions while armed with air-to-air missiles. On 16 August 2016, Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 bombers, having taken off from their base in Hamadan,
Islamic Republic of Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
, carried out group airstrikes against targets belonging to ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups in the provinces of Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor and Idlib. On 3 October 2017, Russian Su-34s and Su-35s were deployed to strike "the place of the
Al-Nusra Al-Nusra Front or Jabhat al-Nusra or Jabhat Nusrat Ahl al-Sham, also known as Front for the Conquest of the Levant, and also later known as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham was a Salafi-jihadist organization that fought against Ba'athist Syria, Ba'athist ...
leadership meeting" whose location was discovered by Russian military intelligence in Syria subsequently eliminating 12 Al-Nusra field commanders and some 50 militants of the group including Ahmad al-Ghizai, Al-Nusra's security chief according to the Russian Defense Ministry. On 28 May 2018, it was reported that Russian Su-34s intercepted two
Israeli Air Force The Israeli Air Force (IAF; , commonly known as , ''Kheil HaAvir'', "Air Corps") operates as the aerial and space warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Indep ...
F-16s over
Tripoli, Lebanon Tripoli ( ; , , ; , ; see #Names, below) is the largest and most important city in North Lebanon, northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in the country. Situated north of the capital Beirut, it is the capital of the North Governorate ...
, forcing them to retreat. On 27 February 2020, two Russian Su-34s allegedly carried out an
airstrike An airstrike, air strike, or air raid is an offensive operation carried out by aircraft. Air strikes are delivered from aircraft such as blimps, balloons, fighter aircraft, attack aircraft, bombers, attack helicopters, and drones. The official d ...
on a Turkish military convoy killing up to 36 soldiers and injuring at least 60 more in Balyun,
Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
. On 6 October 2020, two Russian Su-34s conducted air strikes against underground structures in the Eastern bank of
Euphrates The Euphrates ( ; see #Etymology, below) is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of West Asia. Tigris–Euphrates river system, Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia (). Originati ...
,
Deir Ez-Zor Deir ez-Zor () is the largest city in eastern Syria and the seventh largest in the country. Located on the banks of the Euphrates to the northeast of the capital Damascus, Deir ez-Zor is the capital of the Deir ez-Zor Governorate. In the 2018 ...
province allegedly inside
Rojava Rojava may refer to: * Syrian Kurdistan, also known as Rojava, the geographical region where Kurds historically settled within present-day Syria * Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria The Democratic Autonomous Administ ...
territory resulting in the death of ISIL field commander Abu Qatada, who was involved in preparing an attack against Russian forces which resulted in the death of Major General Vyacheslav Gladkikh. Additionally, the strike also destroyed two underground shelters and killed some 30 militants.


Russo-Ukrainian War


=Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022–present)

= On 28 February 2022, footage emerged reportedly showing Su-34s overflying the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. In various regions of Ukraine, downed Su-34 aircraft were mostly shot down by Ukrainian forces but some crashed for other reasons. One Su-34 was in a flat spin before it crashed. A modernized variant Su-34M was reportedly shot down by Russian forces. There were reports of pilots ejecting with some dying and some captured. Most of the downed planes were identified by their red tail numbers and registration numbers, for example, Red 31 with RF-81251. Until the deployment of the Russian GPS-guided UMPK (Unified Gliding and Correction Module) bomb kits in 2023, a lack of
guided bomb A guided bomb (also known as a smart bomb, guided bomb unit, or GBU) is a precision-guided munition designed to achieve a smaller circular error probable (CEP). The creation of precision-guided munitions resulted in the retroactive renaming of ...
s required the Su-34s to fly low for accurate bombing, where they were subjected to heavy Ukrainian air-defenses. As of 16 February 2025, there have been 36 Su-34s and 1 Su-34M visually confirmed as being lost, damaged or abandoned by Russian forces since the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine (29 destroyed in combat, 4 destroyed in a non-combat related incident and 4 damaged). Ukraine launched several surprise attacks on Russian Su-34 fighter bombers in the occupied south of Kherson and Mariupol using American-supplied long-range MIM-104 Patriot missiles, causing significant losses of Russian Su-34. As Ukraine fought on, Russia lost almost 36 Su-34 fighter bombers until June 2024.


Dated list of Su-34s shot down in the Russo-Ukrainian War

;2022 * The first Su-34 shot down during combat occurred a few days after the beginning of the war on 28 February 2022, near the Buzova airfield. * On 1 March 2022, another Su-34 "Red 31", RF-81251 was lost near Borodyanka, Kyiv region. * On 5 March 2022, a Su-34 "Red 26", RF-81864 was lost in the area of Hrabivka, Chernihiv Oblast. Both crew members did not survive. * On 6 March 2022, a Su-34 RF-95070 was lost over the city of
Kharkiv Kharkiv, also known as Kharkov, is the second-largest List of cities in Ukraine, city in Ukraine.
. * On 10 March 2022, a Su-34 reportedly crashed near Kozhan-Gorodok, Belarus, 17 km from the
Luninets (air base) Luninets is a reserve air base of the Air Force and Air Defence Forces of the Republic of Belarus located in Luninets, Brest Region. The airfield was a fighter-bomber training area during the Cold War. It was home to the 1169th BRAT (1169th Avi ...
. Both pilots ejected safely. * On 14 March 2022, a Su-34 "Red 35", RF-95010 was lost somewhere over Ukraine. * On 21 April 2022, a Su-34 "Red 43", RF-95858 was lost in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. * On 25 April, a Su-34 "Red 24", RF-95808 was lost near Balakliya, Kharkiv Oblast. * On 18 May 2022, a Su-34 was lost near Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast. Senior lieutenant Fetisov Vladimir Nikolayevich died during the crash. * On 17 July 2022, a modernized Su-34M reportedly "Red 51", RF-95890 was shot down due to a friendly fire incident near Alchevsk, Luhansk Oblast. * On 10 September 2022, wreckage of a Su-34 "Red 20", RF-95004 was found near Izyum, Kharkiv Oblast. It is not known when the plane was shot down. * On 11 September 2022, a Su-34 crashed in the area of Vorontsivka, Krasnoperekopsky district, Crimea. Both pilots ejected safely. * On 24 September 2022, a Su-34 "Red 22", RF-95005 was lost over Petropavlivka, Kharkiv Oblast. Both crew members ejected and survived. * On 2 October 2022, wreckage of a Su-34 "Red 09", RF-81852 was discovered in Lyman after Russian retreat. Exact crash date is not known. ;2023 * On 3 March 2023, a Su-34 was shot down over
Yenakiieve Yenakiieve (, ; ) is a city and the nominal administrative center of Yenakiieve urban hromada in the Horlivka Raion, Donetsk Oblast of Ukraine. The city stands on the Krynka River about from the oblast's administrative center, Donetsk. Its po ...
,
Donetsk Oblast Donetsk Oblast, also referred to as Donechchyna (, ), is an Oblasts of Ukraine, oblast in eastern Ukraine. It is Ukraine's most populous province, with around 4.1 million residents. Its capital city, administrative centre is Donetsk, though d ...
. One crew member, major Alexander Bondarev, did not survive. * On 13 May 2023, a Su-34 from the 47th Aviation Regiment was shot down over Starodubsky District,
Bryansk Oblast Bryansk Oblast (), also known as Bryanshchina (, ), is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Bryansk. As of the 2021 Census, its population was 1,169,161. Geography Bryansk Oblast lies in weste ...
, Russia. Both crew members died. * On 17 December 2023, a Su-34 parked at Morozovsk air base sustained minor damage due to Ukrainian drone attack. The aircraft was protected by anti-drone netting and was covered by ice build up on its airframe. * On 22 December 2023, Ukrainian official sources claimed shot down of three Russian Su-34 in southern Ukraine by
surface-to-air missile A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground or the sea to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-ai ...
s. At least one loss was confirmed by Russian
Telegram Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages where the sender uses symbolic codes, known to the recipient, rather than a physical exchange of an object bearing the message. Thus flag semaphore is a method of telegraphy, whereas pi ...
channel Fighterbomber, associated with the Russian Aerospace Forces. ;2024 * On 4 January 2024, it was reported a saboteur attempted to set fire to a Su-34 parked at the Chelyabinsk Shagol Airport. A video of the act was published by Ukrainian GUR. The saboteur attempted to ignite a fire inside the right air intake of the aircraft but was unsuccessful due to distance between the air intake itself and the engine. The following day on 5 January 2024, it was reported that the Russian
Federal Security Service The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation �СБ, ФСБ России (FSB) is the principal security agency of Russia and the main successor agency to the Soviet Union's KGB; its immediate predecessor was the Federal Counterin ...
detained a Russian national who was allegedly involved in the sabotage.


Unconfirmed losses claimed by Ukraine

* On 30 January 2024, Ukrainian forces claimed a Russian Su-34 was shot down over
Luhansk Oblast Luhansk Oblast (; ), also referred to as Luhanshchyna (), is the easternmost Administrative divisions of Ukraine, oblast (province) of Ukraine. Its administrative center is the city of Luhansk. The oblast was established in 1938 and bore the n ...
, Eastern Ukraine. Mykola Oleshchuk, a Ukrainian General said, "Units of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed three enemy aircraft at once—two Su-34 fighter-bombers and one Su-35 fighter," on Telegram on February 17. He said Ukraine shot down another Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber on the morning of February 18. Oleshchuk said that Ukrainian forces took down additional Su-34 fighter bombers, the seventh Su-34 plane reportedly destroyed by Ukraine within the week. On 27 February 2024 Oleshchuk reported that Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian Su-34 on the eastern front. Later that day another Russian Su-34 was reportedly shot down by Ukrainian forces. On 29 February Ukraine claimed it shot down three Su-34s. In total in February 2024 the Ukrainian Air Force claimed it had shot down ten Su-34 aircraft.
As of 27 February 2024, none of the claims have been independently verified. * On the night of 13–14 June 2024, officials from the Ukrainian GUR claimed that two Su-34s were damaged during a Ukrainian drone strike on the Morozovsk air base. There are reports of casualties however these were not officially confirmed. * On 14 August 2024, the Ukrainian military claimed to have shot down a Su-34 over Kursk Oblast.


Non-military usage

Sukhoi Su-34s were used on bombing runs against ice jams on the rivers in
Vologda Oblast Vologda Oblast (, ; ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is Vologda. The oblast has a population of 1,202,444 (Russian Census (2010), 2010 Census). The largest city is Cherepovets, t ...
to prevent floods during the spring of 2016.


Algerian purchase

In January 2016, Algeria was negotiating a purchase of 12 aircraft for its Air Force. The deal should have been signed in late 2016, but in 2017 the talks were still ongoing and no sale was made. On 27 December 2019, Algeria reportedly signed a contract for 14 aircraft as part of large military deal that also includes purchase of Su-35 and Su-57 fighters. However, neither the Russian nor Algerian governments ever confirmed that such a deal had been made. According to Mil.press, after eight years of fruitless negotiations with Algeria on selling Su-32 (export version), in 2019 Russia agreed to sell the modernized, non-downgraded Su-34ME version; Algeria became interested in the model after the campaign in Syria, where the aircraft demonstrated excellent combat qualities. Production of the first batch was underway as of March 2021 and, according to CAWAT, should be ready in 2021. Training of Algerian pilots would commence in 2022, with all planes to be delivered by 2023. According to a 17 March 2021 news article from Middle East Monitor (MEMO), a representative of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) in Russia denied the claim that Russia was manufacturing aircraft for Algeria.


Variants

* Su-34 – basic aircraft model. * Su-32 – export model offered to Algeria in 2012. Not currently offered. * Su-34E – current export model * Su-34M / Su-34 NVO (Навигация и Внешнее Оборудование, ''Navigation and External Equipment Upgrade'') – modernized version, also known as ''Su-34 Sych'' (Russian for Athene). The Russian contract was signed in 2020 and replaced basic Su-34 in production. According to reports, this upgrade seriously affects almost all of the aircraft's avionics. The radar, sight, and communication systems improved. The range of guided munitions that the bomber can use significantly expanded. EW capabilities also expanded with introduction of new hardpoints. The version was reportedly armed with long range cruise missiles in September 2023.


Operators

; *
Russian Aerospace Forces The Russian Aerospace Forces or Russian Air and Space Forces (VKS) comprise the air force, aerial, space force, space warfare, and Missile defense, missile defence Military branch, branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. It was ...
** 47th Bomber Aviation Regiment – Baltimor Air Base,
Voronezh Oblast Voronezh Oblast is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Voronezh. Its population was 2,308,792 as of the Russian Census (2021), 20 ...
** 277th Bomber Aviation Regiment – Khurba Air Base,
Khabarovsk Krai Khabarovsk Krai (, ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject (a krai) of Russia. It is located in the Russian Far East and is administratively part of the Far Eastern Federal District. The administrative centre of the krai is the types of ...
** 559th Bomber Aviation Regiment – Morozovsk Air Base,
Rostov Oblast Rostov Oblast ( rus, Росто́вская о́бласть, r=Rostovskaya oblastʹ, p=rɐˈstofskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast), located in the Southern Federal District. The oblast ...
** 2nd Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment – Chelyabinsk Shagol Airport,
Chelyabinsk Oblast Chelyabinsk Oblast; , is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject (an oblast) of Russia in the Ural Mountains region, on the border of Europe and Asia. Its administrative center is the types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Chel ...
** 4th Centre for Combat Employment and Retraining of PersonnelLipetsk Air Base,
Lipetsk Oblast Lipetsk Oblast () is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Lipetsk. As of the Russian Census (2021), 2021 Census, its population was&n ...
** State Flight Testing Center named after V.P. Chkalov – Akhtubinsk Air Base,
Astrakhan Oblast Astrakhan Oblast (; ) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast) located in southern Russia. Its administrative center is the city of Astrakhan. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 1,010,073. Geography Astrakhan's southern border is the ...
** Khmeimim Air Base,
Latakia Latakia (; ; Syrian Arabic, Syrian pronunciation: ) is the principal port city of Syria and capital city of the Latakia Governorate located on the Mediterranean coast. Historically, it has also been known as Laodicea in Syria or Laodicea ad Mar ...
,
Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...


Specifications (Su-34)


See also


References


Bibliography

* * * * * *


External links

* Official Sukhoi Su-34 webpage at
Su-32 page on Rosoboronexport's site
{{Sukhoi aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1990 Su-34 1990s Soviet attack aircraft Canard aircraft Twinjets Twin-tail aircraft Three-surface aircraft Fourth-generation jet fighters Sukhoi Su-27 family aircraft Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear