Su-34 Tactical Bomber: News #2

sepheronx wrote:NAPO could be expanded. Or production of the jet can be opened up elsewhere to expand production. Doing so could also ultimately reduce the overall cost of the jet.

Indeed the Su-34 is a workhorse.  What I don't read as much is Su-30SM in this war.

The Su-30 was originally designed for the air superiority mission. To expand the IADS bubble. The second crewman was supposed to handle the radar and weapons release functions.

Since the Su-30SM it became a true multi-role fighter. But I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the crews were mainly trained in air combat. The Su-30SM also lacks the sensors for ground attack present in the Su-34.

Some Su-30 were even lost in combat over Ukraine. So they are definitively being used.

It should be enough to increase Su-34 production at the factory to its max rate. The max production the factory achieved historically is higher than current combat losses. Some of the tasks it does can also be done with other aircraft like Su-35 and Su-30SM. Like I said before I think they need to add MAWS to the aircraft to reduce further combat losses. Since such a system is already present in the Su-35 it should not be that hard to add.

In the long term the dual seater Su-57 variant will likely replace the Su-30 and maybe part of the Su-34 as well. So I am not sure there is much point in building huge numbers of these aircraft.

My understanding g was MAWS was supposed to be added to the newest variant of Su-34's? One mentioned by Hole. Yeah, MAWS is present with Su-35 so shouldn't be hard or expensive to add.

Anyway, more jets please. Love these birds (all Russian birds honestly).

sepheronx wrote:

Indeed the Su-34 is a workhorse.  

While inspecting the production, Shoigu said that they are making four times the number of sorties than all other types combined.