Su-34 Tactical Bomber: News

Indian Flanker wrote:

Morpheus Eberhardt wrote:
It would depend on which variants of S-400 and Su-34 we are talking about.

We are talking about both export variants  

However, the Indian variant of Su-34(if our government decides to procure it) should be closer to the original Russian variant(owing to the Indo-Ruusian history/ties), than the export variant of S-400 to China(again owing to their copy-cat history) 

Well, the situation is a lot more complex than that; so for now, may be its best for us to stick to the answer TR1 provided.

medo wrote:I doubt Su-34 will be ever meant for export.

Vietnam has been offered the SU 34 . It depends whether Vietnam will purchase the SU 34 or place more orders for the SU 30 which just like India's is optimized for ground attack roles .

GarryB wrote: I really don't think it has anything to do with the west... if India wanted Su-34s then Russia would likely sell them to them because they trust them.

x2 . But I don't think India would need the SU 34 . The SU 30 MKI gives a bang for your buck . The idea here is to go for multi role combat aircrafts and not role specific aircrafts unlike the 80s , when procuring role specific aircrafts were the order of the day .

The Pak Sha is probably something that would meet India's requirements , not to mention the PAK DA .

Sujoy wrote:

medo wrote:I doubt Su-34 will be ever meant for export.

Vietnam has been offered the SU 34 . It depends whether Vietnam will purchase the SU 34 or place more orders for the SU 30 which just like India's is optimized for ground attack roles .

GarryB wrote: I really don't think it has anything to do with the west... if India wanted Su-34s then Russia would likely sell them to them because they trust them.

x2 . But I don't think India would need the SU 34 . The SU 30 MKI gives a bang for your buck . The idea here is to go for multi role combat aircrafts and not role specific aircrafts unlike the 80s , when procuring role specific aircrafts were the order of the day .

The Pak Sha is probably something that would meet India's requirements , not to mention the PAK DA .

Are we going to equip all MKIs with Brahmos? If so, then could it negatively affect its A2A role?

At the end, Su-30MKI is an air dominance fighter and I think India should stick with that concept!

Indian Flanker wrote:Are we going to equip all MKIs with Brahmos? If so, then could it negatively affect its A2A role?

The weapon configuration is decided based on the type of mission (SEAD/DEAD). So in an A2A role it's bound to carry more A2A missiles than stand off cruise missiles.  

Therefore , the SU 30 MKI will not have to pay any penalty in the air dominance/superiority role .

Sujoy wrote:

Indian Flanker wrote:Are we going to equip all MKIs with Brahmos? If so, then could it negatively affect its A2A role?

The weapon configuration is decided based on the type of mission (SEAD/DEAD). So in an A2A role it's bound to carry more A2A missiles than stand off cruise missiles.  

Therefore , the SU 30 MKI will not have to pay any penalty in the air dominance/superiority role .

What I meant that to be able to carry Brahmos missile, HAL/Sukhoi would need to strengthen the airframe of Su-30mki, thus making it more heavier. And more airframe weight is not good for A2A role(even if it's carrying only A2A ordnance). So, smart thing for IAF would be to convert only a limited number of MKIs as Brahmos carrier variant, and leave others as they are.

If anything HAL should look to reduce the empty weight of MKI as it is whooping 18,500 kg, by the use of more advance composites.

PS: Any idea when IAF would receive their first Super Sukhoi MKI with AESA radar and other stuff?

Indian Flanker wrote:
What I  meant that to be able to carry Brahmos missile, HAL/Sukhoi would need to strengthen the airframe of Su-30mki, thus making it more heavier. And more airframe weight is not good for A2A role(even if it's carrying only A2A ordnance).

The airframe is constructed of titanium and high-strength aluminium alloys , so airframe strengthening  is not going to add a tremendous amount of weight .Remember the turbofans will also be uprated simultaneously .

Indian Flanker wrote:If anything HAL should look to reduce the empty weight of MKI as it is whooping 18,500 kg, by the use of more advance composites.

If at all that is needed Sukhoi will have to do that . HAL does not have those skill sets . Infact HAL is suppoed to roll out 12 SU 30 MKIs every year , a target they are finding difficult to meet .

Indian Flanker wrote:PS: Any idea when IAF would receive their first Super Sukhoi MKI with AESA radar and other stuff?

The signing of the contract itself has been postponed because MoD has no money . Best guess would be one year from now the contract would be signed .

Sujoy wrote:Vietnam has been offered the SU 34 . It depends whether Vietnam will purchase the SU 34 or place more orders for the SU 30 which just like India's is optimized for ground attack roles

Came across this...Su-34 in Vietnam ?




and a quote from a 2012 article

Dependent on the amount of funding, the Air Force Main Command has ambitious plans to modernize, including the deployment of four fighter regiments to strengthen its ability to engage surface targets.

This force, numbering 45 fighters Su-27/30 received from Russia, should become the backbone of the attack and defense forces of the Air Force of Vietnam, but other than that, if all goes according to the plans, they will add another Sukhoi product  - Su-34 bombers. Information about ordering the Su-34 is not avaiable, but there is a desire to replace aging Su-22 with advanced Su-34, which is predominantly maritime attack aircraft, as soon as the Su-34 will be exported.

http://periscope2.ru/2012/10/18/6422/

Cyberspec wrote:Came across this...Su-34 in Vietnam ?

Vietnam hasn't purchased any SU 34 yet nor has the Kremlin made any announcement related to the sale of SU 34 to Vietnam . Vietnam intends to replace the SU 22 with the SU 34 especially since the SU 34 can fly TERCOM .


However , as on this date all the SU 34 assembly lines are catering to the requirements of the RuAF , so if Vietnam places any order the number of SU 34 assembly lines will have to be increased .

GarryB wrote: I am sure the Iranians would be interested... which might spark further interest in Flankers to replace those Tomcats.

Their Tomcats are now grounded for years because of the lack of spare parts .

But yes , if Iran and Vietnam places orders for SU 34 , Sukhoi might start a new assembly line .

For countries that don't have an aircraft carrier , their next best choice should be the SU 34 .

Would be interesting to see if the Russian Navy places order for a EW version of the SU 34 .

GarryB wrote:Would be interesting if they started producing export Su-34s... I am sure the Iranians would be interested... which might spark further interest in Flankers to replace those Tomcats.

Su-34 is replacement for Su-24. I think Iran would be far more interested in Su-30 or its chinese J-16 clone for F-14 replacement as F-14 is air defense fighter. Su-30 as multirole fighter could also replace F-4 and Su-24. Iran should buy around 150 of them.

Sujoy wrote:Their Tomcats are now grounded for years because of the lack of spare parts .

Iranian F-14 are still flying. This is somehow a wonder of Iranian maintenance teams, who still service them and produce spare parts and also a fact, that F-14 is naval fighter for carrier operations and Iran use them on airfields in dry climate. This fact made their life time far longer, than for usual planes. But in next decade Iran will have to replace them and Su-30 is the best option for them.

Sujoy wrote:Would be interesting to see if the Russian Navy places order for a EW version of the SU 34 .

Russian navy already order Su-30SM, which could do this job practically same effective using same ECM pods and equipment. Navy should just increase their order for additional 30 planes for 80 in total, that all fleets have their squadrons.

Sujoy wrote:

Cyberspec wrote:Came across this...Su-34 in Vietnam ?

Vietnam hasn't purchased any SU 34 yet nor has the Kremlin made any announcement related to the sale of SU 34 to Vietnam . Vietnam intends to replace the SU 22 with the SU 34 especially since the SU 34 can fly TERCOM

Nobody said Vietnam bought any Su-34's....it could be there for evaluation.

That picture is a fake, there are many inconsistencies with the Su-34.

medo wrote:Iranian F-14 are still flying. This is somehow a wonder of Iranian maintenance teams, who still service them and produce spare parts and also a fact, that F-14 is naval fighter for carrier operations and Iran use them on airfields in dry climate. This fact made their life time far longer, than for usual planes. But in next decade Iran will have to replace them and Su-30 is the best option for them.

Yes, just 2 of them . They cannibalized the rest to keep just 2 Tomcats flying . A lot of news that Iran circulates is just propaganda . Forget the sensors , weapons etc . Take the engines for example . The P & W TF30 engines have already reached their technical end of life . Has Iran produced any new engine to replace these ? No , right .

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/iran-overhauls-grounded-f-14s_513282.html

medo wrote:Russian navy already order Su-30SM, which could do this job practically same effective using same ECM pods and equipment. Navy should just increase their order for additional 30 planes for 80 in total, that all fleets have their squadrons.

SU 34 is optimized for maritime attack and reconnaissance duties something that the Su 30 SM isn't . Lightweight ASW torpedoes and a conformal centreline pod which can be loaded with up to 72 sonobuoys of various types allows it to effectively carry out ASW .

TR1 wrote:That picture is a fake, there are many inconsistencies with the Su-34.

Yes i noticed that it's still have the rear landing gear of Su-27/30  

More will be bought   

Earlier, [b]Russian Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev[/b] said that the Russian Air Force hopes to increase its frontline Su-34 bombers to 150-200 units. According to him in 2014 for service to the troops arrive 16 bombers.

Sukhoi Su-34 adopted by the Russian Air Force

Excellent. Around 200 Su-34 and 200 Su-30SM will give Russian military quite capable fighter-bomber force as well as multirole fighters.

Su-34 front-line bomber enters Russian Air Force service

The Sukhoi-34 (Su-34) front-line has officially entered service with the Russian Air Force, a source in the Russian defense industry told reporters.

"The Su-34 designed and produced by the Sukhoi company has officially entered Air Force service," the source said.

After completing a full cycle of flight tests, the Su-34 went into serial production at a Novosibirsk aircraft-building plant as part of the State Armaments Program for the years 2011-2020.

"Last year, Sukhoi fulfilled its first contract with the Air Force for the supply of 32 Su-34s. It will supply 92 more planes under the second contract," the source said, Interfax reports.

Earlier, Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Viktor Bondarev unveiled plans to bring the Su-34 fleet to 150-200 machines.

This year, the Air Force will receive 16 Su-34s, two planes more than last year.

"We will receive a total of 150 machines and will probably increase their number to 200," Bondarev said.

"Starting from 2015, the plant will be producing 20 planes per year," he said.

The Su-34 will replace the Su-24 front-line bomber which is currently in service.

The twin-engine medium-to-long-range Su-34, a nuclear-capable front-line bomber of the 4+ generation, is intended for high-precision strikes on land, sea and air targets, including simultaneous strikes on several targets, in any geographic region in any weather at any time of day. It has excellent aerodynamic parameters, large-capacity internal fuel tanks and an air-borne refueling system.
Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_20/Su-34-front-line-bomber-enters-Russian-Air-Force-service-4514/

TR1 wrote:

Awesome.    

Pls tell me from where to get this lockon mod  

Any idea how low the RCS of Su-34 is vis-a-vis a normal Su-27?