Su-34 Tactical Bomber: News

franco wrote:

ult wrote:

medo wrote:

George1 wrote:Russian Defense Ministry receives another batch of Sukhoi-34 bombers (No mention on number)

More:
http://tass.com/defense/896612

At least three. We could see borts 05, 06 and 07 ready for delivery in NAPO.

There were 5. 05, 06, 07, 09, 10. All of them to Hurba. They received 01, 02, 03, 04 earlier this year.

What happened to "8"? That confirms the military spokesman who said the delivery makes 50% of the planned years total. And previous article about the 100th Su-34 claimed that 18 were scheduled for this year.  

BMPD reports that there were 6 though. And that 08 is there as well. So that makes it 20 this year I guess.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2095335.html

ult wrote:

BMPD reports that there were 6 though. And that 08 is there as well. So that makes it 20 this year I guess.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2095335.html

the article says:

With the transfer of six VKS Russian bombers August 30, 2016 the total number of Su-34, handed over all contracts, including seven experimental and pre-production samples reached 92 units.

so we we have 85 in service (altough i have counted 87 with my calculations)

George1 wrote:

ult wrote:

BMPD reports that there were 6 though. And that 08 is there as well. So that makes it 20 this year I guess.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2095335.html

the article says:

With the transfer of six VKS Russian bombers August 30, 2016 the total number of Su-34, handed over all contracts, including seven experimental and pre-production samples reached 92 units.

so we we have 85 in service (altough i have counted 87 with my calculations)

Believe we will still see 18 as this years output.

I had a count of 76 at the end of 2015 and 10 would make 86 however can only locate 83 at the present.

Ah! the joys and bliss of trying to track the Russian military

franco wrote:
I had a count of 76 at the end of 2015 and 10 would make 86   however can only locate 83 at the present.

Me too. 76 but we had 5 units delivered before the last one. 81+6 new = 87

These are probably the missing two aircraft.

http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12075630@egNews

franco wrote:These are probably the missing two aircraft.

http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12075630@egNews

Yes i have counted these 2

New batch of Su-34s delivered to the Russian Ministry of Defense

http://echelon-defense.com/2016/09/01/new-batch-of-su-34s-delivered-to-the-russian-ministry-of-defense/

http://vpk.name/news/164232_opk_zapuskaet_seriinoe_proizvodstvo_vsevidyashih_rls_dlya_boevyih_samoletov_i_bespilotnikov.html

Kupol start serial production of SLAR recce pods Pika-M, which will be primarely used on Su-34 jets and later also on other jets and UAVs, most probably on Su-30SM and Su-35. In the resolution of 1 -1,5 m it could see targets up to 300 km away, but for more precise scaning it could work with resolution of 30 cm. Radar finished its testing in 2016.

Nice combination of Su-34 and Su-30SM.

Αnother three Su-34s delivered to VKS

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2222242.html

With the transfer of three Russian bombers on October 31, 2016 to VKS the total number of Su-34, handed over all contracts, including seven experimental and pre-production samples reached 94 units (so 87 combat). It was reported that on August 19, 2016 at the official ceremony NAZ rollout 100th built bomber Su-34, which, apparently, will be transferred FSI Russia by year's end. By the end of the year, presumably, Novosibirsk aircraft plant must pass six more Su-34 (ie a total of 18 on the program of 2016).

So 12 su-34s delivered this year with the last ones. 87 total delivered
By year end 6 more. 93 in total at the end of 2016

Su-34 fighter bombers squadron set up in Russia's Far Eastern Khabarovsk region

More:
http://tass.com/defense/919485

Su-34s flew into the stratosphere http://ren.tv/novosti/2016-10-14/rossiyskie-bombardirovshchiki-su-34-sovershili-polety-v-stratosferu?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=lentainform&utm_campaign=ren.tv&utm_term=1265860s10306&utm_content=4757505
Translation: Modern bombers Su-34 flew in the stratosphere at supersonic speed. The pilots also worked on the exercise of air navigation, landing and take-off at night and flew on a given route. The exercises were held in the Khabarovsk Territory. Head of the press service of VVS Colonel Alexander Gordeyev noted that as the final exercise pilots worked for bombing ground targets imaginary enemy. According to Tass, the maneuvers were carried out in the framework of the final test for the 2016 academic year. Air Force pilots bomber regiment of the Eastern Military District took part in the event.
What is their design max altitude? Going that high is unusual for a ground attack plane, but this 1 benefits from it's Su-27 direct ancestor.
The stratosphere is where MiG-25 interceptors (with service ceiling of at least 22,500m & up to record 37,650m (123,524 ft)) were like fish in the water: at mid latitudes, it starts at 10–13 km (33,000–43,000 ft; 6.2–8.1 mi) and ends at 50 km (160,000 ft; 31 mi)..
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/mig25/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-25#Interceptors
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratosphere

Could they be considering the Su-34s for that role as a stop-gap until MiG-31 follow on appears, or getting them ready to carry new missiles to be launched from there like planned modernized Tu-160, or both?
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/interceptor-alert-russias-mig-31-replacement-underway-14773
http://rbth.com/defence/2016/08/16/modernized-russian-bombers-will-be-able-to-fly-in-the-stratosphere_621509

4x Su-34s delivered to VKS on December 23rd. VKS Russia in 2016 got 16 Sukhoi Su-34



Based on available information, it is about the transfer of the four bombers Su-34 in the composition based on the airfield Khurba (near Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk Territory) 277th Bomber Aviation Regiment, 303rd Composite Air Division, 11th of the Red Army Air Force and defense of the Eastern military District. The arrival of these aircraft (presumably with the red side of the hotel with the "20" to "23") will begin upgrading the Su-34 squadron of the second regiment (former regiment was equipped with upgraded Sukhoi Su-24M2).

277th Bomber Regiment became the third combatant regiment VKS Russia rearming with aircraft Su-34, after the 47th Mixed Aviation Regiment 105 thComposite Air Division 6th Leningrad of the Red Army Air Force and Air Defence of the Western Military District at Baltimore airport (Voronezh) received in 2011-2013, 24 units of the Su-34 and the 559th separate Bomber regiment of the 4th of the Red army Air Force and Air defense Russian Southern military District at the airport Morozovsk (Rostov region), received in 2013-2015 36 units of Su-34.

With the transfer on December 23, 2016 of four Su-34 the total number of vehicles of this type built by NAZ on state defense orders in 2016 reached 16 aircraft. It is possible that before the end of the plant, as usual in recent years, will hand over two additional bombers Su-34.

With the transfer of FSI four Russian bombers December 23, 2016, the total number of Su-34, handed over all contracts, including seven experimental and pre-production samples reached 98 units. (91 combat, 7 prototypes) It was reported that on August 19, 2016 at the official ceremony NAPO rolled out 100th built bomber Su-34, which, apparently, will be transferred to the Russian VKS including two "ad hoc" aircraft by the end of the year.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2344648.html

The MiG-31 is all about speed and range... not altitude.

Perhaps they are interested in testing very high altitude release air to ground weapons... in the normal wars the Russians will be involved in... ie Syria et al, where the enemy has little or no air defence or aircraft flying at 22km altitude or higher at high speed allows large areas to be covered quickly and probably has an added bonus of enormous impact speed of the weapons involved for hard or deeply buried targets.

Aircraft flying at high altitude can fly much faster and much further than low flying aircraft and the large heavy SAMs they are vulnerable at that height are easier to find and deal with... most non Soviet systems are not very mobile...

Could they be considering the Su-34s for that role as a stop-gap until MiG-31 follow on appears, or getting them ready to carry new missiles to be launched from there like planned modernized Tu-160, or both?

the portion of the article you quoted mentioned ground targets being engaged so I rather doubt this is about replacing the MiG-31 and likely more about high altitude bombing... whether from the Su-34, or the Tu-22M3M. The Tu-160 reportedly has lost its bombing optics which suggests to me it will likely just be fitted with guided weapons... of course looking at the Su-34 perhaps they have developed an internal optics system or retractable system...

A replacement for the MiG-31 would be better served with variable cycle engines that can operate in a scramjet mode to allow much higher flight speeds and long range.

Internal weapon carriage would be useful but only in the sense of lower drag rather than lower RCS or stealth.

The new photonic radar systems would be ideal for such an aircraft.... 360 degree coverage preferably...

Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Yuri Borisov visited the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant. V.P. Chkalov, carrying out mass production of the latest Su-34 fighter-bombers.

During the visit, the deputy head of the military department told reporters that in 2017, the Russian Aerospace Forces will receive 16 new Su-34 fighter-bombers with a total order volume of 92 such aircraft.

"The Novosibirsk aircraft plant has a long contract with the Defense Ministry for 92 Su-34s and performs it ahead of schedule for almost a year. This year we are expecting superplanned deliveries of four aircraft, and the total volume of the order for the current year is 16 Su-34, "said Yury Borisov.

"There are 9 planes in the final assembly shop, which means that the plant's obligations for this year will undoubtedly be met. The schedule for the delivery of aircraft by the plant with the Defense Ministry has been agreed upon, we are not expecting any surprises, "the deputy defense minister said.

He stressed that the plant has a very stable economy and good plans for the future.

The deputy head of the military department noted the high characteristics of the Su-34. "It has proved itself from the best side in the Syrian conflict, it has a huge modernization potential and is a plane of a practically new generation," Yury Borisov said.

According to him, the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant will start upgrading the Su-34 fighter-bomber from 2018.

"The Su-34 modernization program is planned from 2018 onwards. We discussed with the management of the plant and the United Aircraft Corporation plans for work on the aircraft in the framework of the future state armament program for 2018-2025, "said the Deputy Minister of Defense.

Apparently upgrades starting 2018
http://mil.today/2017/Weapons46/

Presumably some fixes based on Syria experience, maybe newer electronics that weren't ready for production?

There are probably things that worked but could be redesigned to work better, and likely plenty of things that have since been improved since the design was frozen...

Hopefully they might improve Platan with a more sophisticated system that is not too expensive to go in every aircraft.

They could incorporate the Gefest & T upgrade directly into the upgraded Platan system with better optics of higher sensitivity and more modes of operation.

Practical tests are the best... what works and what does not work as expected. What is needing a lot more attention than expected and how can it be adapted to be less of an attention hog.

In a sense they are doing the same with the Blackjack, though of course in the 30+ years since that aircraft was made electronics have moved on considerably... but in both cases actual experience will give them a better idea of what to keep, what to upgrade and what to drop.

GarryB wrote:There are probably things that worked but could be redesigned to work better, and likely plenty of things that have since been improved since the design was frozen...

Hopefully they might improve Platan with a more sophisticated system that is not too expensive to go in every aircraft.

They could incorporate the Gefest & T upgrade directly into the upgraded Platan system with better optics of higher sensitivity and more modes of operation.

Practical tests are the best... what works and what does not work as expected. What is needing a lot more attention than expected and how can it be adapted to be less of an attention hog.

In a sense they are doing the same with the Blackjack, though of course in the 30+ years since that aircraft was made electronics have moved on considerably... but in both cases actual experience will give them a better idea of what to keep, what to upgrade and what to drop.

Actually the SVP-24 complex of Gefest & T does nothing to improve or enhance the radar and the optronic targeting system of aircarft it is equipped in.

On the Su-24Ms and Tu-22M3s, the SVP-24 complexes simply provide:

1. Improve the awareness situation of targets/battlefield by converting radar signal to video signal and display the video images on TV or/and MFD or/and HUD, help both pilot and weapon controller see the same things. The images taken from radar can overlap with what to be seen through optronic targeting system or/and digital mapping.

2. Improve the awareness situation of aircraft's motion/coordinates by KENS that to be done by inertial navigation, radio navigation, GPS/Glonass navigation integrates with aircaft's radar/optronic targeting system.

3. Onboard mission programming and ammunition ballistic caculation computers.

4. Data input/output devices.

5. Air data store.

6. Communication/data exchanged and transfered with ground force.

7. Ground base mission programming, analysis and training computers.

They all above help the aircrafts with SVP-24 Gefest gain very high effectiveness/accuracy when destroying targets by dumb bombs and unguided rockets.

Gefest SVP-24 is useful only to upgrade older planes. It have no sense to install it in any Su-30, Su-34 or Su-35 as they have more capable equipment than SVP-24. Even Su-27SM and Su-30KN and also Su-25SM modernization packages provide the same if not better capabilities than SVP-24.

medo wrote:Gefest SVP-24 is useful only to upgrade older planes. It have no sense to install it in any Su-30, Su-34 or Su-35 as they have more capable equipment than SVP-24. Even Su-27SM and Su-30KN and also Su-25SM modernization packages provide the same if not better capabilities than SVP-24.

Not actually like that. They are, the same with Sukhoi ugraded Su-24M2, look very fancy on the paper with many precision and guided (of cource expensive) bombs/missiles. However the effectiveness/accuracy to deliver dumb bombs and unguided rockets is not high. In one exercise to deliver dumb bombs, Su-34's scores was at the 3rd, after Gefest & T Su-24M and Gefest & T Tu-22M3.

kopyo-21 wrote:

medo wrote:Gefest SVP-24 is useful only to upgrade older planes. It have no sense to install it in any Su-30, Su-34 or Su-35 as they have more capable equipment than SVP-24. Even Su-27SM and Su-30KN and also Su-25SM modernization packages provide the same if not better capabilities than SVP-24.

Not actually like that. They are, the same with Sukhoi ugraded Su-24M2, look very fancy on the paper with many precision and guided (of cource expensive) bombs/missiles. However the effectiveness/accuracy to deliver dumb bombs and unguided rockets is not high. In one exercise to deliver dumb bombs, Su-34's scores was at the 3rd, after Gefest & T Su-24M and Gefest & T Tu-22M3.

So the Gefast & T upgrade could be quite effective for even newer aircrafts then?

miketheterrible wrote:So the Gefast & T upgrade could be quite effective for even newer aircrafts then?

Yes, it can be work well on newer aircrafts due to its unique sub-system such as the SRNS-24 satelite/radio/radar/electro-optronic navigation, the on-board SV-24 mission/calculation computer and the ground based programing and training computers.

First 4 Su-34's to be delivered this year;

https://www.youtube.com/embed/aqGSmFytgt0?rel=0&wmode=transparent

VKS of Russia received the first Su-34 bombers of the 2017 program

As reported by PJSC United Aircraft Corporation, on May 22, 2017 PJSC "Sukhoi Company" transferred to the Ministry of Defense of Russia the first batch of Su-34 front-line bombers within the framework of the state defense order of 2017. The aircraft took off from the aerodrome of the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant and headed to the place of their deployment.


One of the first four Su-34 front-line bombers (the "27 red" airborne number), built by the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V.P. Chkalov (a branch of PJSC "Sukhoi Company") under the state defense order of 2017, and transferred to the Russian Air Force 22.05.2017. Novosibirsk, May 2017 (c) stream / forums.airforce.ru


The bmpd comment. Thus, according to known information, the Russian Air Force received the first batch of four Su-34 front-line bombers built according to the program of 2017 at the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V.P. Chkalov PJSC "Sukhoi Company." These aircraft were built as part of a contract dated February 2012 for 92 such aircraft and entered the re-equipment of the 277th Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 303rd Mixed Air Division of the 11th Red Banner Air Force and Air Defense Army of the Eastern Military District (Near Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk Territory), presumably, the new four Su-34s have red board numbers from "24" to "27".

Earlier, the 277th Aviation Regiment received 16 Su-34 aircraft in 2016 (cars with red onboard numbers from 01 to 07, from 09 to 12, 14 and from 20 to 16, 23 "), which entered the regiment in four batches from May to December. Thus, as part of the 277th Aviation Regiment, there are now 20 Su-34 bombers.

With the delivery of the new four Su-34s, the total number of aircraft of this type, transferred to the VKS under the contract of 2012, reached 58 units. The first two Su-34s under this contract were transferred to Novosibirsk by the Russian Air Force on December 24, 2013, the next 18 aircraft - in 2014, 18 more aircraft - in 2015, and 16 - in 2016.

With the transfer of these four bombers in Russia to the Russian Air Force, in 2017, the total number of Su-34s delivered under all contracts, including seven pre-production models, reached 102 units. Thus, the Su-34 became the first "post-Soviet" military aircraft manufactured for an internal customer in the amount of more than 100 units.

The 277th Bomber Regiment became the third regiment of the Russian Air Force, re-armed with Su-34 aircraft, after the 47th mixed aviation regiment of the 105th Mixed Air Division of the 6th Leningrad Red Banner Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Western Military District at the Baltimore airfield in Voronezh, which in 2011-2013 received 24 Su-34 units and the 559th separate bomber aviation regiment of the 4th Krasnoznamennaya Army Air Force and Air Defense of Russia in the Southern Military District at the aerodrome Morozovsk (Rostov region), which in 2013-2015 received 36 Su- 34.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2623998.html