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Su-24 Sukhoi
Su-24
ASCC codename: Fencer
Medium Tactical/ Strategic Bomber

DESCRIPTION:
Once called the most dangerous aircraft in the Soviet arsenal, the Su-24 is an impressive low-level bomber with capabilities similar to those of the American F-111. However, the Su-24 is lighter, smaller, and more powerful than its counterpart. The Fencer, as it is called in the West, is capable of supersonic speeds at low level and is equipped with terrain-following radar and laser-designators for guided weapons. These features give the Su-24 the ability to streak towards enemy targets beneath radar coverage and attack with pinpoint accuracy. It is believed that about 650 Su-24s were built, but many have been removed from service since the demise of the Soviet Union. Current plans call for the remaining models to be phased out in favor of the Su-34.
Data below for Su-24M
Last modified 4 November 1999

HISTORY:

First Flight (Su-19) 1970
(Su-24) 1976

Service Entry (Su-24) 1983
(Su-24M) 1986

CREW: two: pilot, weapon systems officer

ESTIMATED COST: unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root TsAGI SR14S-5.376

Wing Tip TsAGI SR16M-10

DIMENSIONS:

Length 80.69 ft (24.59 m)

Wingspan unswept: 57.88 ft (17.64 m)
swept: 34.00 ft (10.36 m)

Height 20.31 ft (6.19 m)

Wing Area 590 ft² (55.2 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty 49,200 lb (22,320 kg)

Normal Takeoff unknown

Max Takeoff 87,520 lb (39,700 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: unknown

Max Payload

17,635 lb (8,000 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant two Saturn/ Lyulka AL-21F-3A afterburning turbojets

Thrust 49,380 lb (219.6 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,590 mph (2,560 km/h) at 36,090 ft (11,000 m), Mach 2.4
at sea level: 870 mph (1,400 km/h), Mach 1.14

Initial Climb Rate unknown

Service Ceiling 57,400 ft (17,500 m)

Range typical: 1,130 nm (2,100 km)
ferry: 3,480 nm (6,440 km)

g-Limits unknown

ARMAMENT:

Gun one 23-mm cannon (about 1,000 rds)

Stations eight external hardpoints

Air-to-Air Missile AA-2 Atoll, AA-8 Aphid, AA-7 Apex

Air-to-Surface Missile AS-7 Kerry

Bomb TN-1000/-1200 nuclear bombs, TV/laser guided bombs, 500/1000 kg bombs, anti-runway bombs

Other rocket pods, gun pods, ECM pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:

Su-19 Original model, entered production in 1974

Su-24 'Fencer-A' Modified Su-19 flown in 1976

Su-24 'Fencer-B' 'Fencer-A' with slightly modified fuselage shape near the tail and introducing drag chute for braking

Su-24 'Fencer-C' 'Fencer-A' with new radar warning receivers

Su-24M 'Fencer-D' Principal bomber model with terrain-following radar, forward-looking attack radar, and laser designator for guided weapons, entered service 1983

Su-24MR 'Fencer-E' Reconnaissance model

Su-24MP 'Fencer-F' Electronic reconnaissance model equipped with several antennae; approximately 12 built

Su-24MK Version of Su-24M for export

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: Afghanistan War (Soviet Union, 1984-1989)
Iran-Iraq War (Iran, 1980-1988)
Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (Iraq, 1991)

KNOWN OPERATORS: Russian Air Force
Belarus
Iran
Iraq
Kazakhstan
Libya
Syria
Ukraine

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

Su-24

SOURCES:

Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 267-268.

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 867.

FAS Su-24 site

Gunston, Bill and Spick, Mike. Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Combat Today. NY: Crescent Books, 1983, p. 162-163.

Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 220-221.

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	Sukhoi Su-24 ASCC codename: Fencer Medium Tactical/ Strategic Bomber

DESCRIPTION: Once called the most dangerous aircraft in the Soviet arsenal, the Su-24 is an impressive low-level bomber with capabilities similar to those of the American F-111. However, the Su-24 is lighter, smaller, and more powerful than its counterpart. The Fencer, as it is called in the West, is capable of supersonic speeds at low level and is equipped with terrain-following radar and laser-designators for guided weapons. These features give the Su-24 the ability to streak towards enemy targets beneath radar coverage and attack with pinpoint accuracy. It is believed that about 650 Su-24s were built, but many have been removed from service since the demise of the Soviet Union. Current plans call for the remaining models to be phased out in favor of the Su-34. Data below for Su-24M Last modified 4 November 1999
HISTORY:
First Flight	(Su-19) 1970 (Su-24) 1976
Service Entry	(Su-24) 1983 (Su-24M) 1986
CREW:	two: pilot, weapon systems officer
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	TsAGI SR14S-5.376
Wing Tip	TsAGI SR16M-10
DIMENSIONS:
Length	80.69 ft (24.59 m)
Wingspan	unswept: 57.88 ft (17.64 m) swept: 34.00 ft (10.36 m)
Height	20.31 ft (6.19 m)
Wing Area	590 ft² (55.2 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	49,200 lb (22,320 kg)
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Max Takeoff	87,520 lb (39,700 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	17,635 lb (8,000 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	two Saturn/ Lyulka AL-21F-3A afterburning turbojets
Thrust	49,380 lb (219.6 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 1,590 mph (2,560 km/h) at 36,090 ft (11,000 m), Mach 2.4 at sea level: 870 mph (1,400 km/h), Mach 1.14
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	57,400 ft (17,500 m)
Range	typical: 1,130 nm (2,100 km) ferry: 3,480 nm (6,440 km)
g-Limits	unknown
ARMAMENT:
Gun	one 23-mm cannon (about 1,000 rds)
Stations	eight external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile	AA-2 Atoll, AA-8 Aphid, AA-7 Apex
Air-to-Surface Missile	AS-7 Kerry
Bomb	TN-1000/-1200 nuclear bombs, TV/laser guided bombs, 500/1000 kg bombs, anti-runway bombs
Other	rocket pods, gun pods, ECM pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
Su-19	Original model, entered production in 1974
Su-24 'Fencer-A'	Modified Su-19 flown in 1976
Su-24 'Fencer-B'	'Fencer-A' with slightly modified fuselage shape near the tail and introducing drag chute for braking
Su-24 'Fencer-C'	'Fencer-A' with new radar warning receivers
Su-24M 'Fencer-D'	Principal bomber model with terrain-following radar, forward-looking attack radar, and laser designator for guided weapons, entered service 1983
Su-24MR 'Fencer-E'	Reconnaissance model
Su-24MP 'Fencer-F'	Electronic reconnaissance model equipped with several antennae; approximately 12 built
Su-24MK	Version of Su-24M for export
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	Afghanistan War (Soviet Union, 1984-1989) Iran-Iraq War (Iran, 1980-1988) Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (Iraq, 1991)
KNOWN OPERATORS:	Russian Air Force Belarus Iran Iraq Kazakhstan Libya Syria Ukraine
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 267-268. Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 867. FAS Su-24 site Gunston, Bill and Spick, Mike. Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Combat Today. NY: Crescent Books, 1983, p. 162-163. Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 220-221.