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Su-34 Sukhoi
Su-32, Su-34
ASCC codename: Fullback
Medium Tactical/ Strategic Bomber

DESCRIPTION:
Based on the Su-27 fighter, the Su-34 is a tactical low-level bomber designed to replace the Su-24. The first Su-34 prototype was a modified Su-30 tandem two-seat trainer, itself a variant of the Su-27, reconfigured with two side-by-side seats in a widened fuselage. The widened nose also contains a terrain-following radar and terrain-avoidance system needed for low-level flight. Furthermore, the revised nose shape is a flat, sharp, chined configuration similar to that on the SR-71 Blackbird to reduce radar cross-section.
Like the Su-27, the Su-34 also features a rearward facing radar between the engines to track and fire upon targets behind the aircraft. Improvements over the Su-27 include more sophisticated avionics, addition of canards like those of the Su-33, better maneuverability, greater range, and improved low-level flight performance.
The Su-34, originally known as the Su-27IB, is expected to replace the Su-24 bomber as well as the MiG-25RB reconnaissance plane. A further variant of the Su-34 is the Su-32FN optimized for maritime attack and reconnaissance duties. Some reports also suggest a navalized version of the Su-34 (possibly confused with the Su-33UB) equipped with more powerful engines and thrust vectoring to reduce the takeoff distance. This variant remains somewhat doubtful, however, since the Russian Navy only operates a single aircraft carrier that seldom leaves port.
Russia hopes to ultimately build as many as 600 examples of the Su-34 by about 2030. Even though the Su-34 first flew in the early 1990s, production has been slow to get underway and only 58 have been funded through 2015. The age of the Su-24 and MiG-25 means these aircraft will likely be removed from service by 2020 leaving a large gap in capability until sufficient numbers of the Su-34 become available.
Last modified 13 September 2009

HISTORY:

First Flight (modified Su-30) 13 April 1990
(Su-34) 18 December 1993

Service Entry

unknown

CREW: two: pilot, weapon systems officer

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root unknown

Wing Tip

unknown

DIMENSIONS:

Length 82.67 ft (25.22 m)

Wingspan 48.18 ft (14.70 m)

Height 20.33 ft (6.20 m)

Wing Area 666 ft² (62.0 m²)

Canard Area

unknown

WEIGHTS:

Empty 30,865 lb (14,000 kg)

Normal Takeoff 85,980 lb (39,000 kg)

Max Takeoff 99,210 lb (45,000 kg)

Fuel Capacity 26,675 lb (12,100 kg)

Max Payload 17,640 lb (8,000 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant two Saturn/Lyul'ka AL-31MF afterburning turbojets

Thrust 58,460 lb (260 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,180 mph (1,900 km/h) at 32,780 ft (10,000 m), Mach 1.8
at sea level: unknown
cruise speed: 810 mph (1,300 km/h) at 32,780 ft (10,000 m)

Initial Climb Rate unknown

Service Ceiling 45,890 ft (14,000 m)

Range typical: 2,160 nm (4,000 km)
ferry: 3,775 nm (7,000 km)

g-Limits +7

ARMAMENT:

Gun one 30-mm GSh-301 cannon (149 rds)

Stations ten external hardpoints and two wingtip rails

Air-to-Air Missile up to 12 R-27/AA-10 Alamo, R-73/AA-11 Archer, or R-77/AA-12

Air-to-Surface Missile AS-12, AS-13, Kh-29/AS-14 Kedge, Kh-35, Kh-41, Kh-59

Bomb KAB-500, KAB-1500 laser-guided bombs

Other rocket pods, ECM pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:

Su-27IB Original designation of the Su-34

Su-34 Production model based on the Su-27 airframe but with a widened forward fuselage for side-by-side seating as well as advanced navigation and attack avionics

Su-32FN Maritime attack and reconnaissance model built for export

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: none

KNOWN OPERATORS: Russia, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Russian Air Force)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

Su-34

SOURCES:

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 868, Sukhoi Su-27 and derivatives.

Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 415, Sukhoi Su-27IB/KU/Su-34.

Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 268, Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker'.

Gunston, Bill, ed. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1995, p. 366-369, Su-27IB, Su-34.

Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery

Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 105.

Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 94-95, Sukhoi Su-34 (Su-27IB).

Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 73-74, Sukhoi Su-32FN and Su-34/Su-27IB (NATO name Flanker).

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	Sukhoi Su-32, Su-34 ASCC codename: Fullback Medium Tactical/ Strategic Bomber

DESCRIPTION: Based on the Su-27 fighter, the Su-34 is a tactical low-level bomber designed to replace the Su-24. The first Su-34 prototype was a modified Su-30 tandem two-seat trainer, itself a variant of the Su-27, reconfigured with two side-by-side seats in a widened fuselage. The widened nose also contains a terrain-following radar and terrain-avoidance system needed for low-level flight. Furthermore, the revised nose shape is a flat, sharp, chined configuration similar to that on the SR-71 Blackbird to reduce radar cross-section. Like the Su-27, the Su-34 also features a rearward facing radar between the engines to track and fire upon targets behind the aircraft. Improvements over the Su-27 include more sophisticated avionics, addition of canards like those of the Su-33, better maneuverability, greater range, and improved low-level flight performance. The Su-34, originally known as the Su-27IB, is expected to replace the Su-24 bomber as well as the MiG-25RB reconnaissance plane. A further variant of the Su-34 is the Su-32FN optimized for maritime attack and reconnaissance duties. Some reports also suggest a navalized version of the Su-34 (possibly confused with the Su-33UB) equipped with more powerful engines and thrust vectoring to reduce the takeoff distance. This variant remains somewhat doubtful, however, since the Russian Navy only operates a single aircraft carrier that seldom leaves port. Russia hopes to ultimately build as many as 600 examples of the Su-34 by about 2030. Even though the Su-34 first flew in the early 1990s, production has been slow to get underway and only 58 have been funded through 2015. The age of the Su-24 and MiG-25 means these aircraft will likely be removed from service by 2020 leaving a large gap in capability until sufficient numbers of the Su-34 become available. Last modified 13 September 2009
HISTORY:
First Flight	(modified Su-30) 13 April 1990 (Su-34) 18 December 1993
Service Entry	unknown
CREW:	two: pilot, weapon systems officer
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown
Wing Tip	unknown
DIMENSIONS:
Length	82.67 ft (25.22 m)
Wingspan	48.18 ft (14.70 m)
Height	20.33 ft (6.20 m)
Wing Area	666 ft² (62.0 m²)
Canard Area	unknown
WEIGHTS:
Empty	30,865 lb (14,000 kg)
Normal Takeoff	85,980 lb (39,000 kg)
Max Takeoff	99,210 lb (45,000 kg)
Fuel Capacity	26,675 lb (12,100 kg)
Max Payload	17,640 lb (8,000 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	two Saturn/Lyul'ka AL-31MF afterburning turbojets
Thrust	58,460 lb (260 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 1,180 mph (1,900 km/h) at 32,780 ft (10,000 m), Mach 1.8 at sea level: unknown cruise speed: 810 mph (1,300 km/h) at 32,780 ft (10,000 m)
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	45,890 ft (14,000 m)
Range	typical: 2,160 nm (4,000 km) ferry: 3,775 nm (7,000 km)
g-Limits	+7
ARMAMENT:
Gun	one 30-mm GSh-301 cannon (149 rds)
Stations	ten external hardpoints and two wingtip rails
Air-to-Air Missile	up to 12 R-27/AA-10 Alamo, R-73/AA-11 Archer, or R-77/AA-12
Air-to-Surface Missile	AS-12, AS-13, Kh-29/AS-14 Kedge, Kh-35, Kh-41, Kh-59
Bomb	KAB-500, KAB-1500 laser-guided bombs
Other	rocket pods, ECM pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
Su-27IB	Original designation of the Su-34
Su-34	Production model based on the Su-27 airframe but with a widened forward fuselage for side-by-side seating as well as advanced navigation and attack avionics
Su-32FN	Maritime attack and reconnaissance model built for export
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	none
KNOWN OPERATORS:	Russia, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Russian Air Force)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 868, Sukhoi Su-27 and derivatives. Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 415, Sukhoi Su-27IB/KU/Su-34. Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 268, Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker'. Gunston, Bill, ed. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1995, p. 366-369, Su-27IB, Su-34. Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 105. Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 94-95, Sukhoi Su-34 (Su-27IB). Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 73-74, Sukhoi Su-32FN and Su-34/Su-27IB (NATO name Flanker).