In the war against Ukraine, Russia uses Su-34 fighters to strike Ukrainian military personnel and carry out terrorist attacks on civilian targets. ICTV Facts talk about the main characteristics of the Su-34 bomber.
Su-34: what is known about the fighter-bomber
The Su-34 is a Russian fighter-bomber designed to replace the outdated version of the Su-27 military aircraft. It was developed to more accurately engage air targets and to enable air forces to carry out pinpoint air strikes against ground targets.
The difference between the Su-34 and previous Soviet aircraft was the change in the entrance to the cockpit, which now occurs in the recess of the supporting front part of the landing gear. The ability to refuel the aircraft in the air was also added, which made it possible to fly at a range of about 4 thousand km.
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In order to increase the stability of the aircraft and the protection of the crew, the outer casing of the cabin was made of an armored shell made of titanium alloy. The armor thickness of the Su-34 is 17 mm. The cabin also has armored glazing.
The first flight of the Su-34-T10V-1 took place on April 13, 1990. Then, first of all, it was intended to destroy ground and surface targets, including small and mobile ones, both day and night, in any climatic and weather conditions. Serial production of the aircraft was carried out at the Novosibirsk Aviation Production Association named after Chkalov.
Yuri Ignat, a representative of the Air Force, noted that one such aircraft could cost up to $50 million.
Features and purpose of the Su-34
The capabilities of the Su-34 include striking air targets and ground targets with a small area.
The aircraft is armed with a 30 mm caliber cannon and has 12 points for carrying a combat load, which should not weigh more than 8 tons. For the use of aviation weapons, the aircraft is equipped with a sighting system that allows searching for and hitting targets using radar systems.
That is:
- Cannon armament: GSh-301 cannon (1×30 mm)
- Suspension points: 12
- Combat load: various weapons on external sling (8 thousand kg)
Using the Platan optical system, air-to-ground missiles of the Kh-29L type, KAB-500-L and KAB-1500-L guided bombs with laser seekers that require target illumination are aimed at the target.
The aircraft's capabilities allow it to use NATO bombs and missiles. The module, designed as a suspended container, allows the use of BGL series guided bombs, optical detection of armored vehicles at a range of up to 27 km, and control of the laser channel guidance of guided bombs and missiles at a range of up to 16 km.
In addition to using NATO ammunition nomenclature, Damocles technology is adapted to the use of Russian ammunition.
Photo: Getty Images
Technical characteristics
The Su-34 fighter is equipped with two AL-31F-M1 engines. The weight of one engine is 1,520 kg. If one of the engines fails, the pilot has the opportunity to make an emergency landing of the aircraft, but two engines increase the weight of the aircraft and it loses the lightness that fighters need in air battles.
The Su-34 fighter-bomber has the following characteristics:
- Crew: 2 people
- Engine: 2 × TRDDF AL-31F-M1
- Wingspan: 14.7 m
- Wing area: 62 m²
- Sweep angle: 42°
- Wing aspect ratio: 3.5
- Length: 23.3 m
- Height: 6.0 m
- Chassis base: 6.63 m
- Chassis track: 4.4 m
- Empty weight: 22,500 kg
- Normal take-off weight: 38,240 kg
- Maximum take-off weight: 45 thousand kg
Thrust:
- Maximum: 2 × 7,670 kgf (74.6 kN)
- At afterburner: 2×13 500 kgf (132.4 kN)
- Bypass ratio: 0.571
- Engine weight: 1,520 kg
Flight characteristics:
- Flight range: 4 thousand km
- Practical ceiling: 17 thousand m
- Combat radius: 1,100 km
- Maximum ground speed: 1,400 km/h
- Maximum speed at high altitude: 1,900 km/h (Mach 1.8)
Wing load:
- At normal take-off weight: 616 kg/m²
- At maximum take-off weight: 725 kg/m²
Thrust capacity:
- Maximum operational overload: +7 (or +9) G
- At normal take-off weight: 0.71
- At maximum take-off weight: 0.6
