Russia receives a new batch of Su-34s

The Russian United Aircraft Corporation has handed over another batch of Su-34 fighter-bombers to the Russian Air Force.

The press service of the corporation made the corresponding announcement on its social networks.

The Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association Plant, a part of the aircraft manufacturing corporation, has handed over a new batch of Su-34M fighter-bombers to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

This is the second batch of fighter-bombers to be delivered to Russia in 2023. The exact number of manufactured aircraft has not been disclosed, but it is estimated to be two or three.

The first batch of aircraft of this type was delivered in early June this year. Their number was not disclosed, but according to the published footage, the batch consisted of two units.

In 2022, the Russian Armed Forces received two more batches of Su-34 fighter-bombers in the amount of two to four units each.

At the same time, along with the arrival of new fighter-bombers, the Russian army is suffering losses in its Su-34 fleet. Thus, in 2023, two fighter-bombers were lost as a result of the work of the Ukrainian air defense systems and an air accident.

Since the beginning of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian troops have lost 22 Su-34 and Su-34M fighter-bombers, according to confirmed reports.

Su-34

The Su-34 is a Soviet/Russian all-weather two-seat fighter bomber developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau based on the design of the Soviet Su-27 fighter jet.

The aircraft is designed to carry out precise missile and bomb strikes on enemy ground targets in operational and tactical depth and to fight air targets.

The aircraft has a combat radius between 600 and 1,100 kilometers depending on the load. The payload is 8 tons, within which it can carry bombs weighing up to 500 kilograms or two 1,500 kg bombs.

Until 2023, gravity bombs were the main means of defeating ground targets for the bomber, but the standard weapons package was changed with the advent of gravity bombs with a guidance kit.