Su-24M2 aircraft: description, specifications and history

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The Su-24M2 aircraft is a new modernized version, the prototype of which was the Su-24, a front-line bomber. It has only 2 crew members, large compartments in the fuselage for weapons and large fuel tanks. Also hidden here is a built-in refueling and transfer system, that is, such an aircraft can both receive and transfer additional fuel in the air.

Frontline bomber is the ability to bomb on and behind the front line, behind enemy lines. Su-24M2 is a relatively new model. The Russian Air Force received the first modernized aircraft in 2007. To date, the fleet of machines is more than 200 units, including both prototypes and improved versions.

History

Speaking of the Su-24M2, one cannot fail to mention the Su-24, on the basis of which it is assembled. "T-6" ("Su-24") in February 1976 was launched into mass production. The aircraft was produced at the aviation plant in Novosibirsk until 1993. This year, the release of all modifications was completed, the main feature of which is the variable sweep wing, which allows you to fly both onsubsonic and supersonic speeds. It is noteworthy that the Tu-16 heavy missile carrier was also originally designed at the Sukhoi Design Bureau based on the T-4 model.

At the same time, the wings (on the front consoles) can take 4 positions: takeoff and landing - 16 degrees; subsonic flights are performed at 36 degrees; supersonic - 69 degrees. There is also a 45 degree position designed for better maneuvering in combat.

Design

As with the prototype, the cabin in the Su-24M2 is designed for two people. The PIC is on the left, the navigator sits on the right, dual control. There is nothing remarkable in the canopy of the car, it, like other aircraft of a similar type, smoothly passes into the streamlined elements of the fuselage, covering all the control wiring.

Two engines are located on the sides of the hull, pressed against it, thus freeing the wings from additional weight. The layout of the landing gear is designed for three points of support, they can be removed in flight. The front strut folds back along the way, the rear vice versa. Two side supports are located almost under the fuselage, since, in addition to all control systems, there are main fuel tanks, radio electronics units and other equipment. Wings, in addition to the main purpose, are used for attaching pylons holding weapons. The brake flaps are also located here, which are also the front flaps of niches in which the side landing gear is hidden in flight. When landing, they deviate up to 62 degrees perpendicular to the direction of flight. The engines have a thrust of 7800 kg, afterburner they give out up to11500 each.

A distinctive feature of the Su-24M2 is the presence of large monolithic milled panels. Their use significantly reduced the cost of production. At the same time, this reduces the number of connecting seams in the pressurized parts of the cockpit and fuel tanks, which in turn improves flight safety. Most of the design is based on titanium, magnesium, aluminum alloys. High temperature engine parts are made of stainless steel.

Other modifications

It should be noted that "M2" is by no means the only modification of the prototype. This is how the Su-24MR appeared - an aircraft that had a complex of reconnaissance equipment on board. For example, the capabilities of television and infrared intelligence, panoramic and perspective aerial cameras (both are located in the bow under the cockpit). Equipment for laser search is mounted under the fuselage of the vessel, a radiation system is installed on a pylon under the right wing, and a radio intelligence system is installed under the left wing. All collected data can be quickly delivered to the ground via broadband or narrowband communication channels. No weapon systems.

Another version of the Su-24MP is a radio interference aircraft. The refueling system allows you to stay in the air for a long time.

Model "MK" ("Su-24MK") began to be delivered to countries friendly to the Soviet Union. The "K" in the title meant commercial. It has no differences from its own Air Force vehicles, with the exception of staterecognition.

Also noteworthy is the Su-24M model. Despite the similar name to other versions, this one was planned as a separate one. Here the navigation system was improved, an all-angle heat direction finder was installed. The position of the warning station antennas has also changed: they have gone into influxes, smoothly turning into the center section.

Feather specifications

Su-24M2 can also be named among the modifications. We will consider its characteristics in detail, since almost all other models described have the same capabilities. And "M2" can also be called the prototype of any of them.

Due to the high power developed by the engines of military aircraft, "Su" received a pair of air intakes located in front of the engines, which received several changes during its life. As a result, we came to the simplest solution - the air flow control is turned on only at the moments of takeoff and landing. The control is made by flap movements.

The wing has three sections of flaps, four sections of slats. The flap area is approximately 10 sq. meters, in the later versions of the aircraft, flaps two and three were combined, as a result of which these versions have 2 sections. The angle of their extension reaches 35 degrees. The slats have an area of 3 square meters. meters and an extension angle of 27 degrees. In later versions, they decreased by one section. Since the aircraft has a variable wing geometry, the pylons are equipped with a position synchronization system relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine.

Verticalplumage with an area of 9 meters, the sweep angle of the keel - 55 degrees. At the top of the tail (under the cap) is the radio antenna. During the life of the bomber, brake parachutes moved under the steering wheel from the fuselage.

Flight Performance

The maximum speed of the aircraft when flying at an altitude of 17,000 km / h, when flying at sea level can reach 14,000 km / h. The range is 390 km, the ceiling is 11,000 km. Flight range without refueling - 4000 km. The aircraft is 7 meters high, 25 meters long, and has a wingspan of 17 meters at maximum angle.

Armaments

The Su-24M2's armament is based on the Puma sighting and navigation system. The radar on the basis of which it works can distinguish even subtle objects on water or land. According to her testimony, it is possible to hit targets with all free-falling bombs on board. In addition, there is a third-generation Filin-N passive radar system that covers 6 operating ranges of enemy detection stations. Theoretically, according to her data, it was possible to hit such objects, but later this was abandoned.

Modernization

Modern cost of military aircraft has increased significantly, resulting in the need to reconsider the possibility of improving older models. The Su-24M2-Gefest, which was modernized at the plant of the same name, turned out to be very successful. And most military pilots agree that they will go into a good fight only on planes that have visited this enterprise.

Bombing capabilities with conventional bombsaircraft that visited "Hephaestus" have become comparable to the results of using the latest KABs (air bombs).

Conclusion

If the very first SU-24 front-line bomber survived to this day, it would be 40 years old. But the development of electronics, new tracking systems, warnings, navigation would not leave him a great chance to fight in the modern world. And he would quietly go to the dustbin of history. But its modernization of the Su-24M2 made it possible for the Russian Air Force to use it today. And although there are new developments now, this aircraft still takes to the air on demand.