SU-34 aircraft: characteristics, photos, combat use

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

As you know, the main task of military aviation is the destruction of the enemy's infrastructure, his manpower, fortifications, equipment and other important targets. These operations are carried out by bombers, which in turn are divided into tactical and strategic. The first group of aircraft strikes at the front of the enemy and his immediate rear. However, in our time, there is practically no border between a front-line bomber, attack aircraft and fighter, since multi-purpose aircraft are already a reality, not fantasy. These aircraft have the ability to carry out both bombardment and fight in the sky. The newest Russian front-line bomber is the well-known SU-34, the characteristics of which will be discussed in the article.

Historical background

The Soviet Union of the 1980s could boast of such machines as the SU-24, MiG-27 and SU-17. These combat units were designed and created back in the 1970s, but after ten years they began to become obsolete. And so the Soviet leaders decided to create a new front-line bomber - the SU-27.

The car received several innovations that turned out to be completelythe soul of the military, but these innovations were still put into practice. In 1990, the design of the ship was completed and even a prototype was built, but after the collapse of the USSR, work on this project was curtailed for obvious reasons.

In 1992, the future front-line bomber SU-34, the characteristics of which at that time were absolutely advanced, was shown to the media. The serial model was already lifted into the air in 1994 in Novosibirsk. Tests at the state level began in 2006 and were completed five years later. In 2014, the SU-34 (characteristics will be given below) was officially accepted into the combat park of the Russian Air Force.

Basic information

The described aircraft was originally designed to carry out bombing strikes in the operational and tactical rear of the enemy, regardless of weather conditions and time of day. At the same time, work at low altitude is not a hindrance for the vessel. In addition, the machine is able to fight in the air with other aircraft and destroy them.

What else can you say about the SU-34? Its characteristics say that it is designed on the basis of a normal aerodynamic configuration. In the presence of an additional front horizontal tail, two turbojet engines with special afterburners, as well as a vertical two-keel tail. The tail plumage is all-moving. The front landing gear has two wheels and the main landing gear has four.

Cab and device

The entrance to it is located in the nose landing gear in a niche. The cabin itself is covered with armor made oftitanium, the thickness of which is 17 mm. The fuel tank is protected in the same way. The lantern is used only for technical work. The total weight of the cab is 1.5 tons. Inside it there is a recreation area, a first aid kit, drinking water, a dry closet and even a microwave oven. For emergency evacuation of the crew, a pair of ejection seats is provided. Each team member is provided with a special rescue kit, which includes a life raft, a radio beacon, a supply of food, medicines and equipment.

The front of the aircraft has a radar station covered by a fairing. In addition, in front of the car there is also a bar for refueling the bomber in the air.

In the tail of the SU-34, whose characteristics can be safely called acceptable, there are two compartments with motors. Each power engine is equipped with a fire extinguishing system. The aircraft has four fuel tanks with a total capacity of over 12,000 liters.

Armaments

SU-34, whose technical characteristics provide it with a high degree of reliability, is equipped with a 30-mm gun GSh-301, and also has 12 points for hanging various types of weapons, among which are:

• Guided missiles.
• Bombs.
• Medium and short range missiles.
• Beacons.

Indicators

So, what are the parameters of the SU-34? Specifications it has the following:

• Length - 23.3 meters.
• Wingspan - 14.7 meters.
• Wing area - 62 meters.
• Maximum takeoff weight - 45,000kg.
• Combat load weight - 8 tons.
• The maximum possible flight speed is 1900 km/h.
• Type of motors - AL-31F.
• Thrust at the moment of afterburner - 2 × 12 800 kgf.
• Maximum travel speed near the ground is 1400 km/h.
• Max flight altitude is 15,000 meters.
• Flight range with full refueling - 4000 kilometers.

Exploitation in practice

SU-34, the combat use of which took place during the military events in the North Caucasus and Georgia, has not entirely positive assessments of its capabilities in real combat. So, the radar alone was clearly not enough to quickly and accurately detect enemy targets, and therefore the aircraft must be equipped with special thermal imagers and television systems. Unfortunately, the aircraft was one of the best on the planet in the era of the 1980s, but today its technical capabilities are already somewhat limited, and many systems require significant modernization.