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| A Russian Aerospace Forces Su-34 performing at the 2015 MAKS air show | |
| Role | Fighter-bomber |
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| National origin | USSR/Russia |
| Manufacturer | Sukhoi, Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association (NAPO) |
| First flight | 13 April 1990; 34 years ago |
| Introduction | 20 March 2014 |
| Status | active |
| Primary user | Russian Aerospace Forces |
| Produced | 2006–present |
| Number built | 163+ (7 test and 156 serial aircraft in early 2024)[ |
| Developed from | Sukhoi Su-27 |
The Su-34 shares most of its wing structure, tail, and engine nacelles with the Su-27/Su-30, with canards like the Su-30MKI, Su-33 and Su-27M/35 to increase static instability (higher manoeuvrability) and to reduce trim drag.
The Su-34 is powered by a pair of Saturn AL-31FM1 turbofan engines, the same engines used on the Su-27SM, giving the aircraft a maximum speed of Mach 1.8+ when fully loaded. Although slower than the standard Su-27, the Su-34 can still handle high G-loads and perform aerobatic maneuvers. When equipped with a full weapons load, the Su-34 has a maximum range of 4,000 km (2,500 mi; 2,200 nmi), or further with aerial refueling. The airframe is cleared to perform maneuvers of up to +9 g. The noise level of the Su-34 is two times lower than the level of its predecessors.
The Su-34 is a three lifting surface design having both a conventional horizontal tailplane at the rear and a canard foreplane in front of the main wings
Ceiling
Combat RANGE
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On 28 February 2022, footage emerged reportedly showing Su-34s overflying the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. In various regions of Ukraine, downed Su-34 aircraft were mostly shot down by Ukrainian forces but some crashed for other reasons. One Su-34 was in a flat spin before it crashed.
Sukhoi Su-34s were used on bombing runs against ice jams on the rivers in Vologda Oblast to prevent floods during the spring of 2016
On 14 June 2024, satellite images published by open-source intelligence analyst Brady Africk show Ukraine's kamikaze drone strike destroyed five Su-34s at Morozovsk air base in Russia
