Sukhoi Su-34 (Fullback)

Fighter-Bomber / Long Range Strike Fighter Aircraft [ 2014 ]

The Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback is a potent Russian two-seat, dedicated fighter-bomber version of the successful Su-27 Flanker fighter series.

Authored By: Dan Alex | Last Edited: 02/28/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

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The Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO reporting name of "Fullback") is a dedicated Fourth Generation two-seat fighter-bomber/strike fighter platform based on the successful Su-27 "Flanker" air superiority fighter series for the Russian Air Force. The Flanker family of aircraft was born out of the Sukhoi Design Bureau in the 1970s and entered service in December of 1984, having since spawned into a handful of capable combat-minded roles including the Su-33 ("Flanker-D") navalized multi-role variant and the Su-35 long-range, air superiority/strike series ("Flanker-E"). While being largely based on the preceding Su-27 design (exported worldwide as the "Su-30") and incorporating some of its key qualities, the Su-34 is regarded as an all-new, independent aircraft design as it is heavily modified and intended for the strike role as primary with air superiority being a secondary quality of the design.

The Su-34 began life under the Sukhoi "T-10V" product designation, an initiative brought about by a 1980s Soviet Air Force requirement for a new, long endurance, high-speed tactical bomber intended to supersede the outgoing Sukhoi Su-24 "Fencer" series in the same role. The Sukhoi concern looked to its new Su-27 airframe as a possible starting point, the aircraft now beginning to take hold in useful numbers across the Soviet air inventory. The airframe was a excellent commodity and flexible enough to modify for the requirement, as proven through the promising - though ultimately abandoned - twin-seat T-10KM-2 navalized training aircraft once intended for the Soviet Navy. Sukhoi engineers felt comfortable with retaining much of the Su-27 arrangement with only a new forward fuselage added to the mix. As the Su-27 family of aircraft relied on a single-seat configuration, the fuselage was allowed a nice cylindrical design shape. However, for the new fighter-bomber endeavor, this would be modified through a new approach in which two pilots - seated side-by-side - would be added to a widened cockpit. To this, engineers then installed forward wing canards ahead of the main wing elements intended to improved stability and increase maneuverability. The Su-27's Lyulka series turbofan engines were uprated for greater power in the new Sukhoi initiative. The ultimate goal for the program was to develop a competent strike platform while retaining the excellent fighter qualities (handling and performance) of the Su-27 family. The Sukhoi program ultimately yielded the first T-10V-1 prototype form (born from an existing Su-27UB) which went airborne for the first time on April 13th, 1990. The T-10V designator was then dropped in favor of "Su-27IB" to indicate the type's new fighter-bomber role ("Istrebeetel'-bombardirovschchik"). The Su-27IB was first formally unveiled in 1992 and a second prototype followed, taking to the air on December 18th, 1993. By this time, the series was assigned the officially Russian Air Force designation of "Su-34" and further codenamed "Fullback" by NATO.

The most obvious design departure of the Su-34 when compared to the Su-27 was its larger cockpit cabin and forward fuselage assembly. The cockpit was deliberately designed as a large, comfortable operating space for the two crew and applicable systems. The area aft of the cockpit would feature a full in-flight galley and lavatory to help offset the fatigue and physical stresses undertaken by the crew over long sorties - the crew can stand or lay down as needed. The crew was made up of a primary pilot and his weapons operator, seated in a side-by-side arrangement (as in the American General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark fighter-bomber). The use of two crew allowed the mission workload to be spread about, lessening crew fatigue (and inherent mistakes) while a consistently pressurized cockpit allowed for a working environment not requiring cumbersome oxygen masks to be worn. The resulting Sukhoi aircraft retained the wings, tail unit, fixed intake engine nacelles and aft-fuselage of the original Su-27, incorporating the new forward fuselage and a modified rear "stinger" housing a rear-facing/scanning radar array. The Su-34 makes use of the prominent rearward-looking radar system housed in a "stinger" at the rear of the fuselage to counter any approaching enemy threats in pursuit of the aircraft. The undercarriage consists of two main landing gear legs and a nose leg, the former outfitted with a pair of inline wheels to offset the added weight of the new design while the latter makes use of a dual-wheel, side-by-side arrangement. These were different from the simpler configuration of the Su-27.

The Su-34's cockpit is a modern, all-glass effort dominated by CRT displays and sporting the latest in Russian avionics technology as well as digital processing systems. Views from within the cockpit are relatively good thanks to the large clear canopy with only a forward frame splitting the frontal view - though the raised fuselage spine (required for larger internal volume) defeats any rearward visibility for the crew. The cockpit's noticeable duck-bill type design approach features a pronounced "nose-down" appearance which aids the crew in taxiing actions and landing of the aircraft. Onboard systems propel the Su-34 (and the Russian Air Force for that matter) into the modern age and feature real-time digital battlefield management systems, advanced targeting and tracking options and a vastly improved navigation suite over previous Russian attempts. Onboard automation extends the overall value of the aircraft by allowing the crew to concentrate on other facets of the mission at hand - engine status, crew health and scanning/incoming threats can all be handled by the aircraft - autopilot is truly autonomous requiring only directional input, the aircraft capable of guiding itself to a point. The crew (as well as engine intakes and internal fuselage fuel cells) are armored for protection against enemy ground fire when in the low-level attack role. Each operator is also afforded the typical Russian helmet-mounted sight and ejection seating. HUD (Head-Up Display) is present and stealth features have been subtly incorporated throughout the airframe (including use of a radar-absorbing skin coat) - though the Su-34 remains a largely conventional Fourth Generation aircraft design and not a true stealth design (as in the now-retired F-117 Nighthawk).©MilitaryFactory.com

Externally, the Su-34 sports the same wing design as the Su-27 before it. These are shoulder-mounted to provide acceptable ground clearance for a bevy of munitions options. A standard fitting is the 30mm GSh-30-1 series internal cannon with up to 180 rounds of ammunition and intended for extreme close-in work. There are no fewer than 12 external munitions hardpoints to which the Su-34 can field various guided missiles and bombs, rocket pods, air-to-air missiles and specialized mission equipment as required per sortie. The Su-34 can, therefore, be called to fulfill a variety of peacetime and wartime roles including patrol, interdiction, interception, strike (including over-water maritime sorties), early warning and reconnaissance. While not a "true" dedicated fighter thoroughbred at its core, the Su-34 retains the key fighter qualities of the Flanker series to which, when the aircraft is armed with air-to-air ordnance, it can contend with incoming aerial threats such as enemy bombers and contending fighters. In keeping with its Cold War roots, the Su-34 is also a capable nuclear payload delivery system. The airframe is cleared to carry up to 17,600lbs of externally-held ordnance in various load out combinations. External jettisonable fuel tanks can also factor into the mix for extended operational ranges. At least two weapon stations are plumbed for fuel tanks.

The Su-34 is fitted with 2 x Lyulka AL-31FM1 series turbofan engines, each rated at approximately 30,000lbs of thrust and are afterburner-capable for short bursts of increased speed (these engines appear in a slightly different form on the Su-27). The twin engine arrangement allows for a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 (1,375 miles per hour) at altitude to be reached. Ferry range is out to 2,500 miles and the aircraft's listed service ceiling is roughly 50,000 feet. This provides the Russian Air Force with a long-endurance, high-altitude performer that is equally at home in the low-altitude attack level role or operating at higher altitudes when threats require it. Fuel is served through large internal cells while external fittings are supported across two hardpoints. Additionally, the Su-34 features an integrated in-flight refueling facility for near-infinite mission ranges - though a typical "long sortie" would be in the 10-hour range. Despite the new aircraft's increased weight over that of the basic Su-27, the Su-34 features performance specifications roughly equivalent to the original Flanker design.

The original Su-27IB prototype was unveiled several times over the course of a decade and appeared under various guises and project designations. The program was moved along as funding allowed though the collapse of the Soviet Empire in 1991 threatened its future existence as a viable military product - this explains the type's first flight in 1990 and its service introduction in 2014. As funding became available, so too did progression on the Su-34 project. Today (2013), some 32 aircraft have been completed - five based at Lipetsk AB and twenty at Voronezh Malshevo while the remaining seven being identified as project prototypes.

For the Russian Air Force, the Su-34 "Fullback" is intended as a direct successor to the hundreds of Cold War-era Sukhoi Su-24 "Fencer" aircraft still in operational service. Modernization programs have fortunately kept this old aircraft viable in the new century though its Cold War origination cannot be overlooked. The Su-24 will be kept on station until the Su-34 is fully ready and available in the required numbers. It is estimated that the Russian Air Force will look to procure some 200 Su-34s through an initial production run. The Su-34 may already have seen early operational combat service in the 2008 South Ossetia War where it is thought they were armed with anti-radar systems intended to suppress the Georgian anti-aircraft defensive network.

The Su-34 remains a major part of the Russian rearmament initiative currently ongoing as of this writing. The Russian military intends to regain the prominence it once held during the peak of the Cold War years. The massive military commitment - in the billions of dollars - will see all-new air force, naval and army assets added to the modernization effort under President Putin's watch.©MilitaryFactory.com

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2008 - The Russians have offered the Su-32 export variant of the Su-34 to Algeria. The deal centers on some forty total aircraft.

September 2015 - Four Su-34 Fullback strike fighters of the Russian Air Force were deployed to Syria (Latakia Air base). Their first ground attacks were reported on September 30th. They joined some 600 Russian ground troops already in place.

May 2016 - Some ninety-five Su-34 aircraft have been built to date.

October 2018 - The 120th and 121st Su-34 aircraft have been delivered to the Russian Air Force. Full operating strength will reach nine combat squadrons in 2019.

October 2018 - The Russian Air Force is proceeding with a plan to develop a dedicated Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) and Electronic Warfare (EW) form of the Su-34. Four aircraft are being set aside for the revision work. The reconnaissance suite in question is the M400A with the radar being the M402 Pika-M side-looking radar unit provided by NII Kulon.

June 2020 - The Russian Air Force has announced a deal to procure 20 additional Su-34 fighter-bombers in their original configuration (based in the Su-34UB fighter). These will serve as "bridge models" until the in-development "Su-34M" platform can be had at a later date. The service currently has, at its disposal, some 120 Su-34 platforms which have seen extensive action over Syria.

Specifications

Service Year

2014

Origin

Russia

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

2

Production

134
UNITS

Sukhoi Design Bureau - Russia

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

Algeria (possible); Russia

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.

INTERCEPTION
Ability to intercept inbound aerial threats by way of high-performance, typically speed and rate-of-climb.

GROUND ATTACK
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.

SPECIAL-MISSION: ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy underwater elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and weapons.

SPECIAL-MISSION: ANTI-SHIP
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.

INTELLIGENCE-SURVEILLANCE-RECONNAISSANCE
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

RADAR-CAPABLE
Houses, or can house (through specialized variants), radar equipment for searching, tracking, and engagement of enemy elements.

COUNTERMEASURES
Survivability enhanced by way of onboard electronic or physical countermeasures enacted by the aircraft or pilot/crew.

MULTI-ENGINE
Incorporates two or more engines, enhancing survivability and / or performance.

WING SWEEPBACK
Mainplanes, or leading edges, features swept-back lines for enhanced high-speed performance and handling.

CANARDS
Small foreplanes ahead of the mainplanes reduce wing-loading and / or enhance maneuverability during high angle-of-attack or stall actions.

RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.

HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE
Can accelerate to higher speeds than average aircraft of its time.

HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.

EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.

SUPER PERFORMANCE
Design covers the three all-important performance categories of speed, altitude, and range.

A2A REFUELING
Capability to accept fuel from awaiting allied aircraft while in flight.

MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.

PILOT / CREW EJECTION SYSTEM
Assisted process of allowing its pilot and / or crew to eject in the event of an airborne emergency.

CREWSPACE PRESSURIZATION
Supports pressurization required at higher operating altitudes for crew survival.

CREW-MANAGED
Beyond a pilot, the aircraft takes advantage of additional crew specialized in specific functions aboard the aircraft.

ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.

RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE
Features retracting / retractable undercarriage to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.

Length

76.6 ft
(23.34 m)

Width/Span

48.2 ft
(14.70 m)

Height

20.0 ft
(6.09 m)

Empty Wgt

49,604 lb
(22,500 kg)

MTOW

99,428 lb
(45,100 kg)

Wgt Diff

+49,824 lb
(+22,600 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Sukhoi Su-34 (Fullback) production variant)

monoplane / shoulder-mounted / swept-back

Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represents the most popular modern mainplane arrangement.

Shoulder-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper section of the fuselage, generally at the imaginary line intersecting the pilot's shoulders.

Swept-Back
The planform features wing sweep back along the leading edges of the mainplane, promoting higher operating speeds.

(Structural descriptors pertain to the base Sukhoi Su-34 (Fullback) production variant)

Installed: 2 x Lyulka AL-31FM1 afterburning turbofan engines developing 30,000 lb of thrust each.

Max Speed

1,367 mph
(2,200 kph | 1,188 kts)

Ceiling

55,774 ft
(17,000 m | 11 mi)

Range

2,796 mi
(4,500 km | 2,430 nm)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Sukhoi Su-34 (Fullback) production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

STANDARD, FIXED:
1 x 30mm GSh-30-1 internal cannon.

OPTIONAL:
2 x R-73 (AA-11) "Archer" air-to-air missiles on wingtip launch rails.

Up to 17,630lb of externally-held ordnance set across twelve underwing and fuselage hardpoints. Supported weaponry includes:

Kh-25MT/ML air-to-ground missiles
Kh-25MP air-to-ground missiles
Kh-29L/T air-to-ground anti-radiation missiles.
Kh-31P air-to-ground anti-radiation missiles.
Kh-35 "Uran" air-to-surface anti-ship missiles.
Kh-36 air-to-ground missiles
Kh-38 air-to-ground missiles
Kh-41 "Moskit" air-to-surface anti-ship missiles.
Kh-58 air-to-ground missiles
Kh-59 "Ovod" air-to-ground long-range tactical cruise missiles.
Kh-65S air-to-ground missiles
Kh-SD air-to-ground missiles
KAB-500L/KR guided bombs
KAB-1500L guided bombs
Conventional drop Bombs
B-8 rocket pods (20 x 80mm S-8 rockets).
B-13 rocket pods (5 x 122mm S-13 rockets).
O-25 rocket pods (1 x 340mm S-25 rocket).
Reconnaissance Pod
Early Warning Pod
Jettisonable External Fuel Tanks.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft automatic cannon

Graphical image of an air-to-air missile weapon

Graphical image of a short-range air-to-air missile

Graphical image of a long-range air-to-air missile

Graphical image of an aircraft air-to-surface missile

Graphical image of aircraft aerial rockets

Graphical image of an aircraft rocket pod

Graphical image of an aircraft conventional drop bomb munition

Graphical image of an aircraft guided bomb munition

Graphical image of an aircraft external fuel tank

Graphical image of an aircraft anti-radar/anti-radiation missile

Graphical image of an aircraft anti-ship missile

Graphical image of an air-launched cruise missile weapon

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

12
Hardpoints

-

11

9

7

5

3

1

2

4

6

8

10

-

Hardpoints Location Key:

X

15

13

11

9

7

5

3

1

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Color Key:

Fuselage Centerline

Fuselage Port/Wingroot

Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot

Wing/Underwing

Wingtip Mount(s)

Internal Bay(s)

Not Used

Su-34 ("Fullback") - Base Series Designation.

Su-34M - Modernized variant.

Su-32 - Export variant (offered to Algeria since 2008).

T-10V - Original Prototype Designation

T-10V-1 - Initial Prototype Designation

Su-27IB - Project Redesignation

General Assessment

Firepower

Performance

Survivability

Versatility

Impact

Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.

Overall Rating

The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.

90

Rating is out of a possible 100 points.

Firepower Index (BETA)

Inherent combat value taking into account weapons support / versatility, available hardpoints, and total carrying capability.

73.3

View the List

Relative Maximum Speed

Hi: 1400mph

Lo: 700mph

This entry's maximum listed speed (1,367mph).

Graph average of 1,050 miles-per-hour.

City-to-City Ranges

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

Max Altitude Visualization

Design Balance

The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.

Aviation Era Span

Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.

Unit Production (134)

134

36183

44000

Compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian).

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Images Gallery

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