Sukhoi Su-34

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-34

The Sukhoi Su-34 (Russian: ????? ??-34) (NATO reporting name: Fullback) is a
Russian twin-engine, twin-seat, all-weather supersonic medium-range
fighter-bomber. It is intended to replace the Sukhoi Su-24 and first entered
service in 2014 with the Russian Air Force.

Based on the Sukhoi Su-27, two-seat Su-34 is designed primarily for tactical
deployment against ground and naval targets (tactical
bombing/attack/interdiction roles, including against small and mobile targets)
on solo and group missions in daytime and at night, under favourable and adverse
weather conditions and in a hostile environment with counter-fire and EW
counter-measures deployed, as well as for aerial reconnaissance.

The aircraft 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 aircraft has an entirely new nose and forward fuselage with a cockpit
providing side-by-side seating for a crew of two. 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. When
equipped with a full weapons load, the Su-34 has a maximum range of 4,000
kilometres (2,500 mi) without refuelling, this can be extended further via
aerial refueling. When operating at its operational maximum, the airframe can
withstand an 'overload' of up to +9G.

The Su-34's most distinctive feature is the unusually large flight deck. Much of
the design work went into crew comfort. The two crew members sit side by side in
a large cabin, with the pilot-commander to the left and navigator/operator of
weapons to the right in NPP Zvezda K-36dm ejection seats. An advantage of the
side by side cockpit is that duplicate instruments are not required for each
pilot. Since long missions require comfort, the pressurization system allows
operation up to 10,000 metres (32,800 ft) without oxygen masks, which are
available for emergencies and combat situations. The crew members have room to
stand and move about the cabin during long missions. The space between the seats
allows them to lie down in the corridor, if necessary. A galley and toilet are
located behind the crew seats. A ladder attached to the nose landing gear and a
hatch in the cockpit floor is used to enter the cockpit. The cockpit is a
continuous capsule of armour (17 mm). The Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS)
acts as a command center: precision target designation of all onboard weapons is
tied to the movement of the pilot's head and eyes.


Role
Fighter-bomber, strike fighter

Design group
Sukhoi

Built by
Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association (NAPO)

First flight
April 13, 1990; 27 years ago

Introduction
March 20, 2014; 3 years ago

Status
In service

Primary user
Russian Air Force

Produced
2006–present

Number built
102 on May 2017

Unit cost

US$36 million


Developed from
Sukhoi Su-27

The Su-34's long range was shown in a July 2010 exercise when Su-34s and Su-24Ms
were moved from Russian bases in Europe to one on the Pacific coast, 6,000
kilometres away, which requires in-flight refuelling. The exercise included
aircraft carrying weapons at full load, simulated delivering them on a target
before arriving at the Pacific coast base. Su-24Ms were refuelled three times,
while the Su-34 was refuelled twice.

The Russian Air Force completed the final stage of the state tests on 19
September 2011. The aircraft entered service in early 2014. The Su-34 was
rumoured to have been used by Russian command during the 2008 South Ossetia war.
Russia plans to have 124 in use by 2020. This total is planned to increase to
200 later.

In September 2015, six Su-34s arrived at Latakia airport in Syria, for attacks
against rebel and ISIL forces. Russian air attacks in Syria started on the 30
September, in the Homs region. On 1 October, the Su-34 was used to bomb Islamic
State targets in Syria. The Russian Air Force Su-34 fighter-bombers destroyed an
Islamic State command center and training camp south-west of the city of Raqqa.
These included precision strikes from an altitude of over 5,000 m (16,400 ft).

Specifications (Su-34)

General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 23.34 m (72 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)
Height: 6.09 m (19 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 62.04 m² (667.8 ft²)
Empty weight: 22,500 kg (49,608 lb)
Loaded weight: 39,000 kg (85,980 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 45,100 kg (99,425 lb)
Internal fuel: 12,100 kg (15,400 l)
Powerplant: 2 × 13,500 kgf (132 kN, 29,762 lbf) afterburning thrust Lyulka
AL-31FM1 turbofans

Performance
Maximum speed:
High altitude: Mach 1.8+ (˜2,000 km/h, 1,200 mph)
Low altitude: Mach 1.2 (1,400 km/h, 870 mph) at sea level

Cruise speed: unknown
Range: 1,100 km (680 mi) at low level altitude
Combat radius: 1,000+ km (about 680 mi)
Ferry range: 4,000 km (2,490 mi)
Service ceiling: 15,000 m (49,200 ft)
Thrust/weight: 0.68

Maximum g-load: 9g

Armament

Guns: 1× 30 mm GSh-30-1 (9A-4071K) cannon, 150–180 rounds
Hardpoints: 12× wing and fuselage stations with a capacity of 8,000–12,000 kg
(17,600–26,500 lb) and provisions to carry combinations of: Rockets:
S-8, S-13, S-25 rocket pods

Missiles:
R-27 (AA-10) air-to-air missile
R-73 (AA-11) air-to-air missile
R-77 (AA-12) air-to-air missile
Kh-29L/T (AS-14) air-to-ground missile
Kh-38 new generation air-to-ground missile with a range of 40 km
Kh-25MT/ML/MP (AS-10) air-to-ground missile or anti-radiation missile
Kh-59M (AS-18) air-to-ground missile
Kh-58 (AS-11) anti-radiation missile
Kh-31 (AS-17) anti-radiation or anti-ship missile
Kh-35 (AS-20) anti-ship missile
P-800 Oniks missile (SS-N-26 Strobile) anti-ship missile (version for the Air
Force). Version named "Alpha", weight of 1500 kg with a range of up to 300 km
and a speed in the range of numbers M = 2.2-3.0. Officially not in service.
Kh-65SE or Kh-SD cruise missile

Bombs:
KAB-500L, KAB-500KR, KAB-500S and KAB-1500L/KR guided bombs
OFAB-250-270, OFAB-100-120, FAB-500T, BETAB-500SHP, P-50T, ODAB-500PM unguided
bombs, RBK-500 and SPBE-D cluster bombs, tactical nuclear bombs

Other:
3,000 litres PTB-3000 Suspended Fuel Tanks, EW and reconnaissance pods.





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