The Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback: How Russia Got Its Super Maneuverable Bomber

Posted by Plane historia on December 8th, 2022

The Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback is a modern Russian bomber aircraft and the first of its kind. Developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, the aircraft has been in service since 2014 and is used by the Russian Air Force. The Su-34 is a unique aircraft with its two-seat side-by-side arrangement, allowing the pilot and navigator to work in tandem. The aircraft is equipped with a range of weapons and sensors, making it an effective multi-role combat platform. It is also the first Russian bomber to be equipped with thrust vectoring engines, giving it super maneuverability capabilities and allowing it to perform complex maneuvers, such as the ‘Cobra’. The Su-34 has become a symbol of Russia’s modern military power and has been used in both the Syrian Civil War and the Russian intervention in Ukraine. The Su-34 Fullback is a true testament to Russian engineering and is a symbol of Russia’s modern air power. 

What is the Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback?

The Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback is a modern Russian twin-engine, supersonic, highly maneuverable, all-weather, long-range bomber and is the first of its kind. It can be used in a wide range of missions, including air interdiction, air defense, nuclear strike, reconnaissance, and other types of operations. It was developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau as a successor to the Su-24, and was intended to replace the ageing MiG-23, MiG-25, and Su-24 aircraft in the Russian Air Force. It is the first Russian bomber to be equipped with thrust vectoring engines, allowing it to perform a wide range of maneuvers, such as the ‘Cobra’.

The Sukhoi Design Bureau

The Sukhoi Design Bureau is one of the largest aircraft manufacturing companies in Russia, and is responsible for developing aircraft such as the Su-34, Su-35, and the Su-57. It is also known for its various aerospace designs, such as the S-37, TA-38, and 9-39 VTOL fighter jets. The Sukhoi Design Bureau is one of the largest aircraft manufacturing companies in Russia, and is responsible for developing aircraft such as the Su-34, Su-35, and the Su-57. Sukhoi, together with Mikoyan, are the two largest aircraft companies in Russia, accounting for 98% of the total aircraft produced in the country. The Sukhoi Design Bureau was founded in 1939 as a Soviet aircraft design bureau, and was responsible for aircraft such as the Su-2, Su-7, and the Su-9. During the Cold War, it was mostly focused on producing fighter aircraft, such as the Su-9, Su-15, Su-17, Su-24, and Su-25.

The Su-34's unique features

Two-seat side-by-side crew arrangement - The Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback is the first Russian aircraft to have a two-seat side-by-side crew arrangement. This allows the pilot and navigator to work together to determine the best route, reducing the time to complete a mission by about 30%. Full-Digital fly-by-wire flight control system - The fly-by-wire flight control system is fully digital, making it possible to manage the complex flight control system using a computer. This ensures the aircraft can maintain a stable flight at all times, even in extreme conditions. Advanced avionics - The Su-34 has a wide range of avionics, including the N-011M Bars radar, OLS-34 laser system, L-111 Elbrus-91 computer, and an upgraded autopilot system. 

The Su-34's weapon and sensor systems

The Su-34 is equipped with a range of weapons and sensor systems, including the Kh-31A, Kh-31P, Kh-35UE, Kh-38, and Kh-58U anti-ship missiles, Kh-59MK laser guidance ground-to-ground missile, R-27 air-to-air missiles, R-73 air-to-air missiles, KAB-500S, KAB-1500S, KAB-500KR, KAB-1500L, KAB-1500LS laser-guided bombs, guided missiles, and rockets. The aircraft is outfitted with two pods, one on each wing, that can be controlled by the crew. 

The Su-34's thrust vectoring engines

The Su-34 is equipped with two izdeliye VM-34 vernier engines that are fitted with thrust vectoring nozzles. This allows the aircraft to perform extreme maneuvers, such as the ‘Cobra’. Thrust vectoring is a technique where the engine's direction can be altered to allow the aircraft to perform a wide range of maneuvers. This technology was originally developed for fighter jets to enable them to fly at extremely low altitudes. The Su-34's engines are designed for low-altitude flight and have thrust-vectoring nozzles that allow the aircraft to perform extreme maneuvers, such as the ‘Cobra’. Thrust vectoring is a technique where the engine's direction can be altered to allow the aircraft to perform a wide range of maneuvers. This technology was originally developed for fighter jets to enable them to fly at extremely low altitudes and make very tight turns. 

The Su-34's use in military operations

The Su-34 has been used in both the Syrian Civil War and the Russian intervention in Ukraine. It was the first Russian aircraft to be deployed to Syria in 2015, and has been used to deliver air strikes against terrorist groups such as ISIS. Russian Su-34 aircraft were also used to deliver air strikes against Ukrainian forces in the Donbass region between 2014 and 2015. The Su-34 has become a symbol of Russia’s modern military power, and its technological capabilities. The Su-34 has proven to be an effective multi-role combat platform and has been used in a wide range of operations. The aircraft has been used in both the Syrian Civil War and the Russian intervention in Ukraine and has become a symbol of Russia’s modern military power. The Su-34 Fullback is a true testament to Russian engineering, and is a symbol of Russia’s modern air power. 

Conclusion

The Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback is a modern Russian military aircraft and the first of its kind. Developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, the aircraft has been in service since 2014 and is used by the Russian Air Force. The aircraft has a two-seat side-by-side arrangement, allowing the pilot and navigator to work in tandem. The Su-34 is equipped with a range of weapons and sensors, making it an effective multi-role combat platform. It is also the first Russian bomber to be equipped with thrust vectoring engines, giving it super maneuverability capabilities and allowing it to perform complex maneuvers, such as the ‘Cobra’. The Su-34 has become a symbol of Russia’s modern military power and has been used in both the Syrian Civil War and the Russian intervention in Ukraine.