T
HE MAIN ROLE for which the
Su-34 — NATO codename
‘Fullback’ — was developed
is tactical interdiction,
essentially cutting o the
front line from supplies from
the rear echelons. Therefore, the Su-34
has the tools for its two-person crew to
strike important assets: communication
hubs, military convoys, depots and so
on at a distance of 150-500km (81-
270nm) behind the front line. Flying at
low level with four tonnes of weapons,
the Su-34 can reach targets within an
operational radius of 600km (324nm), or
1,100km (594nm) at high level.Impressive arsenal
The Su-34 carries up to eight tonnes of
weapons and stores on 12 pylons: six
under the wing, two under the engine
intake ducts and two in tandem between
the engines. Two wingtip positions are
usually occupied by L265V Khibiny ECM
pods, or alternatively by R-73 (AA-11
‘Archer’) air-to-air missiles (AAMs).
The Su-34 entered service with a basic
array of weapons consisting of typical
Russian-made tactical air-to-surface
missiles including the 115km-range
(62nm) Kh-59M (AS-18 ‘Kazoo’) heavy
TV-guided missile, and the supersonic
Kh-31P anti-radar missile and its Kh-31A
anti-ship version (AS-17 ‘Krypton’).
Short-range weapons include TV- or
laser-guided Kh-29T/L (AS-14 ‘Kedge’)
missiles and KAB-500 and KAB-1500
guided bombs. The air-to-air weaponsoptions include the beyond-visual-range
(BVR) passive-radar R-27P/EP (AA-10
‘Alamo’) and infra-red R-73 AAM for
close-air combat. In common with other
Su-27 derivatives, the aircraft has an
internal GSh-301 30mm cannon in the
starboard wing strake with 150 rounds
of ammunition.
New types of missiles are being added
to the weaponry as they are tested
and manufactured. Trials of the 250kg
(551lb) KAB-250LG — the smallest
guided bomb ever made in Russia —
and heavy 1,500kg (3,307lb) UPAB-1500
are close to completion. The initial
production version of the KAB-250LG
bomb has a gyro-stabilized laser seeker
with a declared accuracy of 5m (16ft).
Additional seekers are planned in the
subsequent stages, including a TV seeker.
The UPAB-1500 is a glide bomb with
a reported maximum range of 70km
(38nm). In its current version the bomb
has TV-command guidance; various
seekers are planned for the future,
including an active radar seeker.SYRIAN
CAMPAIGN
It is obvious that the Russian
operation in Syria has provided vast
experience in the combat use of
the Su-34. Initially, four aircraft were
deployed to Khmeimim air base, then
six/eight. Since the fall of 2017, 10-14
Su-34s have been detached. It should
be noted that — like the Su-24 and
Su-25 — Su-34s carry surprisingly
small weapon loads during Syrian
operations. They usually y missions
with two 500kg (1,102lb) KAB-500S
satellite-guided bombs or four 250kg
(551lb) or 500kg (1,102lb) iron bombs;
occasionally, other guided weapons
have been spotted. Immediately
after a Su-24M was shot down by a
Turkish F-16C on November 24, 2015,
Russian TV showed the pre- ight
preparation and take-o of a Su-34
armed with R-27P and R-73 air-to-air
missiles. Later, Su-34s were seen only
with R-73s.Left: A fabulous
head-on view
of a Su-34 as
it carefully
approaches
an Il-78 ‘Midas’
during in-fl ight
refueling
training.
Dmitriy Pichugin
Above: A
‘clean’ Su-34
in formation
practice for the
May 9 Victory
Parade, with
large L265V
Khibiny ECM
pods on the
wingtips.
Dmitriy Pichugin
Right: A Su-34
at the recent
‘Aviadarts’
armed with B-13
pods under
the wings
for 130mm
unguided
rockets and a
brace of 250kg
iron bombs
under the
intakes. This
‘Fullback’, serial
RF-95844,
spent time with
the 4th TsBP
based at Lipetsk
before joining
the front line at
the 47th BAP.
Dmitriy Pichuginhttp://www.combataircraft.net // September 2018 33
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