combat aircraft

T

HE Su24M ‘FENCERD’ is a

nuclear and conventional

tactical bomber, primarily

tasked with suppression of

enemy air defenses (SEAD)

and air interdiction. Typical

missions for the Su-24M include strikes

on important targets — command

posts, bridges, railway hubs, tactical

missile launchers, enemy troop

concentrations — at a distance of 150-

300km (81-162nm) behind the front line

and  own at low altitude.

On September 30, 2015, Russia’s

555th Aviation Group deployed to

Khmeimim air base in Latakia, Syria, and

began combat operations in support

of Syrian government forces. Su-24s

were the primary strike force. In the  rst

weeks, when the Russian air contingent

comprised 32 combat aircraft, there

were 12 Su-24M bombers from the

2nd Composite Aviation Regiment at

Chelyabinsk (Su-24M SVP-24 versions)

and the 277th Bomber Aviation

Regiment at Khurba (Su-24M2 versions).

At the peak, in February 2017, 16

Su-24Ms were based in Syria. Later, from

spring 2017 onwards, their numbers

decreased and today the standard

deployment is eight jets, temporarily

rising to 10-12.

In the early days of the operation some

‘Fencers’ had their Russian stars and

registrations painted over. However, the

insignia were later restored.

Syria also operates its own Su-24s.

From 1989-90 the country received 20

Su-24MK export versions, followed by

two aircraft from Libya (including one

reconnaissance jet). In 2010-13, the

Syrian  eet of bombers was upgraded

to Su-24MK2 standard, similar to the

Russian M2.

‘Fencer’ down!

On November 24, 2015, near the Turkish-

Syrian border, a Turkish Air Force F-16C

shot down a Russian Su-24M2. One of

the two pilots was killed.

The Su-24s have typically operated

in Syria with four to six 250kg (551lb)

or 500kg (1,102lb) freefall bombs. The

two most widespread bomb types are

the OFAB-250-270 high-explosive (HE)/

fragmentation bomb and FAB-500M-62

HE bomb, both designed to defeat

troops in the open, lightly armored

vehicles, industrial facilities and  eld

forti cations. Some photographs show

the Su-24s carrying RBK-500 SPBE anti-

armor cluster bombs.

The only guided munitions spotted

with Su-24s in Syria were examples of

the Kh-25ML (AS-10 ‘Karen’), a tactical

laser-guided missile with a

5.4nm (10km) range and weight of

650lb (295kg).

Around 1,200 Su-24s of all versions

were manufactured at Novosibirsk

between 1972 and 1993. Russia now

maintains around 80 bomber variants

plus some 50 reconnaissance versions

with its Aerospace Forces, as well as

some 20 bombers and around eight

reconnaissance versions with the navy.

Approximately 25 more bombers are

found at training (Kushchyovskaya) and

evaluation (Lipetsk) bases. Some aircraft

are in storage, but it is unlikely they will

be overhauled and returned to service.

In the fi rst of a two-part review of strike aircraft in Russian service,

Combat Aircraft looks at the Su-24 ‘Fencer’ and Su-25 ‘Frogfoot’.

REPORT Piotr Butowski

This image: An

impressive four-

ship of Su-24Ms.

A number of

modest upgrades

have served to

keep the ‘Fencer’

a viable platform

but it lags well

behind Western

strike fi ghters.

Piotr Butowski

A Su-24M at the ‘Aviadarts 2018’ competition in May, with

a mixed load of underwing B-8 pods for 80mm rockets and

250kg dumb bombs below the fuselage. Dmitriy Pichugin

FORCE REPORT // RUSSIAN TACTICAL BOMBERS

80 August 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net

80-87 Russian Strikers C.indd 80 21/06/2018 13:50