Since the Su-34 serves as a major player in Moscow’s aerial fleet, it should become a prime target for Ukraine’s barrages.
Four Russian fighters were targeted in a drone strike launch, according to Ukrainian sources. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) successfully destroyed two Russian Su-34 strike fighters in the barrage, in addition to damaging two others. Moscow suffered from major losses last month, following Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, which took out at least seven high-value strategic bombers positioned across several Russian airbases. Kyiv has relied heavily on its advanced and versatile unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) arsenal in order to thwart Moscow’s advances. The destruction of two Su-34s and the impairment of two other fighters further erode Russia’s aerial might in the ongoing war.
In a statement, Ukraine’s General Staff said Ukrainian forces “carried out a joint special operation that resulted in the destruction of two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers and damage to two others at the Marinovka airfield.” In 2024, Ukraine was able to damage several other Su-34s during a drone strike on the Morosovsky Airfield. Despite these losses, Moscow has been able to sustain a higher production rate of this fighter-bomber platform and is expected to field roughly 300 Su-34s by the end of the decade. Considered to represent the “workhorse” of Russia’s Aerospace Forces, the Su-34 could be targeted in future Ukrainian-launched barrages.
An Overview of the Su-34
The Sukhoi-designed Su-34 supersonic, medium-range fighter-bomber/strike aircraft first took to the skies more than three decades ago. While the platform was initially intended to serve the Soviet Air Forces, it would only enter service with the Russian Air Force in 2014. The Su-34, designated as the “Fullback” by NATO, is distinctly recognizable due to its platypus-shaped nose and side-by-side cockpit. However, minus its exterior appearance, the Russian jet features the same basic layout, construction, engine, onboard equipment, and wing structure as its Su-27 “Flanker” predecessor.
In terms of sensors and avionics, the Fullback features the Sh141 radar system, which enables the aircraft to fly in some missions without requiring an escort. The Su-34 is capable of reaching a top speed of Mach 1.8 (times the speed of sound) in the skies, thanks to the pair of Saturn AL-31FM1 engines that power it. Although Russian officials boast that the Fullback’s radar features impressive detection capabilities, it pales in comparison to its American-made near-peers. As noted by The War Zone, this range pales in comparison to the F-15E Strike Eagle’s new AN/APG-82 with an active electronically scanned array.
For its ground attack role, the Fullback can be equipped with more than 17,000 pounds of ordnance across 12 hardpoints positioned underneath its fuselage. The fighter can also sport 2 Vympel R-27 (Nicknamed “Alamo” by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), R-73, and Vympel NPO R-77 missiles. The Russian platform can also strike targets from low altitudes due to its armor-shielded cabin.
Since the Su-34 serves as a major player in Moscow’s aerial fleet, it should become a prime target for Ukraine’s barrages. Last month, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that increasing UAV production was to become a top priority for Kyiv’s war efforts.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: vaalaa / Shutterstock.com
