Su-34 Fullback Sukhoi

The Su-34 multirole aircraft combines the properties of an air superiority fighter, an air-defense suppression aircraft, and a strike aircraft. It can equally defeat diverse aerial, ground, and sea targets. All stages of its flight, including low-altitude nap-of-the-earth flying, as well as solo and group combat employment against aerial and ground targets are automated. The Su-34 weapons complement enables its crew to deliver a preventive attack against any aerial targets, including the stealthy ones, effectively fight against air superiority fighters. electronic warfare and airborne early warning aircraft, and flying command posts to neutralize air-defense weapon control systems when performing en-route flight to a target, and to deliver standoff attacks against ground and waterborne targets.

The Su-34 is developed from the Su-27 air superiority fighter with due account for the combat use of the Su-24 front-line bomber and its modifications, the Su-25 close-support aircraft and its modified versions, as well as advanced weapons and the most up-to-date technologies The crew of two ensures effective control of tactical aircraft group actions and efficient workload distribution during simultaneous control of the aircraft and weapons, fully Implementing the wide capabilities of up-to-date avionics systems.

A total of 70 aircraft were to be purchased by 2015 to replace some 300 Russian Su-24s, which were at the time going through a modernization program. Former Russia's Minister of Defence Sergei Ivanov claimed that because the aircraft is "many times more effective on all critical parameters", the Russian Air Force will need far fewer of these newer bombers than the old Su-24 it replaces. In December 2006, Ivanov revealed that approximately 200 Su-34s were expected to be in service by 2020.

The final stage of the state tests were completed on 19 September 2011. Eighteen aircraft were delivered in 2014, and 20 planned to be delivered in 2015. In 2014, 34 Su-34 Fullback were in use in the Russian Air Force.

As a strike bomber aircraft, the Su-34 is able to carry a comprehensive range of weapons in addition to the 30 mm GSh-30-1 (9A-4071K) cannon (150–180 rounds). The Su-34's external weapons are suspended from 12 hardpoints and consist of a wide array of the following air-to-surface guided weapons provided with laser, radar (active and passive homing), TV and IR guidance systems to defeat ground targets: up to six Kh-31A(P), up to two Kh-59ME, up to six Kh-29L(TE), and up to six S-25LD missiles, as well as up to six KAB-500Kr and up to three KAB-1500L(Kr) guided aerial bombs. To fight against aerial targets while breaking through to a ground target, the fighter-bomber is equipped with air-to-air missiles.

Application of the R-27 missiles provided with various guidance systems enhances jamming immunity and efficiency of its armament system. The RVV-AE medium-range active-homing missile carried by the aircraft is a universal weapon for engaging all types of flying vehicles. The RVV-AE long-range air-to-air missile, also known as the RR-77 or by the Nato designation AA-12, is manufactured by Vympel. The missile can intercept targets at speeds up to 3,600km/h and altitudes from 0.02km to 25km. The minimum range in the aft hemisphere is 300m and the maximum vertical separation between the host aircraft and the target is 10km.

The R-73E short-range lR-homing missile can defeat a target far aside from the flight trajectory. The R-73 (Nato codename AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missile is supplied by the Vympel State Engineering design Bureau in Moscow. The R-73 is an all-aspect missile capable of engaging targets in tail-chase or head-on mode. The missile has cooled infrared homing. The R-73 attacks the target within target designation angles of ±45° and with angular rates up to 60° a second. The missile can intercept targets at altitudes between 0.02km and 20km, target g-load to 12g, and with target speeds to 2,500km/h.

The Su-34 can carry up to six R-27R1 (ER1), up to six RVV-AE, or up to six R-73E missiles. For executing air combat missions, its standard weapon option includes six R-27T1 (ET1) air-to-air missiles.

The aircraft is capable of carrying a supersonic heavy missile, designated 3M-80EA, with a launch range of up to 250 km. The missile is capable of defeating the largest surface ships, including aircraft carriers.