Su-34 Tactical Bomber: News

10 Su-34s have been delivered over past month and a half.
6 were delivered in 2011.

Nice view

Regarding weaponry, they're suppose to be getting a range of weaponry this year.

We haven't mentioned that the Su-34's have been reportedly used in the North Caucasus. There was a major operation back in 2011 during which an islamist HQ base was leveled with airstrikes. Some believe the Su-34's might have been used there.

Warning includes graphic material
http://hardingush.livejournal.com/14425.html

psg wrote:Does anybody have any upto date information on the licenced production of the Damocles targeting pod, also will shelters be made for these aircraft like they have for the yak 130s.

I think the Damocles deal fell through a while back (2-3 years ago). As for shelters, the plan is to equip all major airbases with the new modular shelters.

http://forums.eagle.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=76478&d=1359223492

Another angle of the photo. Apparently the Hellduck next to 12 also has a KAB-500Kr.

I would be interested in seeking KH-101 integrated with Su-34 and so are the plans i suppose

Kh-555 and Kh-22/32 (incl. nuclear tipped) have been mentioned on a few occasions but I doubt the Kh-101 would be suitable.

Kh-22 on a Su-34?

That missile is like the size of an airplane.
Same with Kh-101.

Do I recall air-launched Klub, or am I making hings up.
Kalibr would be perfect...pretty sizable though.

Brahmos would be ideal for the SU 34 . The Super Sukhoi would be able to carry 2 Brahmos missiles and a " miniature " version is being worked upon for the MIG 29 .

TR1 wrote:I think many of us here have waited a long time to see such a sight

Great pics . Thanks for posting .

There was a tube launched Klub/Kalibr that was shown being launched from a Mig-35 in some animation I remember, or it could have been a Mig-29M2.

The conventionally armed cruise missiles would make sense, though I rather think that using a Tu-22M3M or even Bear or Blackjack would allow a larger number of missiles to be deployed at once more effectively for use against land or naval targets.

TR1 wrote:Kh-22 on a Su-34?

That missile is like the size of an airplane.
Same with Kh-101

You're right. I was writing from memory and obviously I remembered wrong.

GarryB wrote:There was a tube launched Klub/Kalibr that was shown being launched from a Mig-35 in some animation I remember, or it could have been a Mig-29M2.

The conventionally armed cruise missiles would make sense, though I rather think that using a Tu-22M3M or even Bear or Blackjack would allow a larger number of missiles to be deployed at once more effectively for use against land or naval targets.

I think I've got some pics saved somewhere from that animation. I'll see if I can find them later.

Sujoy wrote:Brahmos would be ideal for the SU 34 . The Super Sukhoi would be able to carry 2 Brahmos missiles and a " miniature " version is being worked upon for the MIG 29

Yep, Brahmos would be a good fit.

There is a claim, that Su-34 is now all day all weather fighter bomber. Anyone know if new Su-34 get Platan EO system modified with additional FLIR camera for night operations?

Well it would be all weather by virtue of the radar alone, so Platan upgrade would not be necessary.

Su-24 did no have thermals, and it was all weather due to Radar + Kaira.

What TR-1 said x2.

EO stuff like Plantan or lightening is good to do a low or medium level passive pass and attack at the target without the need to use the aircraft radar , effective if you want to manage you EM spectrum for stealthy attack.

Reason why F-117 never had any radar.

TR1 wrote:Well it would be all weather by virtue of the radar alone, so Platan upgrade would not be necessary.

Su-24 did no have thermals, and it was all weather due to Radar + Kaira.

If you want to use LGB in night you need Platan with FLIR camera. Same goes for visual ID. With miniaturization I don't see a problem to install FLIR in Platan system. In that case Su-34 will not need Democles or any other targeting pod.

EO stuff like Plantan or lightening is good to do a low or medium level passive pass and attack at the target without the need to use the aircraft radar , effective if you want to manage you EM spectrum for stealthy attack.

Certainly, but the Su-34 would be better used in a snowstorm or very bad weather where air defence units will have problems... a quick scan of the target area using the radar on the Su-34 can find and quickly find the target, whether it is a building or a vehicle, and using the onboard navigation information the coordinates of the target can be calculated and a GLONASS guided bomb or Kh-38 could be released/launched to engage without the Su-34 having to fly anywhere near the target. (note glider attachments are available for dumb and guided bombs to extend their flight range).

Thermal optics are very good to help better identify targets but are degraded by some weather conditions... as are laser target markers.

If you want to use LGB in night you need Platan with FLIR camera. Same goes for visual ID. With miniaturization I don't see a problem to install FLIR in Platan system. In that case Su-34 will not need Democles or any other targeting pod.

Another option would be to use weapons with IIR seekers and use those seekers to find the targets... much like A-10s used IIR Mavericks. It makes much more sense to find your targets with radar and then use satellite guided munitions to kill them as that can be used in any weather day or night.

Deep behind enemy lines there is no problem with collateral damage... just do what the US has been doing and blame your enemy for your mistakes.

New warehouses for Su-34

Another option would be to use weapons with IIR seekers and use those seekers to find the targets... much like A-10s used IIR Mavericks. It makes much more sense to find your targets with radar and then use satellite guided munitions to kill them as that can be used in any weather day or night.

Deep behind enemy lines there is no problem with collateral damage... just do what the US has been doing and blame your enemy for your mistakes.

Agree. But bomb and missiles with IIR seekers are expensive and in limited numbers, so they will be used primarilly against very value targets. LGBs are cheaper and in stock in larger numbers, so in operations like against terrorist groups in North Caucasus, they will rather use LGBs and in night operations it is fine to have TI in EO system, specially if you have to do visual ID of target before you drop the bomb.

Some targets are point targets and some targets are area targets... certainly laser guided bombs are relatively cheap, but as QWIP production matures IIR chips will become as cheap and even cheaper and soon an IIR seeker could be used that can detect Laser targeting frequencies so you could equip guidance systems with optical sensors that have the capabilities of an IIR sensor, but also the picture quality of a low light level TV sensor that can detect moving targets on its own and even detect coded laser spots in a SALH mode.

Add a cheap sat nav guidance package and you have a multi purpose bomb that remains cheap and all weather yet if the weather permits offers good target identification.

Having a built in EO targeting system is good, but having external targeting pods means you can afford to put state of the art components in them and it also makes them easier to upgrade and replace... and when you do replace them you can just transfer them to other units that might find them useful rather than scrapping them.

http://dmitrydreamer.livejournal.com/41295.html

Fantastic high res photos of the Su-34s @ Baltimor.

Air launched version of the BRAHMOS which can be fired from the SU 30 MKI . The SU 34 too should be compatible with the air launched version .




Photo Source : BRAHMOS AEROSPACE

As I said earlier on my post close to 15 Su-34 is schedule for delivery this year.

14 Su-34 will be delivered in 2013 with 6 already in final stage of assembly.

Putin Chkalov aviation plant acquainted with the assembly of Su-34


Russian President Vladimir Putin today during his trip to visit Novosibirsk Aircraft Plant named VP Chkalov, where the process of assembling multi-bomber Su-34.

The tour was accompanied by the head of Vladimir Putin's United Aircraft Corporation Mikhail Pogosyan.
According to the schedule of work for the assembly of Su-34 under the state contract to 2020 "of 14 aircraft, scheduled for delivery this year, six are already in final assembly."

first deliveries in 2013 in the Russian Air Force will be made ​​in May, according to RIA Novosti .
Putin showed in the final assembly shop five jobs, through which the Su-34 in the final stage. According to Pogosyan, thanks to this was substantially reduced cycle assembly aircraft.


LINK

Apparently the modernization of NAPO allowed them to cut the costs on the bird by 5-8 million USD, down to 32 million per bird.
The military increased the order to 124 at that point.

TR1 wrote:Apparently the modernization of NAPO allowed them to cut the costs on the bird by 5-8 million USD, down to 32 million per bird.
The military increased the order to 124 at that point.

Only 32 million USD for 1 Su-34? This is really cheap. F-16 and Gripen are more expensive than Su-34.