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Sukhoi Su-34

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Su-34
Su-34 taking off
Role Fighter-bomber
Manufacturer Sukhoi
First flight 13 April 1990
Introduction Operational capability expected in 2010[1]
Status In early production/operational testing[2]
Primary user Russian Air Force
Produced 2007-current
Number built 10 as of 2008[3][4]
Developed from Sukhoi Su-27

The Sukhoi Su-34 (Russian: Сухой Су-34) (export designation Su-32, NATO reporting name Fullback) is an advanced Russian 2-seat fighter-bomber and strike aircraft. It is intended to eventually replace the Sukhoi Su-24and most Tu-22M.

Development

A dedicated fighter bomber version of the Sukhoi Su-27, first developed from the 1980s for the Soviet Union (with the Sukhoi bureau designation T-10V), it made its first flight on 13 April 1990 and was originally designated Su-27IB (IB: Istrebitel Bombardirovshchik / Fighter Bomber).[5] It was developed in parallel with the two-seat naval trainer, the Su-27KUB (KUB: Korabelnyy Uchebno-Boyevoy, shipboard combat trainer), although, contrary to earlier reports, the two aircraft are not directly related.[6]

Frontal view of the Su-34

Budget restrictions led the program to stall repeatedly, and led to the prototype aircraft being displayed publicly under a variety of roles and designations. When first described in the official Russian press in 1994 it was described as the Su-34. The third pre-production aircraft was shown at a Paris Air Show in 1995 as the Su-34FN (FN for "Fighter, Navy"), described as a shore-based naval aircraft, and it was displayed as the Su-34MF (MF for MnogoFunksionalniy, multi-function) at the MAKS air show in 1999. At the 1999 Paris Air show the aircraft was nicknamed the Platypus due to the unusual shape of the nose. The Russian Air Force has apparently recently adopted the designation Su-34.

The aircraft shares most of its wing structure, tail, and engine nacelles with the Su-27/Su-30, with canards like the Su-30MKI/Su-33/Su-27M/35 to increase static instability (higher maneuverability) and to reduce trim drag. The aircraft has an entirely new nose and forward fuselage with a cockpit providing side-by-side seating for a crew of two. The Su-34 retains the Su-27's engines, but with fixed intakes, limiting its maximum speed to Mach 1.8+.[citation needed]

Procurement

To date only a handful of pre-production models have been built. In mid-2004 Sukhoi announced that low-rate production was commencing and that initial aircraft would reach squadron service around 2008. Nevertheless, upgrade programs continue for surviving Russian Sukhoi Su-24, as the Su-34 may still not enter wide service for some years to come.

In March 2006, Russia's minister of defense Sergei Ivanov announced that the government had purchased only two Su-34s for delivery in 2006, and planned to have a complete air regiment of 44 Su-34s operational by the end of 2010. A total of 200 aircraft will be purchased by 2015 to replace some 300 Su-24s,[7] which are going through modernisation upgrades currently to prolong their service life.[8] 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 are expected be in service by 2020.[9] This was confirmed by Air Force chief Vladimir Mikhailov on March 6, 2007.[10]

Two Su-34s were delivered on 4 January 2007, and six more will be delivered by the end of that year.[1] On 9 January 2008, Sukhoi reported that the Su-34 has begun full-rate production. Russia plans to have 24 Su-34s operational by late 2010 with a total of 70 to be purchased by 2015.[7][8] In June 2009, Sukhoi was awarded a five-year contract for Su-34 production.[2]

Design

File:Su-34 former Su-32 former Su-34 former Su-32FN.2.jpg
Su-34 landing

Performance

The Su-34 has a three surface planform, with a conventional horizontal tail at the rear and a pair of canard foreplanes in front of the wings for extra lift and more maneuvering power. The Su-34 has an active-safety system with artificial-intelligence elements. This system enables the plane to execute just about any stunt and combat maneuver and to fly at near ground level at a maximum speed of 1,400 km/h. The Su-34 can also fly in TERCOM (Terrain Contour Matching) mode, bypassing unexpected obstacles and streaking through ground air-defense zones. The plane's crew can therefore conduct effective bombing runs, take evasive action, destroy enemy weapons and steer clear of missiles and anti-aircraft shells.

The Su-34 has 12 pylons for up to 8,000 kilograms (17,635 lb) of ordnance, intended to include the latest Russian precision-guided weapons. It retains the Su-27/Su-30's 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon.[11] The Su-34 ordnance load includes subsonic and supersonic homing missiles and glider bombs, can destroy hardened and well-camouflaged targets at a range of up to 250 km. The airplane has enlarged capacity internal fuel tanks for practical unrefueled flight of 4,000 kilometres. With three refuelings, the Su-34 is capable of covering a distance of more than 14,000 kilometres. The onboard electronics engineering ensures the flight crew with a full information about parameters of flight and enclosing space, condition of onboard systems and power plant, purposes in an air on ground, on surface of water and under water, about means of radar-tracking detection and REF of the opponent, about AD and degree of threat, created by them concerns to one from the important features of a new airplane. In addition, the Su-34 features a rearward facing radar capable of detecting, tracking, and directing R-73 or R-77 AAMs at pursuing enemy aircraft.

An operational mission for the Su-34 begins with a mission planning period that loads into the aircraft's two main computers the coordinates and elevations of every navigation and mission-dependent point from takeoff to landing. At each coordinate-point or time-hack, automatic switching of modes can be accomplished so that the pilots can be hands-off or involved with other parts of the mission. Data link with command aircraft, ground stations, and command ships will be maintained and where line-of-sight limits are reached these communications resort to satellites for expanded coverage. Mission updates can be passed by higher authority anytime during the flight. All types or tactical and strategic ordnance can be utilized with emphasis being placed on long range standoff weapons such as the Kh-59 Ovod/Kh-59ME cruise missiles, Kh-29 & Kh-31 anti-radiation weapons, Kh-35 Uran anti-ship weapon, and the Kh-41 Moskit long range anti-ship missile.

Cockpit and avionics

Unlike the earlier Su-27, the Su-34 has a modern glass cockpit, with colour CRT multi-function displays. Its avionics currently are based around a Leninets V004 passive electronically scanned array radar, and a UOMZ laser/television system for designating and guiding precision-guided munitions. The front-mounted radar is supplemented by a rear-aspect V005 radar housed in the long tail "stinger". The Su-34 is equipped with comprehensive ECM equipment, including an infrared missile launch detection system.

The avionics suite has an extended architecture of computers, memory boards, color multi-function displays, and processors designed as self-contained information processing modules. They consist of large "Argon" digital computer units with specially programmed processors that use multiplex data-exchange channels. All information modules are controlled by a dual central computing system that fully coordinates workload and provides all relevant information to the flight deck. Two-way data link enables the mission planning and weapon aim-point computations to be loaded or updated while in flight or aircraft to aircraft. As a strike aircraft, the Su-34 incorporates an advanced multi-function phased array radar capable of terrain following and avoidance for high speed, low level operations.

The Su-34's most distinctive feature is the unusually large flight deck. Much of the design work went into crew comfort. The two crew members sit side by side in a large cabin, with the pilot-commander to the left and navigator/operator of weapons to the right in jettisonable NPP Zvezda K-36dm seats. An advantage of the side by side cockpit is that duplicate instruments are not required for each pilot. As long missions require comfort, it has pressurization that it allows to operate up to 10,000 metres (32,800 feet) without oxygen masks, which are available for emergencies and combat situations.[12] The crew members have room to stand and move about the cabin during long missions.[13][14] The space between the seats allows that they can lie down in the corridor, if necessary.[12] A small toilet and a galley are located behind the crew seats.[12][13]

A long-range surveillance radar, passive detection systems, system of communication for tactical and strategical voice and data in a single platform with long-range capacity with flight refuelling, transform the Su-34 into a way of monitoring and recognition in real time and platform of command and control, forming a complete battle management system.

Operators

 Russia

Former operators

 Soviet Union

Specifications (Su-34)

top and side view
top and side view

Data from Sukhoi data,[15] Gordon and Davison[16] AF Technology[17]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two

Performance

Armament

  • 1 × 30 mm GSh-30-1 (9A-4071K) cannon, 150 rounds
  • 2 × wingtip rails for R-73 (AA-11 'Archer') air-to-air missiles
  • 10 × wing and fuselage stations for up to 8,000 kg (17,630 lb) of ordnance, including Kh-29L/T, Kh-25MT/ML, Kh-25MP, Kh-36, Kh-38, Kh-41, Kh-59M, Kh-58, Kh-31P, Kh-35 Ural, Kh-41, Kh-65S, Kh-SD, 2 Moskit, 3 × Jachont air-to-ground missiles, KAB-500L/KR or KAB-1500L guided bombs, unguided bombs, B-8 rocket pods with 20 × 80 mm S-8 rockets, B-13 rocket pods with 5 × 122 mm S-13 rockets, O-25 rocket pods with 1 × 340 mm S-25 rocket, fuel tanks, EW- and reconnaissance pods.

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. ^ a b Karnozov, Vladimir. "Russia gets first new fighters for 15 years as Sukhoi Su-34 debuts." Flight International. 4 January 2007.
  2. ^ a b Johnson, Reuben F. "Russian contract to boost Su-34 production" (subscription required). Jane's Defence Weekly, 5 June 2009.
  3. ^ http://www.warfare.ru/?linkid=1615&catid=257&lang=
  4. ^ a b "Directory: World Air Forces", Flight International, 11-17 November 2008.
  5. ^ Williams, Mel ed. Superfighters, The Next Generation of Combat Aircraft, AIRtime, 2002. ISBN 1-880588-53-6. p. 132-135, 138.
  6. ^ Andrews, Thomas, "Sukhoi Su-27/Su-3o Family," International Air Power Review, Volume 8, Spring 2003.
  7. ^ a b "Russian Air Force to receive five Su-34 warplanes in 2008". RIA Novosti (Russian News and Information Agency), 14 January 2008.
  8. ^ a b "Russia producing new Su-34 bombers", United Press International, 9 January 2008.
  9. ^ "Su-34 Fullback fighter takes to the skies", RIA Novosti (Russian News and Information Agency), 19 December 2006.
  10. ^ "3rd serial Su-34 fighter-bomber to take to the skies in November", RIA Novosti (Russian News and Information Agency), 6 March 2007.
  11. ^ Gordon 2006, pp. 80-81.
  12. ^ a b c Gordon, Yefim. Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker: Air Superiority Fighter Airlife Publishing. (1999) ISBN 1-84037-029-7.
  13. ^ a b Spick, Mike. "The Flanker", The Great Book of Modern Warplanes. pp. 518-519, MBI, 2000. ISBN 0-7603-0893-4.
  14. ^ Eden, Paul. "Su-27IB, Su-32FN and Su-34", Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1904687849.
  15. ^ Su-32 (Su-34) Aircraft performance, Sukhoi
  16. ^ Gordon and Davison 2006, pp. 92, 95-96.
  17. ^ Specifications - Su-34 (Su-27IB) Flanker Fighter Bomber Aircraft, Russia, airforce-technology.com.
  • Gordon, Yefim and Peter Davison. Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, Specialty Press, 2006. ISBN 978-1-58007-091-1.
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