Shift in Russian air strategy

The British Ministry of Defence claims that last week's attack on the Russian military airport in Kushchevskaya has had its consequences. About 40 aircraft of various types were relocated from there to other airports further from the front line, including Su-34. What is this aircraft, and what capabilities does it possess?

In the daily intelligence update, it was assessed that it is unlikely to cause any immediately visible or dramatic effect. However, it might be a certain inconvenience for Russians in the long term, as it forces the invaders to disperse their aircraft and extend the combat flights. It is also another example of Ukraine's ability to strike deeper into Russian territory (the military airport in Kushchevskaya is located in the Krasnodar region).

"Forcing such dispersion of aircraft means that the length of combat flights will have to increase to maintain their current frequency over the battlefield. This, in turn, requires more fuel and raises costs, as well as increases the load on crews"—the statement said.

The British Ministry of Defence believes that many Russian fighters Su-34 (in NATO code - Fullback) and Su-35S (Flanker M), which are used daily in strike missions on Ukrainian positions at the front line, were stationed at the airport in Kushchevskaya.

The Su-34 is considered the backbone of Russian aviation. It is a tactical bomber developed in the 1990s and remains one of the most numerous aircraft used by the Russian army. In Ukraine, the invaders use Su-34 to carry and drop guided aerial bombs of the KAB type weighing several hundred kilograms, which had already been dubbed "wonder weapons" by analysts from the DeepState profile on Telegram some time ago.

The Su-34 is over 22.9 metres in length. It is powered by two AL-31FM1 engines, which allow the pilot to reach speeds up to about 1900 km/h. The Su-34's maximum range is estimated at 4000 km, and the maximum altitude reached is about 17000 metres. The primary armament in this aircraft includes a GSh-30-1 cannon calibre 30 mm, but it is adapted to carry up to 8 tonnes of suspended weaponry. Apart from the mentioned aerial bombs, these can also include missile rockets and cruise missiles.