Ukrainian forces down Russian Su‑34 bomber in strategic blow
Ukrainians have destroyed another Su-34 multirole tactical bomber within the last few days. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the defending army shot down this unit on Russian territory, in the Kursk region.
"A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber was destroyed by anti-aircraft measures of the Ukrainian air force in the Kursk region. The aircraft was on a combat mission," reads the communiqué from the Ukrainian military. A recording has also appeared on social media, which is said to show the effect of the attack on the Russian Su-34 – the video shows a column of thick smoke in an unspecified location in the Russian Federation.
Russians lost another aircraft
The loss of this aircraft is highly significant for the Russians. This is primarily due to the dwindling number of these units in their armed forces. Recently, an expert associated with the aviation industry, Konstantyn Kryvolap, commented on the size of the Russian air force. According to his calculations, the Russians have about 80 Su-34 aircraft at their disposal. In the past, they have confirmed the destruction of over 30 units.
What is also important is the fact that the Russian Federation's defence industry is currently producing a maximum of 10 Su-34 tactical bombers per year. This number does not allow for covering current losses and essentially illustrates the problems of the Russian industry. In 2022, 20 such aircraft were produced, while 2023 productivity dropped to 12 units. In 2024, the Russian air force has been supplemented with only four Su-34 units.
Multirole tactical bomber
The Su-34s are often referred to as fighters, but in fact, they are multirole tactical bombers. They serve the Russian military as versatile machines that can be utilised for various missions – including, among others, direct air combat and bombing enemy units.
In the context of the latter task, which can be assigned to the Su-34, it should be noted that the Su-34 can carry up to 8,200 kg of additional armament (beyond the standard GSh-30-1 30mm aircraft gun). The aircraft can be equipped with various aviation bombs, as well as S-8, Kh-25, or Kh-59 missiles. The space for this ammunition is located on 12 undercarriage pylons.
The maximum speed of the Su-34 is around 1,900 km/h. This is ensured by two AL-31F M1 turbojet engines. The maximum range of this machine on a single tank reaches around 4,000 km.
