Repeat: Russia’s Su-34 fullback fighter-bomber nightmare is real

Summary and Key Points: The Russian Aerospace Forces have begun receiving a new batch of Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers from the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association Plant, with the first delivery reported in April.

-This action is part of Russia’s efforts to compensate for losses incurred during the current conflict in Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have destroyed up to 35 Su-34s.

-To meet production expectations, the factory is slated for renovation and will hire about 1,000 more employees.

New ODAB-500 thermobaric bombs are also being fitted to the Su-34s to increase their destructive power against heavily defended targets.

State media reported in April that the Russian Aerospace Forces had begun receiving a new batch of Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback fighter-bomber/strike aircraft. The first aircraft was turned over to the Novosibirsk Aircraft Manufacturing Association plant, which is now planning improvements and technical “re-equipment” of its production line.

In compliance with state defense directives, the first batch of Su-34 front-line bombers was handed over to the Russian Aerospace Forces this year. The aircraft was sent to the client following the completion of the factory’s extensive test program, the press service of the plant said via a statement to Tass.

Su-34: Can Production Meet Demand?

It is not known how many Su-34s were supplied in the most recent batch or whether they will be enough to cover the recent losses. The conflict has lasted more than two years and 25 Su-34s have been destroyed, according to the open-source military intelligence tracker Oryx, but Ukraine claims to have shot down 35 of the planes.

Su-34s have suffered eight confirmed losses this year.

In reality, both sides are fighting a battle of attrition in Ukraine, and Russia is stepping up efforts to cover its losses. This resulted in the expansion of the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association plant.

“We intend to hire more people. We want to hire about 1,000 production workers and engineering professionals this year,” the state-owned business said.

“There is no reduction in production rates at any of the UAC factories that meet the state’s defense needs. We have begun aircraft deliveries with the first batch of Su-34 frontline bombers under the current year’s production program. The Novosibirsk facility is handling these responsibilities. State-owned United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) of Rostec branch, headed by Yuri Slusser, who said, “Employees at the plant understand how important today’s technology is.”

Su-34 Fighter-Bombers Receiving New Ordnance

In addition, it is noted that new ODAB-500 thermobaric bombs, which convert conventional bombs into highly accurate guided weapons, are being fitted to Su-34 aircraft.

Due to its vacuum or thermobaric charge, the ODAB-500 is known as one of the deadliest air-launched weapons, according to ArmyRecognition.com. Since the ODAB-500 is designed to be delivered by aircraft, it is a useful tool for attacking heavily defended, underground or densely populated areas that are challenging to destroy with conventional explosives. It has a destructive range of 25 to 30 meters.

A 500 kg bomb hits the target and releases a cloud of flammable aerosol. This cloud bursts into flames, causing a massive explosion that quickly depletes all oxygen in the surrounding area. That of nothingness Then created, it can trigger a second, even more devastating implosion. In addition to its effectiveness against troops or defended positions, the OBAD-500 is also capable of rapidly destroying anti-tank minefields.

Russia’s Fullback

The Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO reporting name “Fullback”) multirole strike aircraft is a twin-engine, twin-seat, all-weather supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber, initially developed for the Soviet Air Forces in the 1980s. It was one of the Kremlin’s many programs that were forced on the backburner following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the economic crisis that followed.

Only in the early 2000s, the program was fully resurrected with eight prototype aircraft for testing and evaluation. The Su-34 was used in the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, but did not officially enter service until 2014. About 155 have been built, including prototypes and aircraft produced in batches.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Author Peter Suciu lives in Michigan. During his twenty-year journalism career, he has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites, publishing more than 3,200 items. Typical topics of his interest include foreign affairs, cyber security, history of weapons, military equipment and politics. Additionally, Peter writes as a contributing writer for Clearance Jobs and Forbes.

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