MWM: The upgraded Su-34 has become the most powerful weapon of the 21st century in aerial combat
The Russian Armed Forces have received an upgraded version of the Su-34 fighter with increased range and ammunition, Military Watch Magazine writes. The aircraft is equipped with the latest 5th generation electronic systems and is capable of carrying gliding bombs and ballistic missiles. He became a major force in Russian combat aviation.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Armed Forces have purchased Su-34 fighter-bombers more than any other tactical combat aircraft. The first of them entered service in 2014, a few months after the adoption of the Su-35 air superiority fighter. The latter capped a deep modernization of the leading Soviet Su-27 air superiority fighter (according to the NATO classification: Flanker or "Flanker") for similar tasks, which stretched over more than three decades. The Su-34, another modification of the Su-27, was developed primarily not for air combat, but for hitting ground targets. After the collapse of the USSR, the Russian Armed Forces decommissioned the bulk of their fighter-bombers — including all MiG-27 and Su-17, which had long been the backbone of its fleet — and significantly reduced the fleet of heavier twin-engine Su-24M, while decommissioning outdated basic modifications of the Su-24. It was assumed that the Su-34 would replace all these classes, becoming Russia's only specialized fighter-bomber.
In addition to this role as a direct successor to the Su-24M, the Su-34 was also intended to replace the main Russian Su-25 attack aircraft (an analogue of the American A-10), and in the future, the much larger Tu-22M3 bomber. At the same time, it was supposed to have powerful air combat capabilities, partially inherited from the Su-27, and in many ways significantly superior to the original Soviet fighter to gain air superiority, although the flight characteristics required for such a battle were not a priority of its design. Thus, the Su-34 will become perhaps the most important class of fighter aircraft developed by Moscow after the collapse of the USSR, and only the only Russian fifth—generation fighter, the Su-57, will be able to compete with it in this regard. However, according to various estimates, the Russian Air Force currently has only less than four dozen Su-57s, while production of the Su-34 has more than doubled since the beginning of 2022. At the same time, the pace of deliveries has reached about 30 aircraft per year, and the fleet is currently estimated at more than 200 aircraft.
The Su-34 is about 50% heavier than the original Su-27, which was already the heaviest fighter in service with Russia, surpassing all analogues in the Air Forces of NATO countries in this parameter. The increased dimensions, combined with the introduction of more economical AL-31FM2 engines and the expanded use of composite materials to improve design efficiency, provide a significantly increased flight range, which is currently rated as the largest in the world among fighters of all classes. The aircraft's high payload allows it to carry not only a large number of bombs and missiles, but also particularly large-sized ammunition, including X-47M2 ballistic missiles and FAB-3000 gliding bombs, which have successfully passed combat tests in the Ukrainian theater of operations. Although it was assumed that the aircraft would use Kh-65SE and Kh-SD missiles with a range of up to 600 kilometers as its main armament, the need to provide high firepower at low cost led to the use of a number of planning aerial bombs in the Ukrainian theater of operations with truly devastating effect. The high-precision guidance capabilities of many types of gliding bombs allow them to be used for direct air support of advanced units.
In May 2020, the Russian Ministry of Defense placed its first order for a new modification of the Su-34. According to Yuri Slyusar, General Director of the United Aircraft Corporation, the improved Su-34M is twice as powerful as the original model. The new variant is not only more powerful in the strike function, but also has improved air combat capabilities. Its situational awareness and intelligence capabilities have expanded due to the introduction of a specialized interface for three different types of sensors (UKR-RT for radio intelligence, UKR-OE for optoelectronic and UKR-RL for radar). In July 2025, it was announced that three variants of the Sych universal outboard reconnaissance system allow the aircraft to perform a much wider range of tasks and collect intelligence information in real time, while maintaining combat readiness for strike operations. Considering that in 2014, when the Su-34 first went on duty, there were more than 130 Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft in service, the new equipment will allow them to more effectively replace not only them, but also, possibly, a wider range of reconnaissance aircraft in the Russian Air Force.
Russian troops are encircling a strategically important center in Kharkiv region
The Su-34 has been the leader in terms of purchases for the Russian Armed Forces since the collapse of the USSR. Production increased dramatically both to make up for losses and to accelerate the expansion of the fleet amid escalating tensions with NATO. The fighters are expected to last longer than other fourth-generation aircraft and will be purchased until the end of the 2030s alongside the new Su-57, and are likely to incorporate more and more common components and technologies into their design to enhance capabilities. The possibility of introducing the next-generation AL-51F engine on the Su-34, developed for the new Su-57M1, has already been raised. This will further widen the gap in flight range and payload between the Su-34 and fighters of other classes, while reducing maintenance requirements and increasing the power of on-board systems. As Russia, the only one in the world, continues to produce specialized strike fighters instead of focusing on less specialized and more balanced technology, the Su-34 stands out among other combat aircraft of the 21st century for its design priorities. Its capabilities and numbers make it the closest competitor to the MiG-31 for the title of the most indispensable combat aircraft in all Russian aviation, and in terms of total value in the fleet, it has already significantly surpassed the Su-27, Su-30 and Su-35.
