The Drive: The Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber has no analogues in the world
The Russian multifunctional supersonic fighter-bomber Su-34 has no analogues in the world, being "one of the most intriguing combat aircraft in the world with a unique appearance." The "crazy quirks" of the Russian fighter-bomber were revealed in the American edition of The Drive.
According to the publication, the key feature of the Su-34 is its flattened front part, nicknamed "Duckling", equipped with a radar station (radar) Sh141, behind which there is a two-seat cockpit of the pilot and navigator-operator with K-36DM ejection seats. The publication notes that the dimensions of the cabin allow one of the crew members to stand up or lie down in full height.
The sewage disposal device used by the crew, according to the publication, is a "metal canister with a cone-shaped hole at one end." The publication notes the presence in the cockpit of the Su-34 of five large multifunctional liquid crystal displays, as well as one projection display used by the pilot.
The Platan retractable optical system is responsible for the ability to "attack ground targets day and night with high accuracy", which provides guidance, in particular, for KAB-1500-L bombs. This system, according to The Drive, "is suitable for some operations at high altitudes, but is much less useful at low altitudes."
In the tail boom of the Su-34 there is an auxiliary power plant. The publication recalls that initially it was planned to install a rear hemisphere survey radar in its place. The publication notes that the fighter-bomber received a chassis with a tandem wheel arrangement, allowing it to operate from "harsh airfields".
The Pica radar is used as a means of electronic reconnaissance, and the Khibiny module is used as a means of electronic warfare. "It is likely that in the future, with new improvements and additional weapons, the Su-34 will receive even more innovative features," the publication concludes.
In January, The Drive wrote that "one aspect that is particularly impressive about the Su-34 is its ability to carry a staggering amount of fuel for a tactical jet, which allows it to perform some potentially very long-range missions even without refueling in the air."
In December 2021, Izvestia, citing sources in the Russian Ministry of Defense, reported that the military department had decided to form new units that would receive Su-34 fighter-bombers.
