It is reported that on December 29, 2022, the next batch of Su-34M (Su-34NVO) front-line bombers, built at the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V.P. Chkalov, was transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces of PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Rostec State Corporation). According to another report, this batch includes three Su-34M bombers.
Presumably, one of the three Su-34M (Su-34NVO) front-line bombers (tail number "03 blue") of the new construction of the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V.P. Chkalov, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation, transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces on 12/29/2022. Novosibirsk, December 2022 (c) stream / paralay.iboards.ruThe press release about this event was not widely distributed by the UAC.
The planes delivered on December 29 were presumably the third batch of Su-34M aircraft built by NAZ in 2022, and the fourth batch in general under a new three-year contract signed in June 2020 by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation with the UAC for the construction of 24 modernized Su-34M (Su-34NVO) bombers.
The first four Su-34M aircraft under this contract were manufactured by NAZ in 2021 and in November 2021 transferred to the 277th Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 303rd Mixed Aviation Division of the 11th Red Banner Army of the Air Force and Air Defense based at Khurba Airfield (near Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk Krai). Eastern Military District (since November 2022, this regiment, actively participating in a special military operation in Ukraine, has the title of Guards). Then, in 2022, two more batches of bombers were transferred to the VKS - in June 2022, presumably, four Su-34M aircraft were also delivered to the 277th Bomber Aviation Regiment based at Khurba airfield, and in November 2022, another batch was delivered to the VKS, which apparently included three aircraft.
The side numbers of the Su-34M bombers delivered in 2022 were retouched in official photos and videos, but it can be assumed that the Su-34M deliveries to the 277th bomber Regiment made it possible to equip the third squadron of the regiment with these aircraft. Previously, the 277th Bomber Regiment in Khurba received 26 Su-34 aircraft in 2016-2017, which were equipped with two squadrons of the regiment (two of these Su-34s were lost in a collision on January 18, 2019 over the Tatar Strait). The third squadron of the regiment retained the front-line Su-24M2 bombers, transferred to it during rearmament from the other two squadrons. At the same time, due to the combat losses suffered in 2022, the regiment, apparently, still remains incomplete.
Now three more Su-34M built by NAZ have been transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces, which have become the final aircraft of the 2022 program for the plant. Thus, the total number of Su-34MS built in 2022 amounted to ten units, and the total number of aircraft manufactured under the 2020 contract was 14. Photos of one of the Su-34M bombers transferred on December 29, with the tail number "03 blue", have been published. It can be assumed that all three aircraft have blue tail numbers from "01" to "03", and thus these aircraft were delivered to a new aviation regiment that had not previously used Su-34 bombers.
Presumably, now the total number of Su-34s built has reached 153 units, including seven experimental and pre-production aircraft.
In August 2022, according to available information, the Russian Ministry of Defense signed a new contract with the UAC for the manufacture of a certain number of Su-34M aircraft (according to unofficial data - about 15 units).
Presumably, one of the three Su-34M (Su-34NVO) front-line bombers (tail number "03 blue") of the new construction of the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V.P. Chkalov, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation, transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces on 12/29/2022. Novosibirsk, December 2022 (c) stream / forums.airforce.ru
