On November 22, 2023, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced that the next batch of new Su-34 front-line bombers had been transferred to the Russian Ministry of Defense as part of the execution of the state defense order. The aircraft were manufactured at the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V.P. Chkalov of the United Aircraft Corporation (part of the Rostec State Corporation). The machines have passed a complex of ground and flight tests.
One of the front-line Su-34M (Su-34NVO) bombers of the new construction of the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V.P. Chkalov, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation, transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces. The side numbers in the photo are retouched. Novosibirsk, November 2023 (c) PJSC "United Aircraft Corporation"
"The Su-34 front-line bombers are highly maneuverable and have impressive combat capabilities, which allows them to perform a wide range of tasks. These machines are appreciated by pilots and are now actively used in the course of their own. The state Corporation is delivering Su-34s to the troops in full and on time," said Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec.
"We continue to fulfill our obligations to the Ministry of Defense, ensuring the rhythm of production and timely transfer of aviation equipment," said Yuri Slyusar, General Director of the UAC. - The Novosibirsk plant is one of the important performers of the state defense order in the UAC circuit. Already today, the company has started implementing the next year's program, the volume of which will be significantly increased. The necessary production reserve has been created. In addition, the plant is loaded with work on servicing and maintaining the airworthiness of aviation equipment that is already in service."
From the bmpd side, we point out that this is the third batch of Su-34M front-line bombers transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2023, built by the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V.P. Chkalov (NAZ). The first batch was transferred on June 1, and the second batch was transferred on October 9. Starting from 2022, on the official photographs distributed by the UAC, the on-board and registration numbers of the aircraft transferred to the Ministry of Defense of Russia are retouched. The bombers delivered in all batches in 2023 apparently became the final ones under a 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 six Su-34M aircraft under this contract were manufactured by NAZ in 2021, of which the first four in November 2021 were transferred to the 277th Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 303rd Mixed Aviation Division of the 11th Red Banner Army based at Khurba Airfield (near Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk Krai). The Air Force and Air Defense of the Eastern Military District (since November 2022, this regiment, actively participating in a special military operation in Ukraine, has the title of Guards), and the other two in December 2021 were transferred to the 4th Order of Lenin of the Red Banner Center for Military Testing and Training of Personnel of the V. P. Chkalov Aerospace Forces of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to the Lipetsk airfield.. Then, in 2022, three more batches of bombers were transferred to the VKS - a total of 10 aircraft. Of these, at least four aircraft were also delivered to the 277th Bomber Aviation Regiment in June 2022, and the appointment of the remaining six (batches in December and November) was not reported.
In August 2022, according to available information, the Russian Ministry of Defense signed a new contract with the UAC for the manufacture of some more Su-34M aircraft.
One of the front-line Su-34M (Su-34NVO) bombers of the new construction of the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V.P. Chkalov, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation, transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces. The side numbers in the photo are retouched. Novosibirsk, November 2023 (c) PJSC "United Aircraft Corporation"