For the first time in the history of Russia, two Su-34 bombers perform an ultra-long-range non-stop flight along the Lipetsk-Komsomolsk-on-Amur route.
The head of the information and public relations service of the Far Eastern Air Force and Air Defense Association Sergei Roscha said that "now the aircraft are in the air, they will land at the Dzemgi airfield in Komsomolsk-on-Amur at 21:30 local time (at 14:30 Moscow time) ".
The bombers will take part in the Vostok-2010 exercise, which will be held in Primorye in late June and early July.
The first serial Su-34, manufactured for the Russian Air Force by the Novosibirsk Aviation Production Association (NAPO) named after Chkalov, was presented to customers exactly a year ago.
The Su-34 is designed to deliver powerful and accurate missile and bomb strikes against land, sea, and other targets during autonomous and group operations day and night, in simple and difficult weather conditions and in conditions of interference from the enemy.
Perfect electronic equipment, guided air-to-air missiles, as well as high flight and maneuverability characteristics allow the Su-34 to be used as a fighter for air combat, ITAR-TASS reports.
The Su-34 is to become the base strike aircraft of the frontline aviation of the Russian Air Force and completely replace the Su-24 and Su-24M bombers.
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Su-34 (NATO codification: Fullback - Russian. Defender) - Soviet / Russian front-line bomber (in some sources classified as a fighter-bomber), developed in the Soviet Union at the Sukhoi Design Bureau.
The first flight of the Su-34 prototype - T10V-1 took place on April 13, 1990. It was piloted by Honored Test Pilot of the USSR Ivanov A. A. It was intended, first of all, to destroy ground and surface targets, including small-sized and mobile ones, both in tactical and operational depths of the enemy, in any weather and climatic conditions, day and night. The new Su-34s are intended to replace the older Su-24 bombers. The Sukhoi Design Bureau completely rebuilt the cockpit, the entrance to which, unlike the Su-24, was through the niche of the front landing gear.
In the spring of 1995, the new car was shown in France at the international air show in Le Bourget. In Paris, the Su-34 was exhibited under the designation Su-32FN. The letters in the designation were translated as "Fighter Navy" - a naval fighter.
The aircraft has an almost unlimited flight range when using air refueling. Without it and without the use of additional outboard fuel tanks, it flies more than four thousand kilometers.
Chief Designer - Rollan Gurgenovich Martirosov, general management was carried out by Mikhail Petrovich Simonov.
On June 8, 2010 it became known about the passing state tests for new modifications of the Su-34 bombers. New options for the aircraft are being tested at the State Flight Test Center of the Russian Air Force in Akhtubinsk. According to the information released to the public, the tests will end before the end of 2010, and some of the modifications may be allowed for serial production as early as 2011.
So far, we know about the following innovations:
New types of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles. Their tests will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Upgraded high-temperature turbojet bypass engines AL-31FM1. Their tests were completed and the engine received permission for serial production.
Auxiliary gas turbine power plant TA14-130-35, which will allow starting the Su-34 engines on the ground without the use of ground equipment. According to preliminary estimates, such an installation will increase the autonomy of the use of front-line bombers and expand the list of their airfields. It is expected that all Su-34s produced from 2011 will be equipped with an auxiliary power unit.
