Alexander Listopad
The newest Su-34 NVO is sent to serve in the Southern Military District
Roman Krezul
Anton Lavrov
Photo: Izvestia / Alexey Maishev
The Aerospace Forces (VKS) received the first modernized Su-34 NVO bombers. The bomber regiment in Shagol of the Chelyabinsk region has already received them for equipping. The capabilities of the Su-34 have been expanded through the use of a whole series of overhead containers. With their help, the aircraft can conduct reconnaissance, in real time detect enemy headquarters and command posts, and in its arsenal - new high-precision weapons.
Agile and dangerous
The updated aircraft was accepted by the flight crew and a few days ago it was transferred to the airfield, Izvestia sources in the military department said. This is the first Su-34 fighter-bomber in the Central Military District that has undergone modernization and entered service.
One of the main innovations in the modern version is powerful reconnaissance equipment and target designation system. This increases the crew's ability to detect targets and allows the aircraft to use an expanded arsenal of strike weapons .
If necessary, new bombers can be relocated and carry out missions in any region where the need arises, ex-commander of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army Lieutenant General Valery Gorbenko told Izvestia.
“ After the modernization, more advanced navigation equipment and an aiming system were installed on the aircraft ,” Gorbenko explained. - Accordingly, the range of used ammunition will expand and the accuracy of shooting will increase. These are major changes.
The Su-34 initially has high flight characteristics and good maneuverability, the general noted. Therefore, in addition to bombing, the aircraft can even engage in aerial combat, defending against fighters . For this he has the necessary electronic equipment and air-to-air missiles.
“With such aircraft, the regiment commander in certain situations can solve a firing mission with less means than before,” said Valery Gorbenko. “ Depending on the situation, the Su-34 can be sent to perform a combat mission without fighter cover, since it is able to defend itself.
Chief in his class
The Ministry of Defense signed a contract for the modernization of combatant Su-34s in June last year. The media have already reported that about 20 vehicles will be improved in total. It is planned to complete the modernization by the end of 2023.
As part of the Sych research and development work (ROC), a version of the Su-34 NVO (new capabilities) has been developed. On bombers, the radar, sight, communication system was improved. We have significantly expanded the range of "smart" bombs and missiles that the combat vehicle can use. Avionics and electronic warfare systems were also modernized.
One of the most important features of the Su-34 NVO was the ability to use unified suspended reconnaissance containers. Three versions of them have been developed: optoelectronic, radio engineering and radar. With their help, the aircraft will be able to independently detect ground, sea and air targets in any weather at a greater distance than before .
Today, the Su-34 have become the main bombers of the Aerospace Forces. More than 120 production aircraft have been produced under two completed government contracts.
The well-established production process made it possible to produce up to 16-18 units per year. Cars of the first series, released in the early 2010s, were called candidates for modernization.
In addition to the NVO version, a deeply modified version of the Su-34M has been developed for the Ministry of Defense. It takes into account the experience gained during the Syrian operation and accumulated during their operation in the troops over the past decade. As Izvestia reported, by 2027, it is planned to produce 76 of them from scratch.
"Thirty fourths" were designed on the basis of the Su-27 fighter. Therefore, they retained the ability to use air-to-air weapons. They can carry short- and medium-range missiles. If necessary, the bomber is also capable of performing aerobatics. In aerial combat, he can maneuver with overloads of up to 7G.
From the very beginning of the military operation in Syria, Su-34s became the "main experts" in the use of precision weapons in the Russian air group. At times, their number at Khmeimim reached 14 units. With guided bombs weighing up to 1.5 tons, they destroyed the strongest shelters of the militants, including underground ones. In November 2015, bombers carried out powerful strikes against the oil infrastructure of IS (a terrorist group banned in Russia) and the columns of their oil tankers who were smuggling Syrian black gold.
The first aircraft arrived in the Urals. In recent years, the Ministry of Defense has been actively strengthening the forces of the Central Military District. Izvestia already wrote that the air defense group was significantly strengthened in the Central Military District. The newest automated control system for the forces and means of air defense took over on combat duty. It combines the latest S-400 anti-aircraft systems, "Pantsir" missile and cannon systems and radar equipment into a single circuit. This allows you to detect targets in real time, distribute them between warheads and destroy them. The system covers the entire Urals and the Volga region, as well as the largest base of Russian strategic bombers in Engels.
In addition, over the industrial regions of the Urals and Siberia, an electronic jamming system was deployed, the basis of which was the Pole-21 complexes. They interfere with satellite navigation systems, drone flights, cruise missiles and other precision weapons. The system is capable not only of jamming signals from satellites, but also of introducing distortions into them, forming false coordinates.
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