Vladislav Perminov
How the modernized Su-34 NVO and MiG-31BM will affect the situation in the Central Asian region
Roman Krezul
Anna Cherepanova
Photo: Izvestia / Dmitry Korotaev
The "dagger" division will be re-equipped. The latest fighter-bombers and modernized high-altitude fighter-interceptors will go to the 21st mixed air division of the Central Military District. One of the regiments of the formation will adopt the modernized Su-34 NVO bombers. And in the future, this military unit will switch to the latest Su-34M. At the same time, two fighter regiments will be fully re-equipped with updated MiG-31BM supersonic interceptors. According to experts, in the event of a threat in different directions, including in Central Asia, the aircraft can be quickly deployed and immediately begin to perform combat missions.
Range records
Sources in the military department told Izvestia that the plan for the rearmament of the 21st mixed aviation division (SAD) has already been approved. It is expected that the main rearmament work should be completed in two to three years. But everything will depend on the fulfillment of the state defense order.
The rearmament of the compound will take place in several stages. So, initially part of the division, the 2nd Guards Mixed Aviation Regiment (based at the Shagol airfield near Chelyabinsk) will receive modernized Su-34 NVO bombers. According to sources, the reconnaissance squadron will completely switch over to these vehicles. At the second stage, the two remaining squadrons of the regiment will be re-equipped with even more modern Su-34M . True, the contract for the supply of the Su-34M has not yet been concluded and is being negotiated.
The remaining regiments of the 21st SAD - the 712th Guards Fighter (Kansk, Krasnoyarsk Territory) and the 764th Fighter (Bolshoye Savino, Perm), according to the approved plan, will be fully re-equipped with modernized MiG-31BM interceptor fighters.
In February 2020, the commander of the Central Military District, Alexander Lapin, announced that the MiG-31 air regiment, based in Kansk, will be equipped with the Kinzhal hypersonic complexes until 2024 . As Izvestia already wrote, in March of this year, the 2nd Guards Aviation Regiment received the first serial Su-34 NVO. Later, the Ministry of Defense reported that by the end of the year, this military unit will receive eight such vehicles. Also, at the request of the military department, the fighter regiments in the Krasnoyarsk and Perm Territories will receive several MiG-31BMs.
The 21st Mixed Aviation Division was deployed in the Central Military District (CVD) in 2018 and has become one of the most powerful formations of the Russian Aerospace Forces. It is part of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army, which is responsible for the air defense of Russian territory from the Volga to Lake Baikal . At the same time, high-speed supersonic aircraft can be used not only for the direct protection of the country's borders. If necessary, they are capable of striking targets outside Russia. So, the latest modifications of the Su-34 can cover up to 4 thousand km. A comparable flight range for the MiG-31BM, and taking into account refueling, these aircraftable to perform tasks at a considerable distance from the Russian borders. For example, in 2013, the crews of the MiG-31BM of the 14th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense set a record by flying 8 thousand km with three refueling in the air.
New opportunities
- The Su-34 is an operational strategic fighter-bomber, it can even conduct air battles and perform aerobatics like the Swifts. But their main purpose is the actions of a fighter-bomber. They have very good tactical radii, they can all refuel in the air, most of them can use hypersonic missiles when performing combat missions, they have good bomber and missile weapons, the sighting system was very accurately brought to Syria, ”the former commander of the 4th Air Force Air Force and Air Defense, Lieutenant General, Hero of Russia Valery Gorbenko.
According to the expert, after the rearmament, the 21st mixed aviation division will be twice or even three times more powerful than what it is today.
“Since it is mixed, it will be able to cover its regiments in the event of a threat from enemy fighters,” noted Valery Gorbenko. - The MiG-31BM is a high-altitude fighter-interceptor capable of handling complex missions at high altitudes. And the Su-34 fighter-bomber has a good tactical range, can refuel in the air, and has effective bomber and missile weapons. Its sighting system has been significantly improved as a result of its combat use in Syria. A difficult situation is developing near the southern borders of Russia, so the latest models of equipment are sent to this direction as a matter of priority.
Military expert Viktor Murakhovsky noted that the 21st mixed division is a unique formation. The division combines aviation units of completely different purposes.
- This air force is based on the territory of the Central Military District. The division is designed to support his troops and forces. And the main direction of the Central Military District is Central Asian, - explained Viktor Murakhovsky. “In addition, this district supplies reinforcements in the event of aggression in other strategic directions. For example, its formations, including aviation ones, participated in maneuvers conducted in the Southern, Western and Eastern military districts. Aviation, as the most mobile component, must be ready to operate in any of these strategic directions. The 21st division, receiving new aircraft and possessing a powerful strike potential, is capable of performing almost any mission.
In the event of aggression against Russia or the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, aircraft and helicopters based at Russian military bases in this region (in particular, at 201st in Tajikistan and at the Kant airbase in Kyrgyzstan) will not be enough to repel the threat, the expert added.
- But we saw during surprise inspections how during the day the aviation forces were multiplied where necessary. And just due to the geographical location of the Central Military District aviation, the crews must be ready to carry out the tasks of operational relocation , - concluded Victor Murakhovsky.
Su-34s were developed to replace the Soviet front-line bomber Su-24, but the design of the Su-27 fighter was taken as a basis. Therefore, the new aircraft, which was put into service in 2014, turned out to be universal: in addition to striking ground targets, it can conduct air combat and perform aerobatics.
Since the spring of this year, the modernized Su-34 NVO aircraft (new capabilities) began to arrive at the Aerospace Forces. They are equipped with modern systems of reconnaissance, target designation, communications, electronic warfare, powerful radar and navigation system. The range of ammunition used was expanded. And in addition, for the Su-34 NVO, several versions of unified suspended reconnaissance containers have been developed - optical-electronic, radio engineering and radar. They allow the aircraft to independently detect ground, sea and air targets at a greater distance than the basic version of the Su-34 can do.
In addition to the Su-34 NVO, the Su-34M aircraft was developed for the Aerospace Forces, which is a deep modernization of the basic model . As Izvestia previously reported , 76 of these machines should be built by 2027.
Source iz.ru
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