On Monday, November 25, 2024, the Russian state corporation Rostec announced that the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), part of Rostec, had delivered the second batch of modernized Su-34M/NVO frontline bombers (NATO reporting name: Fullback) this year to the Aerospace Forces (VKS).
Photo: Rostec
The second batch of Su-34 frontline bombers this year has been delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces as part of the state defense contract. The aircraft were manufactured at the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association Plant named after V. Chkalov (NAPO) in Novosibirsk. After completing the full range of factory tests, the aircraft were handed over to the client, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The first batch was delivered on April 5 of this year.
“All aviation facilities of Rostec involved in fulfilling state defense orders are maintaining their production levels. Our enterprises are continuously improving production processes to ensure accelerated production rates. The Su-34 frontline bombers are highly appreciated by the military. The aircraft’s capabilities enable pilots to effectively carry out missions in any theater of operations, utilizing both unguided and guided aerial weapons,” noted Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of the state corporation Rostec.
“Timely fulfillment of obligations under the state defense order is one of UAC’s key priorities. Our teams carry out this important work with honor. This is not the last batch of Su-34 fighter-bombers for this year. These aircraft form the backbone of the frontline aviation strike force and demonstrate their effectiveness in real combat conditions,” said Vadim Badikha, General Director of UAC.
Last year, the Aerospace Forces (VKS) received two batches of Su-34M/NVO aircraft (on June 1 and October 9, 2023), but no information was provided at the time regarding the number of units delivered. However, it is most likely that these aircraft are part of a multi-year framework agreement from June 2020, covering the delivery of at least 76 modernized Su-34M/NVO tactical bombers developed under the research and development program codenamed Sych. The agreement stipulated the delivery of 8 to 14 aircraft annually, with completion scheduled between 2022 and 2027.
Under the first three-year annex, deliveries were to include 24 units. The first six aircraft were delivered to the recipient in November and December 2021. After the outbreak of the full-scale war with Ukraine on February 24, 2022, information about the size of delivered batches ceased to be disclosed. However, according to Russian media, this amounted to 10 units in three batches. Another annex for additional aircraft was signed in August 2022.
Since the outbreak of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, the Aerospace Forces (VKS) have likely lost 44 Su-34 bombers in combat operations (55 in total, including accidents and damaged aircraft). However, the exact number is difficult to verify due to the lack of detailed information about the outcomes of recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian air bases in western Russia. Currently, the Russians are believed to have around 100 Su-34s and 22 modernized Su-34M/NVO aircraft.
In addition to the Su-34M, UAC has delivered two batches of Su-57 multirole fighters (NATO reporting name: Felon) and three batches of Su-35 aircraft (NATO reporting name: Flanker-E) to the Aerospace Forces (VKS) this year. Earlier, at the end of 2023, a batch of modernized Su-30SM2 multirole fighters (Flanker-H) and Yak-130 trainer-combat aircraft (Mitten) was delivered.