Russia Sharply Increases Delivery of Su-34 Warplanes; Fourth Batch Sent This Year

Russia's Rostec announced the delivery of the fourth batch of Su-34 fighters on Tuesday, the second since September 2 and the fourth this year making it the most ordered plane by the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The delivery coincides with the announcement by France of the donation. Mirage-2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine upgraded to carry air-to-ground weapons.

The Su-34 has become the favorite Russian jet in the war with Ukraine due to its ability to carry a heavier load of guided bombs besides hypersonic weapons as compared to other Russian fighters.

“Today this is an aircraft with the widest range of weapons used…. It will contribute to achieving the goals of the Air Defense Forces," said First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov. 

Russia is now estimated to have over 150 fighter jets pressed into the war including the Su-34, Su-30SM and Su-35. Not to mention the Su-25 and Su-24 ground attack jets besides the MiG-31 high altitude jet meant to launch hypersonic missiles.

The Russian Aerospace Forces received the first Su-34M, the latest Su-34 version, in June 2022, with more deliveries continuing through 2023 and 2024, bringing the total number of Su-34s to over 130, including prototypes. These aircraft have played key roles in the Ukraine conflict, conducting precision strikes on military targets and infrastructure, providing close air support to ground troops, and carrying out air interdiction against supply lines.

Notable deployments include mass air raids during the initial invasion in early 2022, support during the Battle of Donbas, bombing in the siege of Mariupol, and targeting Ukrainian forces during the September 2022 counteroffensive.

Despite their effectiveness, Su-34s have faced vulnerabilities, including susceptibility to Ukrainian air defenses like the S-300 and Buk-M1, and disruptions from Ukrainian electronic warfare. Maintenance challenges have also arisen due to sanctions and supply chain issues.

In response, Russia adapted tactics, such as flying low to evade air defenses, conducting standoff strikes, and coordinating with other aircraft to overwhelm defenses. The Su-34M features upgrades like an electro-optical infrared targeting pod, rearward-facing radar for missile defense, an ECM pod for electronic protection, and a new radar system for extended detection.