Su-34
Sukhoi · Soviet Union · first flew 1990 · fighter
The Su-34 Fullback is a Flanker-derived, twin-engine strike fighter with a distinctive flattened nose and side-by-side armoured cockpit.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 23.34 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Flattened duck-bill nose
- Side-by-side two-seat cockpit
- Flanker-derived twin fins
Look for the broad, flattened duck-bill nose housing a side-by-side cockpit, the Flanker-style twin fins and widely spaced engines, and the long tail boom between the nacelles.
Specifications
- The Su-34 has a length of 23.34 m (77 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.7 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1900 km/h (1181 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1990 but only entering service in 2014, the Su-34 adapted the Su-27 airframe for long-range all-weather strike, adding a wide armoured cockpit, side-by-side seating and a reinforced undercarriage. The crew enter through the nose-gear bay.
Variants
The principal production model is the Su-34, with progressively upgraded avionics and the modernised Su-34M now in service. Dedicated reconnaissance and electronic-warfare fits have been trialled.
Where you'll see it
A front-line Russian strike aircraft used intensively in recent conflicts, the Su-34 is not exported widely and has never appeared in UK skies. Its flattened nose makes it one of the most recognisable modern Russian types.
Related aircraft
- Sukhoi Su-29
- Sukhoi Su-30
- Sukhoi Su-39
- Sukhoi Su-31
- Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat
- Hongdu JL-8
- Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics YF-22
- NAMC JL-8 (K-8 Karakorum)
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