Summary and Top Line Point: The Su-34, known for its distinct platypus nose and side-by-side cockpit, can carry a significant payload and boasts advanced capabilities, but it has not met expectations in Ukraine.

Russia’s Su-34 Fullbacks: Advanced but Underperforming in Ukraine

Ukrainian officials earlier this spring claimed their forces took out at least a dozen of Russia’s most advanced fighter platforms over a two-week span. According to these claims, 11 Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers and two Sukhoi Su-35 jets were shot down in Eastern Ukraine at the time.

To make matters worse for Russia, Ukrainian forces have reportedly started to target these airframes on the ground.

A flight of one-way explosive drones in April struck a Russian airbase in Morozovsk, one of Kyiv’s most unique attacks reported to date.

The airbase is home to Moscow’s 559^th Bomber Aviation Regiment, making the lethal drone swarm especially significant. While these reports have not been verified, Ukraine’s drive to take out as many Sukhoi fighters as possible has clearly evolved.

An Overview of the Su-34

Designated by NATO as the “Fullback,” the Su-34 is one of Russia’s top warplanes. The Fullback features a platypus nose and side-by-side cockpit, characteristics that make the platform quite distinct. Two Saturn Al-31FM1 engines power the aircraft to a maximum speed of Mach 1.8. The fighter has a service ceiling of roughly 56,000 feet.

The Fullback was designed to lug a strong payload. The fighter can carry more than 17,000 pounds of weapons across 12 hardpoints located underwing and beneath the fuselage, alongside a 30 mm GSh-30-I cannon.

It can carry Vympel R-27, R-73, and NPO-R-77 missiles, used primarily for defense against adversarial aircraft if detected by the rear-facing radar.

The Fullback also carries an array of precision-guided and unguided bombs and rockets, including the KAB-500 laser-guided bomb.

The Fullback’s Performance in Ukraine

While the Kremlin often touts its Su-34 fighters as extremely advanced and deadly jets, they have not lived up to the hype in Ukraine. In fact, Moscow is losing warplanes far faster than it can afford. As of late February, the Russian air force had lost at least 31 of its 140 Su-34 fighters.

According to an engineer with the RAND Corporation, however, these shootdowns only represent a portion of total losses.

As explained in Forbes, “Overuse of these aircraft is also costing Russia as the war drags on. In a protracted war, where one force tries to exhaust the other, it's the total longevity of the military force that matters, and that's where the [Russian air force] finds itself now.”

Moscow is using its Fullbacks to drop KAB bombs over Ukraine. During a critical battle in the eastern city of Avdiivka this winter, Russian forces launched roughly 250 of these deadly weapons over a span of 48 hours. Thwarting this bombing capability is a top priority for the Ukrainians, since these weapons have the capability to destroy any position.

Even if the recent drone swarming of the Morozovsk airbase was not as successful as Kyiv asserts, the tactic would likely reap benefits if carried out consistently. 

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

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