Don't Underestimate the Su-34: Despite recent losses, including a reported Ukrainian drone strike on the Morozovsk airfield, the Su-34 Fullback remains a formidable Russian fighter-bomber.

-Western media may underestimate the aircraft's capabilities, noting its losses without acknowledging the broader context of the high-stakes war between Russia and Ukraine. The Su-34 has been central to Russia's air operations, and despite the losses, Russia's industrial base continues to replenish its forces.

-Bottomline: The ongoing conflict has seen significant destruction on both sides, with each viewing the war as existential, which explains the heavy losses endured.

The Su-34 Fullback Remains a Great Plane

Ukraine is acting desperately and boldly to change the conditions of the war against Russia. They’ve done that by launching an unpredicted offensive that has cut into Russia. Part of the offensive involved deploying drones to attack the Morozovsk airfield, where Russia has many of its Su-34 warplanes stationed. According to reports, the Ukrainians were able to destroy a Su-34 at the airfield, giving the Ukrainians a boost in morale and generating headlines.

The Su-34 “Fullback” is widely considered to be one of Russia’s most advanced warplanes. It is classified as a fighter-bomber. 

Yet, the Ukrainians and Western media report that the Su-34 is “falling from the sky.” Indeed, the Russian military has lost many warplanes since they invaded Ukraine in 2022, due to the Ukrainian military’s innovative use of sophisticated anti-aircraft systems that the West provided Kiev. 

Even before the Ukrainian strike on Morozovsk airfield deep inside Russia, the Russians were struggling to dominate the airspace above Ukraine.

Underestimating the Su-34

The Russians have maintained a degree of air superiority over the Ukrainians, but the Ukrainians have been effective in destroying large numbers of Russian birds. Indeed, back in March of this year, David Axe reported in the pages of Forbes that the Ukrainians have shot down “a total of eight Su-34s.” 

A month later, however, Army Recognition reported that Russia has “reinforced” their war machine in Ukraine with additional Su-34s.

American and Western analysts continue placing their own biases in their reporting on Russian losses. It’s true, if the United States military lost as many jets in a war that it started as the Russians have, then the American people would likely demand answers. What’s more, it is probable that the U.S. military would be ordered by twitchy politicians to stop the fight and reassess. 

But for both Ukraine and Russia, this is an existential struggle. In such a campaign, one can expect heavy losses of warfighters and their equipment. 

Both sides in this war believe that if they lose, then their country dies. Plus, both are modern militaries. Moscow’s industrial base is humming and can replace systems lost in combat in large numbers. 

Further, the Su-34 was just recently used in a series of successful offensives by the Russians against Ukraine. 

Western Observers Lack Context

The Su-34 “Fullback” is a twin-seat, twin-engine, all-weather supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber. Designed by the USSR in the 1980s, the bird has enjoyed a storied career. It is widely considered to be one of the best warplanes the Russians possess. 

This is a bloody affair with many warplanes lost in combat. Many more losses, in fact, than what Americans are used to losing in modern wars, with far greater levels of destruction of expensive equipment, like the Su-34, than what most Westerners would be willing to accept. 

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock.

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