Categories: Soviet and Russian fighter aircraft 1990-1999 | Soviet and Russian attack aircraft 1990-1999

Sukhoi Su-34

(Redirected from Sukhoi Su-32)

The Sukhoi Su-34, NATO reporting name 'Fullback,' is an advanced Russian two-seat fighter-bomber and strike aircraft. It is intended to eventually replace the Sukhoi Su-24.

Contents

1 Development

2 Specifications (estimated)

2.1 General characteristics
2.2 Performance
2.3 Armament

3 Related content

Development

A variant of the Sukhoi Su-27 with side-by-side seating was developed in the late 1980s, making its first flight on 13 April 1990. It has a very confusing development history. It was reportedly first developed as a carrier-based trainer, but by the time it was first publicly revealed in the mid-1990s it was as the Su-27IB (IB standing for Istrebitel Bomardirvoschik / Fighter Bomber), an advanced strike aircraft. Sukhoi, seeking export customers for the aircraft, has shown it as both the Su-32FN (FN for "Fighter, Naval") and the Su-34. Its proposed export designation may be Su-32MF (MnogoFunktsionalniy, multi-function). At present its official designation appears to be Su-34. Its oddly shaped nose, reminiscent of that of the SR-71 Blackbird, has earned it the nickname "Platypus," although its NATO reporting name is 'Fullback.'

Whatever its eventual designation, the Platypus shares most of its fuselage and wing structure with the Su-27/Su-30, with canards like the Su-35 to increase lift area, maintaining reasonable take-off distances at higher weights. The aircraft has an entirely new nose and foreward fuselage with a cockpit providing side-by-side seating for a crew of two. The Platypus retains the 'Flanker's' engines, but with fixed intakes, limiting its maximum speed to about Mach 1.8. Production models are likely to have thrust vectoring, like recent Su-30MKs.

The most unusual aspect of the Platypus is its side-by-side cockpit. Unlike the earlier 'Flanker,' it has a modern 'glass' layout, with color CRT multi-function displays. Unusually, it has enough space behind the seats for a small galley, a toilet, and a rest bunk for long missions.

The Platypus has 12 stores pylons for up to 8,000 kilograms (17,635 pounds) of ordnance, intended to include the latest Russian precision-guided weapons. It retains the Su-27/Su-30's 30mm cannon. A Leninets V004 phased-array radar is fitted, mated to a Platan electro-optical / laser targeting unit and an advanced nav-attack system. It shares the Su-35's "stinger" tail with Leninets V005 rear-facing radar.

The development of the Platypus has been hampered by the poor state of Russian finances, and to date only a handful of preproduction models have been built. In mid-2004 Sukhoi announced that low-rate production was commencing and that initial aircraft would reach squadron service around 2008 . Neverthless, upgrade programs continue for surviving Russian Su-24 'Fencers,' as the Su-34 may still not enter wide service for some years to come.

Specifications (estimated)

General characteristics

Crew: two
Length: 25.2 m (82 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 14.7 m (48 ft 2 in)
Height: 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 62.0 m² (666 ft²)
Empty: 14,000 kg (30,865 lb)
Loaded: 39,000 kg (85,980 lb)
Maximum take-off: 45,000 kg (99,210 lb)
Powerplant: 2x Lyulka AL-31MF turbofans, 130 kN (29,230 lb) afterburning thrust each

Performance

Maximum speed: 1,900 km/h (1,180 mph, Mach 1.8) at altitude
Ferry range: 7,000 km (4,375 mi)
Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
Service ceiling: 14,000 m (45,890 ft)
Wing loading: 629 kg/m² (129 lb/ft²)
Thrust-to-weight: 0.68:1

Armament

1x GSh-30-1 30mm cannon (149 rounds)
2x wingtip rails for R-74 (AA-11 'Archer') air-to-air missiles
10x wing and fuselage stations for up to 8,000 kg (17,630 lb) of ordnance, including a wide variety of air-to-air, air-to-surface, and possibly anti-ship missiles, laser-guided bombs, and other stores.