The Su-34 Fullback is quite a unique fighter aircraft, a fighter bomber. That is a bomber that also has fighter capabilities! It is optimized for strike missions that require heavy payloads, but since it's based on the design of the Su-27, it still boasts and amazing performance, maneuverability and energy retention, even with such a draggy configuration and all the weight penalties of a reinforced airframe and undercarriage!

In the video, Roman Kондратьев (Roman Kondratiev) demonstrates some pretty thrilling low altitude, high energy flight with the classic blue camo SU-34 during MAKS 2015.

This video is the latest one in my series of 'remastered' works where I stabilize them, sharpen and color grade to bring you older footage with a much improved image quality, so you can better enjoy this unusual and unique performances! :)

The Sukhoi Su-34 (Russian: Сухой Су-34; NATO reporting name: Fullback) is a Soviet-origin Russian twin-engine, twin-seat, all-weather supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber/strike aircraft. It first flew in 1990, intended for the Soviet Air Forces, and it entered service in 2014 with the Russian Air Force.

Based on the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker air superiority fighter, the Su-34 has an armoured cockpit with side-by-side seating for its two pilots. The Su-34 is designed primarily for tactical deployment against ground and naval targets (tactical bombing/attack/interdiction roles, including against small and mobile targets) on solo and group missions in daytime and at night, under favourable and adverse weather conditions and in a hostile environment with counter-fire and electronic warfare (EW) countermeasures deployed, as well as for aerial reconnaissance. The Su-34 is planned to eventually replace the Su-24 tactical strike fighter and the Tu-22M long-distance bomber.

The Su-34 shares most of its wing structure, tail, and engine nacelles with the Su-27/Su-30, with canards like the Su-30SM and Su-33 to increase static instability (higher manoeuvrability) and to reduce trim drag.

The Su-34 is powered by a pair of Saturn AL-31FM1 turbofan engines, the same engines used on the Su-27SM, giving the aircraft a maximum speed of Mach 1.8+ when fully loaded. Although slower than the standard Su-27, the Su-34 can still handle high G-loads and perform aerobatic maneuvers. When equipped with a full weapons load, the Su-34 has a maximum range of 4000 km, or further with aerial refueling. The airframe is cleared to perform maneuvers of up to +9G. The noise level of the Su-34 is two times lower than the level of its predecessors.

The Su-34 is a three lifting surface design having both a conventional horizontal tailplane at the rear and a canard foreplane in front of the main wings. The foreplane provides both additional lift (force) and greater maneuverability. It has twin tail fins like those of Su-27 from which it is derived. The Su-34 has 12 hardpoints for 12000–14000 kg of ordnance, intended to include the latest Russian precision-guided weapons. It retains the 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon of the Su-27 and Su-30 and the ability to carry six R-77 or R-73 air-to-air missiles, with these being primarily for defense against pursuers if detected by the rearward facing radar. The maximum weight of any single munition carried is 4000 kg. Its stand-off weapons have a range of up to 250 km. A Khibiny electronic countermeasures (ECM) system is usually fitted on the jet.

Compared to other members of the Flanker family, the Su-34 has an entirely new "duck" nose and forward fuselage designed to increase cabin room and maximize crew comfort and safety, giving the Su-34 the nickname ‘Hellduck’ or ‘Platypus’.

The crew members have room to stand and move about the cabin during long missions. The space between the seats allows them to lie down, if necessary. A hand-held urinal "toilet" and vacuum flask "kitchen" are provided. A ladder attached to the nose landing gear and a hatch in the cockpit floor is used to enter the cockpit. The cockpit is a continuous capsule of armour.

SPECS:

Crew: 2
Length: 23.34 m
Wingspan: 14.7 m
Height: 6.09 m
Wing area: 62.04 m2
Airfoil: 5%
Empty weight: 22500 kg
Gross weight: 39000 kg
Max takeoff weight: 45100 kg
Fuel capacity: 12100 kg internal
Powerplant: 2 × Saturn AL-31FM1 afterburning turbofan engines, 132 kN with afterburner

PERFORMANCE

Maximum speed:
· 1900 km/h (Mach 1.8) at altitude
· 1400 km/h (Mach 1.2) at sea level
Cruise speed: 1300 km/h
Combat range: 1100 km (radius of action with standard 12000 kg weapons load)
Ferry range: 4500 km
Service ceiling: 17000 m
G limits: +9
Thrust/weight: 0.68

More info about this fighter jet on:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_...


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