Russia Adds New Su-34 Fighter-Bombers to Combat Aviation Fleet

The Russian Aerospace Forces have received a new batch of Su-34 fighter-bombers.

The aircraft were delivered by the United Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of the state corporation Rostec.

This delivery is part of the Russian Ministry of Defence’s defense procurement program for the current year.

Before delivery, the new Su-34s underwent a full cycle of factory testing, were checked under various operating conditions, and completed a ferry flight to their home airbase.

Su-34 is designed to engage ground, surface, and aerial targets, including infrastructure facilities.

In addition to strike missions, Su-34 can also be used for aerial reconnaissance.

In 2024, Russia received six batches of Su-34s, totaling approximately 12 to 14 aircraft.

According to The Military Balance 2024, Russia’s arsenal includes approximately 124 Su-34 aircraft, of which 22 are in the latest modification.

In April of this year, Rostec delivered the first batch of Su-34s to the Russian Aerospace Forces as part of the 2025 procurement plan.

In July, one Su-34 crashed in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

Additionally, five Su-34s were damaged during a Ukrainian drone attack on the Marinovka air base in the Volgograd region on June 27.

At that time, three aircraft were completely destroyed by fire, and two were partially damaged. The operation was a joint effort by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Special Operations Forces.