Russia strengthens Air Force: New Su‑57 and Su‑34 arrivals
The Russian Air Force has received additional new Su-57 and Su-34 aircraft, as announced by the Russian United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) on social media. Unlike previous deliveries, which included two or three units at a time, this time the delivery comprised one aircraft of each model.
The Ukrainian military service Militarny notes that throughout 2024, the Russian Air Force received 7 Su-57 Felon fighters and a slightly higher number of 10 Su-34 bombers in Su-35S and Su-35SM2 versions, spread across five deliveries. In 2025, Russia plans to increase production of these machines to cover the losses incurred in Ukraine (which, according to Pentagon data, do not exceed 10% of the pre-war status in Ukraine) and to strengthen the combat capabilities of their own air force.
New aircraft for the Russians
It is worth noting that the Su-34 bombers are one of the mainstays of the aerial operations conducted in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Su-57 fighters, as Militarny points out, carry Kh-69 cruise missiles, considered the Russian equivalent of the American AGM-158 JASSM missiles, which Russians have increasingly started using for ground attacks in Ukraine.
The Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO code: Felon) is a Russian fifth-generation fighter jet equipped with two Saturn AL-41F turbofan engines. It can reach speeds exceeding 1520 mph and is known for its excellent maneuverability. The aircraft is a response to the American ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter) program and the air superiority fighter F-22 Raptor.
The Su-57 has advanced weaponry, including a 30-millimeter 9A-4071K cannon. This fighter can carry various types of missiles, including Kh-69 cruise missiles. Although the fighter's design is praised for its advanced stealth technology, there are growing concerns about its radar visibility due to the external mounting of armaments.
The Su-34 (NATO code: Fullback) is a tactical bomber aircraft from the 1990s. It is more than 75 feet long and equipped with a pair of AL-31F M1 engines, which allow it to reach a maximum speed of up to 1180 mph. The Su-34's significant attribute is the substantial armament it can transport.
The standard equipment of the Su-34 includes a 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon, and it has the capability to carry up to 18,000 pounds of weaponry on 12 pylons. This includes various rocket and cruise missiles, as well as aerial bombs. In Ukraine, the Russians use this aircraft for tasks such as transporting and dropping KAB glide bombs, which they tout as a "miracle weapon" due to the threat they pose.
