Russia's Su‑34 fleet trickles in as Ukraine conflict toll rises
Rostec announced that the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) delivered the first batch of Su-34 aircraft to the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2025. Ukrainian media note that the Russian propaganda message does not include information about the number of units included in this delivery.
According to the Militarnyj portal, the video shown by the Russians suggests that two Su-34 aircraft were delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces. It also adds that this was the case in previous deliveries of these machines, which the Russians boasted about both in 2024 and 2023.
New Su-34s for the Russian army
The delivery of just two Su-34s can be described as a "drop in the ocean" of Russian needs. Due to significant losses of this type of aircraft in the war with Ukraine, Rostec management announced that production would be increased. Despite this, as noted by Militarnyj, no changes are observed, and the delivery of subsequent Su-34s occurs in the same batches as in previous years.
This is the backbone of Russian combat aviation
According to data from the creator of the Oryx blog, who documents Russian equipment losses, the defending army has already managed to eliminate 36 Su-34s since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
This is a tactical bomber developed in the 1990s, often described as forming the backbone of Russian aviation (representatives of Rostec often speak of it in this way as well). It is a machine measuring over 75 feet in length and is equipped with two AL-31F M1 engines.
The Su-34 is capable of reaching speeds of up to 1,180 mph. It comes standard with a GSz-30-1 30mm aircraft cannon but can additionally carry up to 8 tons of payload mounted on pylons prepared for this purpose. Its compatible arsenal includes, among others, missiles and cruise missiles, as well as aerial bombs. Su-34s armed with KABs, or gliding bombs, which pose a very large threat, are often used to attack Ukraine.
