Russia has often been accused of focusing more on quantity than quality when it comes to its military. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. The Russian armed forces have some very capable technology, and their Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback fighter jet is a prime example. While not quite as fast or agile as the latest U.S., British, or even Chinese fighters, the Su-34 is a powerful twin-engine strike aircraft with a superb range, excellent armament, and cutting-edge avionics. Reducing costs while making engines more reliable are key factors in making any fighter plane more affordable to build and operate over time. One obvious way to do this is to use less expensive materials wherever possible; another is simply to work smarter rather than harder. The Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback is currently Russia's only operational fifth-generation fighter that comes equipped with an ejection seat for its pilot(s). Read on to discover why Russia’s military remains the most powerful in the world...

Why Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback?

This is a full-length fighter bomber that Russia’s military has deployed in significant numbers since 2016. It’s the only operational Russian plane in service that features the fifth-generation avionics, sensors, and weapons that analysts insist are essential for future air combat. The Fullback is a spin-off of the Su-27 Flanker, but with a few significant improvements. The Fullback has about 30% more internal fuel capacity than its predecessor, which gives it higher range and endurance. It has a longer wingspan, which improves its lift capacity. The Fullback’s two engines are smaller than those on the Flanker but are more fuel efficient. The Fullback’s engines also have a lower operating temperature, making them easier to maintain. The Fullback also has a different airframe design, which includes a larger bomb bay.

Russia's Military is the Most Powerful in the World

The most recent edition of the annual “Military Balance” report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) shows that Russia’s armed forces remain the most powerful in the world. The report assesses Russian military capability in terms of the country’s ability to defend itself and project power, including cyber warfare, to protect its interests and expand its influence in the region. The IISS Military Balance report is the most comprehensive and respected annual survey of global military strength. The IISS report also shows that China’s defense budget is growing much more rapidly than Russia’s, but its armed forces remain less well-equipped, operating, and trained than Russia’s. China’s military is also still inferior to the U.S.’ in overall capability and capacity to project power.

Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker Basics

This is the fighter plane that Sukhoi and some other Russian aviation companies have been developing for more than 40 years. Sukhoi began designing the Flanker in the 1970s, and its Su-27 variant entered service in the mid-1980s. About 500 Su-27 and its many variants have been built so far. The Flanker has been exported to many countries and has been used by Russia’s Air Force since the mid-1980s. The Su-27 is a single-seat twin-engine air superiority fighter with a side-by-side seating configuration. It is capable of operating from both conventional and aircraft carriers. The Su-27 is fitted with an Intersound noise reduction system to protect the crew and aircraft against the harmful effects of noise. It is also equipped with an oxygen-generating and distribution system to provide the crew with pure oxygen during high-altitude flights. The cockpit and instrument panel are designed for the night and all-weather flight operations.

Why the Su-34 is Superior to the Su-35

The Su-35 was conceived in the 1980s as a new and improved Flanker but has been plagued with problems, and the design has not been fully realized. Many of these issues stem from the aircraft’s complex and ambitious avionics, sensors, and weapons system. The Su-34 Fullback was designed and built as a simpler and more robust alternative to the Su-35. It has simpler and more robust avionics, sensors, and weapons system. The Fullback doesn’t have the Su-35’s thrust-vectoring nozzles. But Sukhoi made up for this by adding a third engine. This gives the Fullback greater range and endurance than the Su-35. But the Fullback is also a Fullback.

How the Su-34 Compares to Western Fighters

The Fullback has a maximum speed of 1,350 km/h (Mach 1.3). This is roughly the same as the latest Chinese single-engine stealth fighter, the J-20, and slower than many of the U.S., British, and French fighters that it might face in combat. However, if you were to compare the maximum speed of any fighter plane to its cruising speed, the differences would be far less dramatic. The Fullback’s cruising speed is about 850 km/h (Mach 0.82), which is comparable to the cruising speeds of many of the U.S., British, and French fighters it might face. And the Fullback’s range is 4,000 km, which is far beyond the range of most of its potential rivals.

in a nutshell

The Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback is an excellent strike fighter and has proven very effective in service with the Russian Air Force. It is far more capable than the Su-25 ground attack aircraft that it replaces. The Fullback’s longer range, superior payload, and higher speed make it a more survivable and potent strike aircraft than the Su-25. The Fullback’s greater range and endurance also make it better equipped to defend Russian forces from attack by Chinese forces in the Far East than the Su-35. The Fullback’s simpler and more robust avionics, sensors, and weapons system also make it less prone to the kind of problems that have dogged the Su-35’s development and operation.