Aircraft
Russia To Ramp-Up Production of Sukhoi Su-34
As the twinjet strike aircraft begins replacing Su-24s, new precision-guided weapons are being added
An early production Su-34 in static display at the Russian Air Force 100th anniversary airshow at Zhukovsky in 2012. (Photo: Chris Pocock)
An early production Su-34 in static display at the Russian Air Force 100th anniversary airshow at Zhukovsky in 2012. (Photo: Chris Pocock)

Russian deputy defense minister for procurement Yuri Borisov last month announced that the nation’s Aerospace Forces (VKS) would receive 16 new-build Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bomber aircraft in 2017. New weapons are also being added to the twinjet, which Borisov said had “performed in an exemplary manner during the Syrian conflict and has enormous growth potential.” He was speaking during a visit to the Novosibirsk Aviation Production Plant at Chkalov, which has a long-term contract with the Ministry of Defence to produce a total of 92 Su-34 aircraft.