Russia's Su‑34 deliveries fall short amid continued losses
Rostec reported that 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 in this delivery.
According to the Militarnyj portal, the footage shown by the Russians suggests that the Russian Aerospace Forces received two Su-34 planes. It also adds that this was the case in previous deliveries of these aircraft, 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's management announced that their production would be increased. Nevertheless, as Militarnyj notes, no changes are observed, and the transfer of subsequent Su-34s continues in the same batches as in previous years.
The mainstay of Russian combat aviation
According to data from the creator of the Oryx blog, which documents Russian equipment losses, since the start of the war in Ukraine, the defending army has managed to eliminate 36 Su-34 units.
This is a tactical bomber developed in the 1990s, often referred to as the mainstay of Russian aviation (as frequently mentioned by Rostec representatives). It is an aircraft measuring over 23 metres in length and equipped with two AL-31F M1 engines.
The Su-34 is capable of reaching speeds of up to 1,900 kilometres per hour. It comes standard with a GS-30-1 30mm aircraft cannon, but it can also carry up to 8,200 kilograms of additional armament on pylons prepared for this purpose. The compatible arsenal includes, among others, missiles and cruise missiles, as well as aerial bombs. To attack Ukraine, Su-34s armed with KABs, or glide bombs, which pose a very significant threat, are often used.
