Russia boosts air power with limited Su‑57 and Su‑34 deliveries
The Russian Air Force has received additional Su-57 and Su-34 aircraft, as announced by the Russian United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) on social media. This delivery, however, featured one aircraft of each model, unlike previous deliveries which consisted of two or three units at a time.
The Ukrainian military service Militarny notes that throughout 2024, the Russian air force received a total of seven Su-57 Felon fighters and, slightly more, ten Su-34 bombers in Su-35S and Su-35SM2 versions across five deliveries. In 2025, the Russians plan 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 pillars of the aerial operations conducted in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Su-57 fighters, as Militarny points out, carry Kh-69 cruise missiles, regarded as the Russian equivalent of the American AGM-158 JASSM missiles. The Russians increasingly use these for ground attacks in Ukraine.
The Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO code: Felon) is a Russian fifth-generation fighter jet with two Saturn AL-41F turbofan engines capable of reaching speeds exceeding 1,370 km/h. The aircraft, which responds to the American ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter) program and the air superiority fighter F-22 Raptor, is known for its good manoeuvrability.
The Su-57 has advanced weaponry, including a 30-millimetre 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 increasing concerns about its radar visibility due to the external mounting of armaments.
The Su-34 (NATO code: Fullback) is a tactical bomber aircraft dating back to the 1990s. It is more than 23 metres long and equipped with a pair of AL-31F M1 engines, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of up to 1,060 km/h. A significant attribute of the Su-34 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 approximately 8,170 kg of weaponry on 12 pylons. This includes various rocket and cruise missiles, as well as aerial bombs. In Ukraine, Russians use this aircraft, among others, for transporting and dropping KAB glide bombs, which are presented as a "miracle weapon" due to the threat they pose.
