The Russian defense company, United Aircraft Corporation has signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense to supply modernized Su-34M Su-34 fighter-bomber. The Su-34M is estimated that the capacities of the modernized bomber are twice as great as those of the existing option. Company didn’t offer specifics on the changes that will be made in the aircraft upgrade program. the first prototype should be created in 2022, at which point it will undergo testing before being green-lighted for operational service. The state-owned media outlet added that the aircraft are to receive improved radar, navigation systems, and displays.
It has been reported that in the framework of Su-34 modernization to Su-34M level it is planned to equip the aircraft with onboard radar with improved characteristics, as well as suspended containers. The first stage of the Su-34 upgrade to Su-34M includes a small number of improvements mostly related to the drawbacks of the onboard radio-electronic equipment. The R&D to create Su-34M was to be completed by the end of 2016. The serial production of the upgraded aircraft can be launched after 2020. The Su-34M will have an expanded range of weapons, including new guided air-to-air and air-to-surface missile.
The Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO reporting name: Fullback) is a Russian twin-engine, twin-seat, all-weather supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber/strike aircraft. Based on the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker air superiority fighter, the Su-34 has an armored cockpit for side-by-side seating of its two-man crew. The Su-34 is designed primarily for tactical deployment against ground and naval targets (tactical bombing/attack/interdiction roles, including against small and mobile targets) on solo and group missions in daytime and at night, under favourable and adverse weather conditions and in a hostile environment with counter-fire and electronic Warfare (EW) counter-measures deployed, as well as for aerial reconnaissance.
