As of April 2024, according to statistics, the Su-34 fighter-bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces have lost at least 30 units. Note that the Russian Aerospace Forces have only more than 120 Su-34 fighters in total, which is equivalent to a loss of about a quarter, which is a very large battle loss. A question has arisen: Why did the Su-34 fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces suffer such heavy losses? What is the significance of reference for China's Jian-7 fighters? Today, we will talk about this issue.
Su-34 fleet of the Russian Aerospace Forces
In the sixties and seventies of the last century, the idea of fighter-bombers began to spread around the world. Fighter-bombers are generally mainly engaged in ground-to-sea strike missions, and at the same time, they take into account the ability of air self-defense. Once you encounter an enemy fighter, you can be regarded as having a certain ability to fight back. In contrast, traditional bombers must rely on fighter aircraft to escort them. After the sixties and seventies, a series of fighter-bomber models appeared in the world one after another.
For example, the F111 of the United States, the Su-24 of the Soviet Union, the Tornado of Europe, the J-7 of the mainland, etc., are all standard fighter-bombers. Please note that the fighter-bombers of various countries are mainly engaged in ground and sea operations, and it is very unrealistic not to expect fighter-bombers to conduct large-scale air battles with various air superiority fighters. After entering the 21st century, Russia further launched the Su-34 fighter-bomber on the basis of the Su-27, Su-30 and other models.
It has to be said that in the 21st century, Russia is the only country that still develops professional fighter-bombers. The mainland's J-7A fighter is basically a further development on the basis of the J-7. The Su-34 fighter-bomber entered service in 2007, in fact, as early as the late 80s, the Su-34 fighter project began. Due to the economic downturn in Russia in the 90s, the development of the entire project was slow. In the 21st century, the speed of the project has accelerated significantly.
The Su-34 fighter-bomber, on the basis of the Su-27 and Su-30, was developed step by step. In terms of maneuverability, it far surpassed the previous Su-24 fighters. The maximum take-off weight is 45 tons, with 12 hardpoints, and the maximum payload capacity is about 8 tons. After the Su-34 fighter-bomber was put into service, it formed the troika of the Russian Aerospace Forces with Su-35, Su-30SM and other fighters, and it is also one of the main main models. As of February 2022, Russia has a total of more than 120 Su-34 fighters.
The Su-34 fighter has a strong payload capacity
In February 2022, Russia and Ukraine went to war. In more than two years of war, according to incomplete statistics, as of April 2024, more than 30 Su-34 fighters have been lost. A question arises, why are the losses of the Su-34 fighters so heavy?
In fact, the heavy losses of the Su-34 fighters are related to the problems of the Russian Aerospace Forces themselves, as well as the assistance of NATO countries to Ukraine. First of all, the Russian Aerospace Forces have never completely mastered air supremacy on the battlefield, and the Ukrainian Air Force still has a certain strength. Due to the lack of complete control of the battlefield air supremacy, Russian warplanes are unable to fully strike various ground targets and facilities in Ukraine. Various ground-based air defense systems of Ukraine, capable of striking all kinds of warplanes.
European Aster 30 anti-aircraft missile
At the same time, the Russian Aerospace Forces lack all kinds of precision-guided missiles and bombs, and in such an environment, Su-34 fighters can only hang all kinds of ordinary aerial bombs and carry out close strikes at medium and low altitudes. For Ukrainian ground-based anti-aircraft fire, it is simply a "prey" sent to the door. Of course, in the process of attacking Russian fighters, the Ukrainian air defense system is inseparable from NATO early warning aircraft or various intelligence of NATO information systems, which further improves the strike efficiency of anti-aircraft fire.
In addition, NATO countries have successively provided Ukraine with various ground anti-aircraft firepower. In the case of France, it is planned to supply Ukraine with Aster 30 anti-aircraft missiles. So, how much significance do the various lessons and lessons of the Russian Su-34 fighter have for the J-7 fighters of the PLA troops?
PLA forces J-7 series fighters
The J-7 fighter is a fighter-bomber developed in the seventies and eighties, compared with the late 80s and early 90s, it was basically finalized, and in 1992, the J-7 fighter was finalized, began mass production, and was delivered to the PLA troops. Before the mainland imported the Su-30 fighter, the J-7 fighter was the main fighter with the longest range and the strongest payload capacity of the PLA troops. According to published data, the J-7 fighter has a maximum range of more than 3,500 kilometers, a combat radius of more than 1,600 kilometers, 9 hardpoints, and a maximum bomb load of 6.5 to 7 tons.
Of course, the J-7 fighter also has problems in various aspects, such as insufficient informatization capabilities, weak payload capabilities, and so on. Since the beginning of the 21 st century, the mainland has begun to upgrade the J-7 fighter in all aspects. In 2004, the brand-new J-7A fighter began mass production and delivery to the PLA troops. Compared with the previous J-7, the J-7A is equipped with JL10A pulse-Doppler radar, 1553B data link, multi-functional electronic fire control system, digital fly-by-wire control system, new high-definition display and a series of equipment and systems, with stronger attack capabilities and data processing capabilities.
The maximum take-off weight has been increased by 13%, and the structural system has been reduced by more than 1 ton. The maximum payload capacity of the J-7A has been increased to about 9 tons. Before the appearance of the J-16 fighter, the J-7A fighter belonged to the main fighter with the strongest payload capacity on the mainland. According to foreign media reports, more than 240 J-7 and J-7A were produced in total. Among them, about 60% belong to the J-7A fighter. The basic model of the J-7 is only about 40%.
In 2016, the continental J-16 fighter was finalized, and subsequently, it entered the stage of mass production. In 2017, the J-7 series fighters were discontinued. In fact, compared with the Su-34 fighters, the situation of the PLA Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Forces is completely different, and they are completely different systems.
The J-7 series fighters are capable of carrying a variety of missiles
For the PLA troops, once a large-scale war breaks out, the J-20 fighters need to strike first to strike at the opponent's various main fighters and completely grasp the air supremacy on the battlefield. Subsequently, the J-16 and J-16D cooperated with each other to conduct all-out electronic warfare on the one hand, and on the other hand, they used various precision-guided weapons to strike at various air defense systems or radars and other important facilities of the other side. After the opponent's ground air defense network is completely destroyed, the J-7 fighters will be dispatched.
Moreover, the J-7 series fighters, after upgrading, began to mount various electronic jamming pods, target indication pods, and precision-guided bombs, ground-to-ground missiles and other equipment. Therefore, the J-7 and the Su-34 fighters are facing different combat situations. War is the construction of the entire system, and it cannot be changed by one weapon or equipment. The Russian Aerospace Forces have been slow and lagging behind in the modernization of the Russian Aerospace Forces for a long time, and a series of practical problems have emerged.
PLA Air Force J-7A fighter
And it's not just the Russian Aerospace Forces, in the more than two years of war, practical problems have arisen in all aspects of Russia's various branches of the armed forces. And from the actual situation in Russia, it is basically a problem that cannot be changed. Taking the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy as an example, there is basically nothing to do in the face of drones and unmanned boats.
PLA Air Force J-16D electronic warfare aircraft
A series of stories about the development of PLA fighters, and many more. The author will talk to you slowly in future articles.