Military Watch Magazine – Oct 3, 2022
Ukrainian air defences near Lyman have neutralised a Russian Su-34 strike fighter, with photos confirming that the aircraft from the from the 21st Air Division based in Shagol Airfield in the Chelyabinsk region serial number RF-81852 was destroyed. The Su-34 became operational in the Russian Air Force in 2014, and although it is considered a premier strike fighter it was designed primarily for operations using beyond visual range missiles against NATO and allied targets far beyond Russian territory, with its endurance accordingly being totally unrivalled. Russia’s unwillingness to expend more air launched standoff missiles in Ukraine has led it to deploy Su-34s for close range bombing and possibly even close air support missions, where Ukrainian handheld surface to air missiles have reportedly proven particularly dangerous. The age of Ukraine’s longer ranged S-300P systems from the 1980s has meant Russian fighters have faced less threats at higher altitudes, although their ability to attack ground targets with precision is significantly reduced if doing so.
RF-81852 was hardly the first Su-34 lost in Ukraine, with perhaps the most notable Ukrainian shootdown of the war having been that of a Su-34 in March using a Soviet 9K38 Igla MANPAD and subsequent capture of veteran pilot Major Krasnoruchev. Russia may well be deploying Su-34s and other combat jets with less aversion to risk as its ground forces quickly lose territory to Ukrainian and allied advances in an effort to buy time and space. The fighters have been acquired at a greater rate than any other class by the Russian Air Force over the past decade, and despite their size can be produced at a relatively modest cost compared to the Su-35 which was designed for air superiority rather than strike missions. The losses of pilots, however, particularly veterans such as Krasnoruchev, will be far harder to recover from, as will possible damage to the Su-34’s prestige.
Su-34 wreckage. Click to enlarge
Russia has more recently begun to deploy Iranian drones to bolster its strike capabilities and compensate for its lack of standoff weapons aside from those reserved for conflict with NATO, with these reportedly having a significant impact on the battlefield and being much more expendable than large manned fighters such as the Su-34. With the tide on the ground already against Russia’s favour, however, their deployment may well be too late after Russia delayed reported plans to acquire such Iranian aircraft for years and neglected to develop its own comparable unmanned platforms.
Ukraine never developed such a capability yet NATO is not at war with Russia? The natural conclusion is soon we will be and NATO and the US will bitch about it, but Russia should use new its missile systems to target western war criminal leaders and wipe them out. Change the nature of warfare forever: ensure the people who start wars are among the first to die in them. Make them too afraid of attack to start a war.
Bush and Blair wouldn’t have done what they did if they’d have to duck and dive for cover at any moment, afraid an untracked missile might blast them into a vapour in their own Shock and Awe experience. They wouldn’t have gone anywhere near war. Suddenly war will have become too risky.
When all fails propaganda takes over. Every aircraft can be shot out of the sky. We must look for truths.
If I sell a plane to you, I will put electronics in it with back door to prevent you from using again me.
Mystic and Yogi
No doubt shot down by an old arthritic peasant with a hunting rifle…
sat on his porch..
aristoprat: Your conclusion is 100% correct.
@ ARISTOPRAT
Putins FSB assassines still could get
Bush,Cheney,Blair but Rotschilds,
Soros, Rockefellers sit probably on
Tasmania NZ, Australia, or karibian
island enjoying sunburn .
Aristoprat – I could not agree more. I would love to see this happen once and for all I for one would party as hard as I could
Tony Blair cannot go out alone a team of 6 bodyguards around the clock watch him
he is a prisoner as surely as oif he was sent to prison or his crimes
even his secret nobbing sessions with cliff richard had body guards outside
when the UK collapses Toby and Cherie are on lists that we will seek out and hang
next will be the burning of synagogues