The Sukhoi Su-34, which was commissioned in 2015, is currently in service with the Russian Air Force. It is a front-line fighter-bomber equipped with a 30mm cannon and 10 hardpoints for a range of weapons including air-to-ship. , air-to-air and anti-radiation missiles, as well as free-fall and guided bombs. Although it is not a stealth fighter, it is one of the most advanced aircraft in service in Russia today.
The Su-34 is a twin-engine attack fighter capable of a maximum speed of MACH 1.6 with a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. The Su-34 is notable for its long-range capability, thanks to external fuel tanks that allow it to fly nearly 3,000 miles without refueling.
Although this aircraft is a very advanced modern fighter that costs tens of millions of dollars to produce, many have been shot down in Ukraine during Russia’s offensive against its neighbor. Confirmed reports of several planes being shot down, particularly in Donetsk Oblast, have been reported with at least one report, albeit unconfirmed, of a Ukrainian grandfather shooting down a plane with only an assault rifle. It hardly went down, but getting a medal for it must have boosted Putin’s ratings nonetheless.