Summary and Key Points: The Russian Aerospace Forces have begun receiving a new batch of Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers from the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association Plant, with the first delivery reported in April.

-This move is part of Russia's efforts to replace losses from the ongoing war in Ukraine, where up to 35 Su-34s have been claimed destroyed by Ukrainian forces.

-The plant is set for upgrades and plans to recruit over 1,000 new workers to meet production demands.

-The Su-34s are also being equipped with new ODAB-500 thermobaric bombs, enhancing their destructive capabilities against fortified targets.

The Russian Aerospace Forces have begun receiving a new batch of Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback fighter-bomber/strike aircraft state media reported back in April. The Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association Plant handed over the first of the aircraft, while the facility is now scheduled for upgrades and technical "re-equipment" of its production line.

"This year’s first batch of Su-34 front-line bombers was transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces as part of the execution of a state defense order. After completing the entire complex of factory tests, the aircraft was sent to the customer," the press service of the plant said via a statement to Tass.

Su-34: Can Production Meet Demand?

The number of Su-34s provided in the latest batch was not disclosed, nor is it clear if it will adequately replace recent losses. According to open-source military intelligence tracker Oryx, 25 Su-34s have been destroyed in the now more than two-year-long war, while Ukraine has claimed to have down as many as 35 of the aircraft.

Just this year, eight Su-34s have been confirmed lost.

The fighting in Ukraine is truly a war of attrition for both sides, and Russia is stepping up efforts to ensure it can replace its losses. This has included expansion at the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association Plant.

"We plan to attract new employees. This year alone, we need to recruit more than 1,000 production workers and engineering specialists," the state corporation emphasized.

"All UAC plants involved in the execution of state defense orders are not slowing down their production rates. With the first batch of Su-34 frontline bombers, we have started delivering aircraft within the framework of the current year's production program. The Novosibirsk plant is confidently performing the tasks assigned to it. The workers at the plant understand how important our technology is today," added Yury Slyusar, head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a division of the state-owned Rostec.

Su-34 Fighter-Bombers Receiving New Ordnance

It has also been reported that the Su-34 aircraft are being armed with the new ODAB-500 thermobaric bombs equipped with a UMPK guidance kit that converts traditional bombs into highly accurate guided ammunition. 

According to ArmyRecognition.com, the ODAB-500 is considered one of the deadlier air-dropped weapons due to this vacuum or thermobaric charge. The ODAB-500 was developed to be delivered by aircraft, making it a strategic asset for targeting dense, fortified, or underground facilities that are difficult to destroy with conventional explosives. It boasts a destructive range of 25 to 30 meters.

Upon impacting a target, the 500-kilogram bomb disperses a cloud of flammable aerosol, which is then ignited, producing a massive explosion that then consumes all available oxygen in the vicinity. The vacuum that is then created can cause a secondary, equally devastating implosion. In addition to its effectiveness against personnel or fortified positions, the OBAD-500 is also capable of swiftly neutralizing anti-tank minefields.

Russia's Fullback

The Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO reporting name "Fullback") multirole strike aircraft is a twin-engine, twin-seat, all-weather supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber, initially developed for the Soviet Air Forces in the 1980s. It was one of the Kremlin's many programs that were forced on the backburner following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the economic crisis that followed.

The program was only revived in earnest in the early 2000s, with eight pre-production aircraft built for trials and evaluations. The Su-34 formally entered service in 2014 – although there are reports that it was employed during the Russo-Georgia War of 2008. Approximately 155 have been manufactured, including the prototypes and serial-produced aircraft.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

You can email the author: [email protected].

Image: Shutterstock and Creative Commons.