The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC/OAK), part of the state conglomerate Rostec, has announced the delivery to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) of a new batch of Su-34 fighter-bombers.
All aircraft reportedly underwent factory ground and flight tests before acceptance by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Despite the replenishment, Russia’s Su-34 fleet has suffered significant losses since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Open-source intelligence — compiled by the Oryx observatory and other entities that track confirmed losses — indicates that by 2025, around 39 Su-34s had already been confirmed destroyed in the armed conflict.
+ Click here to watch the video
Other estimates suggest that losses may correspond to approximately 25% of the Su-34 fleet that existed before the invasion — a relevant impact on Russia’s tactical air-power capacity.
Rostec emphasized the Su-34’s strategic importance: “thanks to its versatility and a significant arsenal, the Su-34 can carry out a wide range of missions, making it one of the most in-demand aircraft in the VKS. Based on SVO experience, the aircraft has received upgrades that allow it to strike targets with greater accuracy hundreds of kilometers from its home airfield.”
The Su-34 is employed to strike land, maritime and aerial targets — including infrastructure protected by air defense systems — at long distances from base. It can also carry out aerial reconnaissance missions, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of Russia’s attack and support aviation.
VKS pilots highlighted in an official note that the Su-34 remains capable of operating “in simple, complex or minimal-weather conditions” against land and maritime targets, using “air-to-radar,” “air-to-air,” and “air-to-surface” guided weapons.
According to UAC’s director-general Vadim Badeha, the company is completing 2025 production on schedule and has already begun building new units for the following year, maintaining a high delivery pace even in the face of losses. He stated: “this year has been one of the most productive in terms of the number of operational-tactical aviation aircraft delivered.”
However, the exact number of aircraft in the new batch — as well as how many replace combat losses as opposed to reinforcing the fleet — has not been officially disclosed.
Sources and images: newsweek | Telegram @uac_ru. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
