Text taken from the V Kontakte page of Armed Forces of Novorossiya (AFN)
[VK] "Synergy between the Su-34 and the UMBP D-30SN gives the Russian Aerospace Forces a strategic advantage."
The Russian Air Force has increased the deployment of Su-34 strike fighters forintensive strikes against Ukrainian occupiers in the Kursk region. This is evidenced by OSINT data collected by the specialized publication Bulgarian Military.
The strikes are primarily focused on border areas. High-precision airstrikes are aimed at stopping the influx of reinforcements from the Sumy to the Kursk region and thereby supporting the Russian counteroffensive, writes the editor-in-chief of Bulgarian Military Boyko Nikolov.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Su-34 fighters are operating in conjunction with Su-25 attack aircraft against concentrations of military equipment and personnel (temporary deployment points).
The Su-34 uses FAB gliding aerial bombs with UMPK. The attack allows for precise strikes from a safe distance away from the front line.
The Russian Aerospace Forces continue to receive new deliveries of Su-34s, outstripping the production volume of fighters of any other class since the collapse of the USSR, Bulgarian Military notes. Major deliveries took place in April, June and September, prompted by the Ministry of Defence’s October 2023 directives to increase production.
The Su-34 is a multirole frontline supersonic fighter-bomber, designed primarily for ground strikes but also capable of air-to-air combat. Based on the Su-27, it has several significant modifications. The Su-34’s primary missions include the destruction of military infrastructure, striking both land and sea targets, and participating in electronic warfare and reconnaissance. It can operate in all weather conditions, both day and night.
The Su-34 is powered by two AL-31F turbojet engines with afterburners, allowing it to reach an impressive speed of around 1,900 km/h and have a combat radius of up to 1,100 km without the need for in-flight refueling. With additional tanks, its maximum range reaches an impressive 4,000 km.
Moreover, this bomber can carry a significant payload – up to 12 tons of various weapons, including air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles, bombs of various calibers and precision munitions.
The fire control system is impressive, allowing the aircraft to track and engage multiple targets simultaneously. In addition, it is equipped with an advanced navigation and targeting system, which allows it to engage targets with extreme precision at long distances, Bulgarian Military emphasizes. This is most important for strikes from strategic depth.
Boyko Nikolov writes that the use of glide bombs has significantly increased the firepower of the Su-34, allowing it to strike Ukrainian positions from an even safer distance. These bombs can be launched from approximately 60-70 kilometers, reducing the risk of being shot down.
The use of the new UMBP D-30SN glide munition (which, as the Canadian-Indian publication The Eurasian Times wrote, entered service in the summer) has further increased this range - to about 85 kilometers.
The UMBP D-30SN bomb, writes military observer of The Eurasian Times Shubhangi Palve, is designed for high-precision strikes on ground targets.
- Due to their significant weight, these bombs cause enormous damage upon impact. Lacking the accuracy of guided missiles or artillery, they are ineffective against moving targets. However, they are excellent at destroying fortified bunkers, - writes Shubhangi Palve.
The bomb uses satellite and inertial navigation to achieve extreme accuracy - it usually lands a few meters from the target. Notably, the UMBP D-30SN can be used from various altitudes, including more than 10 km, thanks to its aerodynamic design, which supports long-range gliding after release.
The deployment of the D-30SN UMBP together with the Su-34 in the North Ukrainian direction has proven to be extremely effective, Bulgarian Military reports.
— The synergy between the Su-34 and the D-30SN UMBP gives the Russian Aerospace Forces a strategic advantage, allowing them to strike targets without entering the range of the enemy’s most powerful anti-aircraft systems, — Boyko Nikolov says. — At the same time, the precision of bombing ensures the effective neutralization of critical infrastructure facilities or well-guarded military facilities.
Strikes by the D-30SN UMBP with the Su-34 are ideal for precision strikes on important targets, such as Ukrainian Armed Forces command posts or ammunition depots, Bulgarian Military reports. This allows for savings on more expensive cruise missiles and at the same time reduces collateral damage. This is especially important when operating on traditionally Russian territory.