Sukhoi Su-24

Sukhoi Su-24
Type:	Front bomber
Design country:	Soviet Union
Manufacturer:	Sukhoi
First flight:	2nd July 1967
Commissioning:	1974
Number of pieces:	circa 1400

The Sukhoi Su-24 ( Russian Сухой Су-24 , NATO code name : Fencer , in German Fechter ) is a two-seat tactical bomber (front bomber) that was developed in the Soviet Union . After his service with the Soviet Air Force , he is still used today by the Russian Air Force and the air forces of other countries. The pilots sit next to each other as in the US model F-111 .

development

Play media file

Two Russian Su-24Ms in flight (2009)

In the mid-1960s, the Soviet front-line aircraft were looking for a successor to the now outdated Jak-28 . After the drafts S-6 with conventional swept wings and T-6 with double delta wings and four lift engines in the fuselage, whose prototype T-6-1 flew for the first time on July 2, 1967, designer Jewgeni S. Felsner decided on a solution at the end of 1967 with swivel blades . The reasons were the poor flight characteristics and the insufficient payload and range of the T-6-1. Their concept was directly influenced by the US TFX program that led to the F-111 . The Soviet Air Force requested an aircraft with similar capabilities, assuming that the flight characteristics were due to the swivel-wing design. The prototype T-6-2I was flown for the first time on January 17, 1970 by Vladimir S. Ilyushin . As the tests were successful, the first Su-24 series machine was completed in December 1971 at the Chkalov plant in Novosibirsk. This had a modified rear compared to the prototype and optimized air inlets. In 1973 the first task force of the air force and in 1975 the navy were equipped with the much more powerful but also more complex machine than its predecessors.

The Su-24 fills the role of a low-flying, all-weather ground attack aircraft . The Su-24 can also be used from makeshift airfields .

The Soviet assumptions turned out to be correct - the Su-24 turned out to be a powerful fighter aircraft, with good range, variable armament (distributed over eight suspension points; four lower fuselage and four lower wing stations) through to nuclear free-fall bombs, advanced electronic defense ( Eloka ) and early warning systems.

Due to its robustness, it is still very popular in export and can be reproduced on request.

Ten aircraft were lost during the testing and development of the Su-24. Eight pilots who rescued themselves with the ejection seat survived and 13 died. No other aircraft made by the Sukhoi design office suffered such high losses during testing as the Su-24.

After a series of breakdowns, the Russian Air Force announced in 2012 that it would take all machines of this type out of service by 2020.

Versions

Bow view of a Sukhoi Su-24

Sukhoi Su-24MR

Su-24M of the Belarusian Air Force

The following versions were built or planned:

• Su-24 up to Series 4 ("Fencer-A"): early series version with a long fuel drain pipe at the end of the engines and adjustment ramps on the air inlets for high speed at high altitudes
• Su-24 series 4 to 11 ("Fencer-A"): Problems with the air inlets of the first series were solved by enlarging them from series 4; the adjustment ramps in the air inlets were no longer used to save weight; Although this reduced the top speed from Mach 2.18 to Mach 1.35, the low-level flight characteristics were not significantly impaired.
• Su-24 series 12 to 15 ("Fencer-B"): performance-enhanced cooling system, recognizable by an air scoop on the fuselage; modified sensor group under the front fuselage; wider vertical tail; shortened fuel drain pipe at the end of the engines; a third suspension point under the hull
• Su-24 series 16 to 24 ("Fencer-C"): the shape of the rear fuselage more closely followed the engines; a braking parachute was located at the base of the vertical stabilizer ; an additional air intake for the cooling system was installed at the front edge of the vertical stabilizer; from the 26th series 21 aircraft, the air inlets are no longer adjustable, which limited the top speed to Mach 1.35, but reduced the empty weight; at the same time the wing profile was changed
• Su-24 series 24 to 27 ("Fencer-C"): Installation of triangular radar warning receivers at the air inlets of the engines in front of the wing box and on both sides at the upper end of the vertical stabilizer;
• Su-24M ("Fencer-D"): upgraded version of the Su-24; retractable air refueling probe, new avionics complex for the use of new laser and television-guided weapons, modified nose for a new nose radar, laser lighting and TV target tracking system of the type Kajra-24 in the glazed housing in the middle under the front fuselage and terrain tracking radar coupled with the autopilot for low-level flight operations; First flight on June 29, 1977
• Su-24M ("Fencer-D Mod"): Possibility to carry an air refueling container for air-to-air refueling on the central suspension under the fuselage by integrating large boundary layer fences with pylon, improved countermeasure systems (more chaff throwers)
• Su-24BM : unrealized enlarged version of the Su-24M with an internal weapon bay in the fuselage between the engines
• Su-24MM : unrealized version of the Su-24M with the Ljulka AL-31 engines
• Su-24MK ("Fencer-D"): modified export version of the Su-24M with reduced avionics; First flight in 1987
• Su-24MR ("Fencer-E"): Version of the Su-24M as a tactical reconnaissance aircraft with sensors (e.g. side-view radar ) and cameras installed internally and externally in containers ; without a 23 mm cannon; First flight in September 1980
• Su-24MP ("Fencer-F"): Version of the Su-24M for electronic warfare ; First flight in April 1980
• Su-24K : unrealized version of the Su-24 for use on aircraft carriers because the Su-24 was too heavy
• Su-24bis : Study of a much improved version with the latest avionics and armament; The model was shown at the Berlin exhibition ILA 2000
• Su-24M2 : modernized version of the Su-24M or Su-24MK with improved avionics (including GPS or the Russian equivalent GLONASS , head-up display (HUD) and helmet visor) and more modern armament, in the case of the export variant also western ones Armament; real all-weather version for day and night use
• Su-24MK2 : Version of the Su-24M2 for Algeria
• Su-24MRK2 : modernized version of the Su-24MR for Algeria based on the Su-24M2

Technical specifications

Parameter	Data of the Su-24 ("Fencer-A")	Data of the Su-24MK ("Fencer-D")	Data of the Su-24M2
Type	Front bomber
crew	2
length	22.67 m	24.53 m
span	at 68 ° sweep: 10.36 m at a 16 ° sweep: 17.63 m
Wing area	55.17 m² (with 16 ° wing angle)
Wing extension	5.63 (with 16 ° wing sweep)
Wing loading	minimum (empty weight) : 383 kg / m² nominal (normal takeoff weight) : 631 kg / m² maximum (maximum take-off weight) : 689 kg / m²	minimum (empty weight) : 404 kg / m² nominal (normal takeoff weight) : 690 kg / m² maximum ( maximum starting weight) : 793 kg / m²	minimum (empty weight) : 383 kg / m² nominal (normal take-off weight) : 653 kg / m² maximum (max. takeoff weight) : 720 kg / m²
height	6.19 m	5.97 m
Gauge	3.31 m
wheelbase	8.51 m
Empty mass	21,150 kg	22,320 kg	21,150 kg
normal takeoff mass	34,830 kg	38,040 kg	approx. 36,000 kg
Max. Takeoff mass	approx. 38,000 kg	43,755 kg	39,700 kg
Max. Landing mass	approx. 24,000 kg	27,900 kg	24,500 kg
Max. Fuel capacity	k. A.	11,100 kg (internal)	9,800 kg (internal)
Fuel ratio	k. A.	0.29	0.27
Top speed	Mach 2.18 or 2317 km / h (at optimal altitude) Mach 1.15 or 1320 km / h (at sea level)
Service ceiling	17,500 m
Take-off run	900 m	1300 m	k. A.
Landing runway	850 m	950 m	k. A.
Use radius	k. A.	320 km (flight profile: low-low-low) 950 km (flight profile: low-low-high) 1050 km (flight profile: high-low-high)
Transfer range	approx. 2500 km	2775 km	k. A.
Load factor	+6 g
Engines	two turbofan engines Ljulka AL-21F-3		two turbofan engines NPO Saturn AL-21F-3A
Thrust	with afterburner: 2 × 109.87 kN without afterburner: 2 × approx. 75 kN		with afterburner: 2 × 109.87 kN without afterburner: 2 × 76.52 kN
Thrust-to-weight ratio	maximum (empty weight) : 1.06 nominal (normal takeoff mass) : 0.64 minimum (max.start mass) : 0.59	maximum (empty weight) : 1.00 nominal (normal take-off mass) : 0.59 minimum (max. starting mass) : 0.51	maximum (empty weight) : 1.06 nominal (normal take-off mass) : 0.62 minimum (max.start mass) : 0.56

Armament

Three-sided tear

Fixed armament in the bow

• 1 × 23 mm Gatling - automatic cannon GRYAZEV-SHIPUNOV GSH-6-23 (9A768) with up to 500 rounds of ammunition

Gun loading of 8000 kg at eight external load stations (two of which swivel on the outer wings)

Air-to-air guided missile

• 2 × APU-60-1 start rails for 1 × Wympel R-60 M (K-60 or AA-8 "Aphid") each - infrared controlled, self-targeting for short distances
• 2 × APU-60-2 double start rails for 2 × Wympel R-60 MK (K-60 or AA-8 "Aphid") - infrared-controlled, self-targeting for short distances (only Su-24MK)
• 2 × P-12-1-D start rails for 1 × GosMKB Wympel R-73M (AA-11 "Archer") each - infrared controlled for short distances (only Su-24M2)

Cruise missiles

• 2 × AKU-58 launch rails for an MKB Raduga Ch-59MK "Owod-MK" (AS-18 "Kazoo") - radar-guided against ships

Air-to-surface guided missile

Technicians check a Ch-25 on a Su-24 during the Syrian Civil War in October 2015

• 4 × APU-68UM starting rails for each 1 × Swesda Ch-23 / Ch-23M (AS-7 "Kerry") - radio-controlled
• 4 × APU-68UM3 starter rails for 1 × Swesda Ch-25M / MR (AS-10 "Karen") each - laser-guided
• 2 × AKU-58 start rails for 1 × Raduga Ch-58E / U (AS-11 "Kilter") each - passive radar-guided for radar fighting
• 2 × Raduga Ch-28 (AS-9 "Kyle") - passive radar guided for radar combat in connection with Filin-N container
• 3 × AKU-58M starting rails for 1 × GosMKB Wympel Ch-29L (AS-14 "Kedge") each - laser-guided
• 3 × AKU-58M starting rails for each 1 × GosMKB Wympel Ch-29T (AS-14 "Kedge") - TV-controlled
• 2 × AKU-58M starter rails for 1 × Swesda Ch-31P (AS-17 "Krypton") each - passive radar-guided for radar combat in connection with Fantasmagoria container

Unguided air-to-surface missiles

• 6 × UB-32-A73 rocket tube launch containers for 32 × unguided S-5 air-to-surface missiles each ; Caliber 57 mm
• 6 × B-8M1 rocket tube launch containers for 20 × unguided S-8KO air-to-surface missiles each ; Caliber 80 mm
• 6 × B-13L rocket tube launch containers for 5 × unguided S-13OF air-to -surface missiles each ; Caliber 122 mm
• 6 × APU-68UM2E1 missile launch rail for an unguided S-24B air-to-surface missile; Caliber 240 mm
• 4 × PU-O-25 missile launch container for one unguided S-25 / S-25OF / S-25OFM air-to-surface missile; 340 mm caliber

Guided bombs

• 2 × KAB-1500 L-F ( laser-guided 1500 kg bomb)
• 4 × KAB-500 D (laser-guided thermobaric 500 kg bomb)
• 4 × KAB-500 L / LK / KR (laser-guided 500 kg bomb)
• 4 × KAB-500 T / KR (tv-guided 500 kg bomb)

Unguided bombs

• 4 × multiple bomb carriers MBD3-U6-68 each with 4-5 × basalt FAB-100 (100 kg free-fall bomb ; total of 18 bombs)
• 6 × multiple bomb carriers MBD3-U6-68 with 6 × basalt FAB-100 each (100 kg free-fall bomb; only Su-24M, a total of 38 bombs)
• 18 × basalt FAB-250M-54 (250 kg free-fall bomb; only Su-24M, total of 30 bombs)
• 16 × Basalt FAB-250M-62 (250 kg free-fall bomb)
• 16 × RBK-250-275 (275 kg cluster bomb )
• 16 × ZAB-250 (250 kg incendiary bomb )
• 7 × Basalt KMGU -2 (270 kg submunition container for small bombs and mines)
• 10 × FAB-500M-62 (500 kg free-fall bomb)
• 10 × OFZAB-500 (500 kg incendiary bomb)
• 8 × FAB-500M-54 (500 kg free-fall bomb)
• 7 × FOZAB-500 (500 kg incendiary bomb)
• 7 × ODAB-500 PM (500 kg aerosol bomb )
• 7 × RBK-500 (500 kg cluster bomb)
• 7 × ZB-500RT (450 kg napalm bomb )
• 5 × BETAB-500SHP (500 kg anti-slope bomb )
• 3 × FAB-1500M-64 (1500 kg free-fall bomb)

Nuclear weapons

• 1 × TN-1000 (30 kT tactical free-fall nuclear bomb )
• 1 × 6U-57 (tactical free-fall nuclear bomb)
• 1 × 8U-49 (tactical free-fall nuclear bomb)
• 1 × 8U-63 (tactical free-fall nuclear bomb)
• 1 × BD3-66-24N bomb rack for 1 × RN-28 each (tactical 10 kT free-fall nuclear bomb)
• 1 × BD3-66-24N bomb rack for 1 × RN-24 (244N "Tatjana") each (450 kg tactical 10 kT free fall nuclear bomb)

External container

• 3 × SPPU-6 containers each for a 23 mm automatic cannon GSch-6-23 can be swiveled 45 degrees downwards, 500 rounds of ammunition
• 1 × drop-off additional tank PTB-2000 for 2000 liters of kerosene under the fuselage
• 2 × drop-off additional tanks PTB-3000 for 3000 liters of kerosene at the inner wing stations
• 1 × UPAS-1A air refueling container with hose reel and basket
• 1 × Fantasmagoria-A L-080 ( EKF container for localizing electronic radiation sources on a certain frequency bandwidth)
• 1 × Fantasmagoria-B L-081 (electronic target location container)
• 1 × Filin-N (EKF container for localizing electronic radiation sources on a specific frequency bandwidth)
• 1 × Fasol SPS-5M ( radar jammer )
• 1 × Tekon / Elektron APK-9E radio data transmission container as a relay of the steering signals for the Ch-23 / Ch-59 and KAB-100T

Self-defense systems

Radar detector

Behind the air inlets in front of the wings there is a "Berjoscha" -SPO-10- and in the slat there is a SPO-15C radar detector . In addition, an SPO-15C and an SPO-10 radar warning receiver are housed in the tail fin and above the parachute container.

Missile approach warning

The Asowsky L-082 MAK-UL missile approach warning sensor (MAWS), which searches for infrared emissions, is installed in a ball in the front bulge of the fuselage.

Decoys dispenser

At the beginning of the horizontal fins, a Gorizont-AAP-50MA decoy launcher (rectangular container for each 12 × 50 mm heat flare decoys ) is built into the fuselage on each side . In addition, other elongated AAP-50MR decoys can be installed instead of the boundary layer fence.

Electronic warfare systems

The Filin-N defense system receives the information from the radar warning sensors SPO-15 and controls the EKF jammer SPS-61 if necessary. The active radar jammer Geran-F is also integrated in the system. The AAP-50 flare launchers are also triggered automatically when required. Starting with the Su-24M, the improved Karpaty system with the MAK-IR-Warner is installed.

User states

Current users

•  Algeria - As of January 2018, there were 33 Su-24M / K and 4 Su-24MR in service with the Air Force .
•  Angola - As of January 2018, at least 1 Su-24 was in service with the Air Force .
•  Azerbaijan - As of January 2018, there were 2 Su-24s in service with the Air Force.
•  Iran - As of January 2018, there were 29 Su-24MK in service with the Air Force . In 2013, 30 units were still active, i.e. additional machines to the 24 units that came from Iraq.
•  Russia - As of January 2018, there were 70 Su-24M / 2 and 91 Su-24MR in service with the Air Force .

•  Sudan - As of January 2018, there were 6 Su-24 / M in service with the Air Force.
•  Syria - As of January 2018, there were 11 Su-24 in service with the Air Force .
•  Ukraine - As of January 2018, there were around 14 Su-24M and around 9 Su-24MR in service with the Air Force .
•  Uzbekistan - As of January 2018, an unknown number of Su-24s were in service with the Air Force .

Former users

•  Iraq - 30 acquired (Su-24MK), of which 24 were flown over to Iran in 1991 and continued to be used there (“suppressed” from the Iraqi perspective).
•  Libya - 8 Su-24MK acquired, one of which was shot down in the 2011 civil war, 6 may still be airworthy afterwards.
•  Belarus - Retired from the Air Force until February 2012 .
•  Soviet Union - Until the division, the Soviet Air Force had a stock of 1,300 Su-24s of all versions in the front-line and naval aviation forces . The Luftwaffe last used around 330 Su-24s of all versions (except the MK version) with the front-line aviation forces and around 100 Su-24s were in use with the naval aviators .

See also

• List of aircraft types

Web links

Commons : Sukhoi Su-24  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Suchoj Su-24 on suchoj.com

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Suchoi Su-24 - Aircraft down to the smallest detail. FlugRevue March 2009, pp. 51–54.
2. ↑ SBU: Ukrainian pilot wanted to hijack bombers to Russia. In: Voice of Russia , September 30, 2014.
3. ^ Jefim Gordon : Soviet / Russian Aircraft Weapons since World War Two. Midland Publications, 2004, p. 175.
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i} The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): The Military Balance 2018 . 1st edition. Routledge, London 2018, ISBN 978-1-85743-955-7 (English, January 2018).
5. ^ World Military Aircraft Inventory. "2013 Aerospace". Aviation Week and Space Technology. January 2013.
6. ↑ Бомбардировщики Су-24 выведены из состава Вооруженных Сил Беларуси , Белорусское телеграфное агентство. February 21, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2015.