Book Review of Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback
Flying With the Russian Air Force
Author: Duke Hawkins
HMH Publications Book no. 029
ISBN: 9782931083222
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2023
MSRP: $36.00
ISBN: 9782931083222
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2023
MSRP: $36.00
HISTORY:
The Sukhoi Su-34 (Russian: Сухой Су-34; NATO reporting name: Fullback) is a Soviet-origin Russian twin-engine, twin-seat, all-weather supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber/strike aircraft. It first flew in 1990, intended for the Soviet Air Forces, and it entered service in 2014 with the Russian Air Force.
Based on the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker air superiority fighter, the Su-34 has an armoured cockpit with side-by-side seating for its two pilots. The Su-34 is designed primarily for tactical deployment against ground and naval targets (tactical bombing/attack/interdiction roles, including against small and mobile targets) on solo and group missions in daytime and at night, under favourable and adverse weather conditions and in a hostile environment with counter-fire and electronic warfare (EW) counter-measures deployed, as well as for aerial reconnaissance.
The Su-34 is planned to eventually replace the Su-24 tactical strike fighter and the Tu-22M long-distance bomber.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role Fighter-bomber, strike fighter
National origin USSR/Russia
Manufacturer Sukhoi, NAPO
First flight 13 April 1990; 33 years ago
Introduction 20 March 2014[1]
Status In service
Primary user Russian Aerospace Forces
Produced 2006–present[2][3]
Number built 155 (7 test and 148 serial aircraft)[4][5]
Developed from Sukhoi Su-27
THE BOOK:
HMH Publications, I believe, is based in the UK. However, HMH books do not have title pages, that show addresses etc. Bad move HMH !
This book is of soft-cover, of 138 pages in 9” x 9” square format.
Including the front and back cover, the book contains 313 color photos.
The front cover shows a color photo of a head-on view of a Su-34, in flight at night. It is overall light grey with a white nose and a tan area around the windshield. No markings can be seen.
Another color photo of an Su-34, that is taking off at night is on the back cover. It is too dark to see anything, other than it’s white nose.
Sections in the book show photos of wings, canards, air intakes, main fuselages, cockpit interiors, ejector seats, front and main landing gears, horizontal and vertical tails, engine exhausts, ordinance and Su-34’s in action.
Color photos of red numbers with white outline on the sides of the noses of Su-34’s include: no. 02 (3 photos), no. 03 (3 photos), no. 04 (7 photos), no. 05 (3 photos), no. 06 (5 photos), no. 07 (3 photos), no. 08 (1 photo), no. 09 (3 photos), no. 10 (10 photos), no. 12 (1 photo), no. 13 (1 photo), no. 14 (3 photos), no. 15 (9 photos), no. 16 (4 photos), no. 17 (3 photos), no. 18 (3 photos), no. 19 (5 photos), no. 20 (3 photos), no. 21 (3 photos), no.23 (3 photos), no. 24 (1 photo), no. 27 (1 photo), no. 28 (7 photos), no. 29 (1 photo), no, 30 (3 photos), no. 31 (2 photos), no. 38 (1 photo), no. 40 (2 photos), no. 43 (1 photo) and no. 46 (1 photo).
This is a neat picture album of Su-34 variants. It will be of great interest to modelers, who plan on building an Su-34 and to aviation enthusiasts alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample.
Casemate is the N. American distributor of HMH books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
The Sukhoi Su-34 (Russian: Сухой Су-34; NATO reporting name: Fullback) is a Soviet-origin Russian twin-engine, twin-seat, all-weather supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber/strike aircraft. It first flew in 1990, intended for the Soviet Air Forces, and it entered service in 2014 with the Russian Air Force.
Based on the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker air superiority fighter, the Su-34 has an armoured cockpit with side-by-side seating for its two pilots. The Su-34 is designed primarily for tactical deployment against ground and naval targets (tactical bombing/attack/interdiction roles, including against small and mobile targets) on solo and group missions in daytime and at night, under favourable and adverse weather conditions and in a hostile environment with counter-fire and electronic warfare (EW) counter-measures deployed, as well as for aerial reconnaissance.
The Su-34 is planned to eventually replace the Su-24 tactical strike fighter and the Tu-22M long-distance bomber.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role Fighter-bomber, strike fighter
National origin USSR/Russia
Manufacturer Sukhoi, NAPO
First flight 13 April 1990; 33 years ago
Introduction 20 March 2014[1]
Status In service
Primary user Russian Aerospace Forces
Produced 2006–present[2][3]
Number built 155 (7 test and 148 serial aircraft)[4][5]
Developed from Sukhoi Su-27
THE BOOK:
HMH Publications, I believe, is based in the UK. However, HMH books do not have title pages, that show addresses etc. Bad move HMH !
This book is of soft-cover, of 138 pages in 9” x 9” square format.
Including the front and back cover, the book contains 313 color photos.
The front cover shows a color photo of a head-on view of a Su-34, in flight at night. It is overall light grey with a white nose and a tan area around the windshield. No markings can be seen.
Another color photo of an Su-34, that is taking off at night is on the back cover. It is too dark to see anything, other than it’s white nose.
Sections in the book show photos of wings, canards, air intakes, main fuselages, cockpit interiors, ejector seats, front and main landing gears, horizontal and vertical tails, engine exhausts, ordinance and Su-34’s in action.
Color photos of red numbers with white outline on the sides of the noses of Su-34’s include: no. 02 (3 photos), no. 03 (3 photos), no. 04 (7 photos), no. 05 (3 photos), no. 06 (5 photos), no. 07 (3 photos), no. 08 (1 photo), no. 09 (3 photos), no. 10 (10 photos), no. 12 (1 photo), no. 13 (1 photo), no. 14 (3 photos), no. 15 (9 photos), no. 16 (4 photos), no. 17 (3 photos), no. 18 (3 photos), no. 19 (5 photos), no. 20 (3 photos), no. 21 (3 photos), no.23 (3 photos), no. 24 (1 photo), no. 27 (1 photo), no. 28 (7 photos), no. 29 (1 photo), no, 30 (3 photos), no. 31 (2 photos), no. 38 (1 photo), no. 40 (2 photos), no. 43 (1 photo) and no. 46 (1 photo).
This is a neat picture album of Su-34 variants. It will be of great interest to modelers, who plan on building an Su-34 and to aviation enthusiasts alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample.
Casemate is the N. American distributor of HMH books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.