Sukhoi Su-24 (Fencer)

History of Sukhoi Su-24 (Fencer)

Sukhoi Su-24 "Fencer" was the Soviet response to the American General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. The Soviet design was undoubtedly inspired by the impressive and powerful American "swing-wing" design, and tried to emulate it with a mount of equal abilities that rivaled the Soviet pilot.

After more than 35 years of service, the stunning fencer has become dated in many aspects of her makeup, and her death is coming to an end. Angrily debuting during the Soviet-Afghan war, she saw fighting in the 1991 Gulf War, operations against rebels in the Chechen Republic, and is said to have been involved in the recent "limited war" with Georgia in 2008 in South Ossetia. action.

In total, the Sukhoi OKB produced around 1,400 Su-24s in three different operational variants and delivered to a handful of foreign operators.

Sukhoi Bureau and its Su-7 "Filters"

The Sukhoi Design Bureau originated in the war of 1939 and became a household name during World War II. In the post-war world - 1959 to be precise - the company delivered its first Su-7 "Fitter" powered fighter to the ranks of Frontal Aviation (Frontovaya Aviahtsiya), the tactical component of the Soviet Air Force.

The original Su-7 was a dedicated tactical air superiority fighter design, while the successor, the Su-7B, was introduced in 1961 as a ground attack version. One of the prerequisites for the Soviet Air Force's acceptance of the Su-7 into service was that the company also developed a suitable all-weather Strike variant that would work with a new navigation/attack system called "Puma".

Sukhoi did some preliminary work trying to use the existing Su-7 airframe for all-weather strike missions. It soon became apparent that the Su-7's airframe was not suitable for the additional avionics and equipment that would need to be properly "fitted" for the assembler in the role.

Therefore, other design solutions were considered.

The Su-24 can use 4 x Kh-23 "Kerry" (radio guided) or 4 x Kh-25ML "Karen" (laser guided) air-to-surface missiles. As many as two Kh-28 "Kyle", Kh-58 "Kilter" or Kh-31P "Krypton" anti-radiation missiles played an important role in the Su-24's arsenal.

Other munitions include Kh-29L/T "Kedge" laser/TV-guided missiles and Kh-59 "Kingbolt" TV-guided missiles.

Weapons dropped included KAB-500KR TV and KAB-500L laser-guided bombs, as well as any conventional bombs in Soviet inventory at the time. Point cannons come in the form of 55mm S-5, 80mm S-8 or 120mm S-13 rocket pods and gun pods of various calibers.

Perhaps more importantly to Cold War students, the Su-24 allowed the use of tactical nukes when needed. Droptanks can accommodate internal underwing weapon stations. Self-defense was provided by up to four AA-8 Aphid or (later) AA-11 Archer air-to-air missiles.

Su-24 Performance

The performance of the Su-24 (Su-24MK) is focused on its powerful Saturn/Lyulka AL-21F-3A series turbojet engine pair, each delivering 16,860 pounds of dry thrust and 24,675 pounds of afterburner thrust force. It can reach a top speed of 815 miles per hour (about Mach 1.07) at sea level and Mach 1.35 at higher altitudes.

The ferry operating radius is limited to 1,725 ??miles, and the combat radius is about 590 miles (this has no external fuel tanks).

Variations

"Fencer-A" was the first Su-24 discovered by NATO. The Fencer-B is the Su-24 with a modified rear fuselage as well as other known modifications. NATO uses Fencer-C to denote enhanced confrontation capabilities.

None of the first three Fencer models received individual designations from Sukhoi, collectively referred to as "Su-24".

Fencer-D is a Su-24M ("M" translates to "Modified") with integrated chaff/flare countermeasure dispensers and distinct wing fences, usually along the wing guards, but in some Placement on the production unit varies. Ammunition capabilities have been greatly expanded since this model. This includes the addition of a Kaira-24 (Grebe) laser designator (which limits range somewhat at the expense of some internal fuel storage) for precision-guided ordnance delivery to replace the original electro-optical targeting system. The introduction of Kaira-24 eliminated the previously required externally designated capsules. A foldable flight refueling probe mounted on the starboard side of the forward fuselage greatly increases tactical range and puts the Su-24 on par with its Western counterparts.

The body was lengthened by about 30 inches (officially 29.9 inches), and the shape of the radome was revised. Perhaps the biggest benefit of the new aircraft is the implementation of a new weapons control system called the PNS-24M "Tiger" NS. A ninth hard point has been added to the design. Countermeasures are also improved by the new "Karpaty" system, which integrates the "Mak" infrared sensor in the mid-hull.

Work on these improved Su-24s began in 1971 and resulted in the production of the first T6-M8 prototypes, which flew for some time on June 29, 1977. The first production Su-24M flew for the first time on June 20, 1979, and entered full service in 1983.

The Su-24MK (Fencer-D) became a simple export version, an upgrade to the Su-24M model. In the mid-1980s, the Sukhoi OKB received government permission to sell "scaled down" versions of the Su-24 to Arab allies. The first flight took place on May 30, 1987, and the prototype was named T6-MK.

The Su-24MK was officially exported on May 17, 1988, and production continued until 1991. Of course, these systems were sold to countries that didn't have the real avionics, IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) and weapons packages on Soviet aircraft. The installed digital processing computer is the TsVM-24 series.

In the long run, this results in a less functional and possibly even less lethal final product. The fencer's recipients are Algeria, Iran and Iraq, Libya and Syria.

The Su-24MR (Fencer-E) became a dedicated tactical reconnaissance platform for the Su-24 family. The Soviet Air Force increasingly recognized the need to replace their outgoing reconnaissance aircraft with more modern types. The planes they currently produce lack the required range and use outdated equipment to accomplish the task.

Sukhoi provided two modified Su-24 airframes for evaluation as T6M-26 and T6M-34 (later T6MR-26 and T6MR-34 respectively). The first flight took place in September 1980, and the new version entered service in 1983.

A notable difference between the Su-24MR and the attack Su-24 is the removal of the Orion-A attack radar suite as well as the laser target designator. Essentially, most of her ground attack equipment has been removed, including her internal cannon, and replaced by internal reconnaissance cameras.

Additionally, three external hardpoints have been removed. Infrared and TV sensors were installed, as well as a panoramic camera housed in a slightly smaller and shorter nose. A tilting camera is installed in the lower part of the fuselage. The nose has a slightly newer appearance, as it houses the SLAR (Side-Looking Airborne Radar) and insulating panels to cover reconnaissance equipment. In general, the reconnaissance kit, known under the name "BKR-1", was developed by the Moscow Institute of Instrumentation.

At the time, the Soviets claimed it to be the best of its kind in the world, capable of all-weather, day and night operations, with near-photographic-quality image reproduction, extending to more than four times the height of the aircraft. Structurally, the wing root fence was removed.

Most Su-24MRs are quickly identified through the use of external reconnaissance pods along their weapons stations.

Su-24MP (Fencer-F) represents a dedicated ELINT model variant (ELectronic INtelligence). Work on this derivative began in 1976 and included the T6M-25 and T6M-35 prototypes, which became the T6MP-25 and T6MP-35, respectively. The model first flew in November 1979. The genre was officially marked as complete on April 7, 1983.

These airframes can be identified by adding more antenna projections, but allow to retain the 23mm gun inside them. The Su-24MP has traditionally been armed with up to four AA-8 air-to-air missiles, and is believed to exist in only 10 production examples, although some sources say there are as many as 20 in total.

Su-24 Operator

Su-24s were transported outside Russia to the Soviet Union and satellite states. Algeria operates a total of about 39 Su-24s, of which 36 are now considered operational. Angola is rumored to be an operator that has taken delivery of about a dozen Su-24s via Belarus. Azerbaijan is known for its 11 Su-24s in service.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus had at least 34 of its own Su-24s. Between 24 and 36 Su-24s are believed to have entered the Iranian Air Force inventory, some of which were Iraqi mounts captured after the 1991 Gulf War. There are no more Iraqi Su-24s today.

Kazakhstan has at least 25 Su-24s, while Libya has purchased about 8. Syria may be using 20 Su-24s at the same time. Uzbekistan is believed to still be using some former Soviet Su-24s left over from the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Ukraine remains the second largest Su-24 operator, with around 230 believed to be in circulation at the end of 2008.

Russia retained Su-24s in its aging Luftwaffe, with 415 at the end of 2008. More than 300 of them serve in the Air Force, compared with less than 100 in the Russian Navy.

Running

The Su-24 proved difficult to maintain once it was in service throughout the Russian stockpile. Their complex infrastructure is an impressive feat for Sukhoi OKB in itself, but also brings meticulous attention to detail from the ground crew. The inherent complexity of their swing-wing design coupled with their computer-controlled internals makes it difficult to keep horses happy.

The Su-24 was essentially the first Soviet fighter with a system controlled by an onboard computer.

Despite these technical disadvantages, their pilots soon gained more favor on the new Su-24 compared to the outgoing Yakovlev Yak-28 and Mikoyan MiG-27 "Whips". It's a well-thought-out design that's especially popular with pilots in charge of long-haul international flights - where its automatic terrain flight system comes in handy.

Her cockpit offers a good view from the inside and some ergonomic amenities are noted. The variable wing sweep met their STOL expectations, and the high wing loads produced fairly comfortable low-altitude flight. Also, in full afterburner, the Su-24 provides a fair amount of power thanks to the twin-engine configuration.

It is remembered for being somewhat forgiving and responsive in its handling, although it still requires a steady, well-trained hand. The weapon portability of such a system compared to previous Soviet products is a whole story.

In action

Notable operations of the Su-24 in Soviet service began with operations in Afghanistan in 1984. The Su-24 operated from bases in the southern Soviet Union and was tasked with attacking stationary fortifications used by the Mujahideen. The fencer delivers on his promises and is known for his precision, range and variable weapons. However, as the war progressed, the need for the plane's high-speed, precise antics was much less, and soon took on a smaller role.

The Soviet war in Afghanistan became more intimate, requiring the use of close air support aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot. None of the Su-24s in service during the war were shot down by enemy ground fire - only a few were reported to be victims of maintenance-related accidents.

During the turbulent 1990s, other activities produced similar results in Russia's insurgent campaign against Chechen targets. The aircraft is also believed to have played a role in airstrikes against Georgian targets in South Ossetia during the limited conflict in August 2008.

The future of the Su-24

From a technical point of view, the Su-24 was a design that went through its last day sometime yesterday. Her 1960s origins pretty much dictated the approach, but financial constraints and modernization programs within the Russian Federation have kept the fencer relevant over the past decade. In the West, however, where the F-111 Aardvark has been retired from the US Air Force, the Su-24 is hardly seen as a competitor in today's "stealth" battlefield.

The Su-24 will long be replaced (at least within the Russian Air Force) by the Sukhoi Su-34 Defender, a two-seat twin-engine fixed-wing fighter-bomber. The aircraft played a similar role but possessed many modern and advanced features that made the Su-24 completely obsolete in nature.

Only 12 examples of the Su-34 were produced, each valued at $36 million, although their first flight took place sometime in the mid-1990s.

At the same time, the Su-24M and Su-24MK production models are being modernized to keep them viable. Updates include the integration of an "all-glass" cockpit with HUD (Head-Up Display) and MFD (Multi-Function Display). It is expected to be compatible with the short-range AA-11 Archer air-to-air missile. Pilots will also be equipped with digital moving map displays and helmet-mounted sun visors (which are currently popular on many modern jet fighters around the world).

Testing of the upgraded Su-24 is believed to have begun as early as 1999.