Combat aircraft. Fighter-bombers of World War II. Part 1

A fighter-bomber is equally capable of combat in the air and destroying ground targets. In aviation it was preceded by another type of combat vehicle - an attack aircraft, which served to support ground forces from the air.

The attack aircraft had weapons that hit the enemy both in the sky and under the wing, and at the same time operated at relatively low speeds from low and medium altitudes. After World War II, with the widespread introduction of jet engines and the advent of supersonic aircraft, attack aircraft began to be replaced by fighter-bombers that combined high speed with striking power. However, at the beginning of the new millennium, vehicles capable of flying low and accurately hitting ground targets again found themselves in demand.

FMA IA-58 “PUKARA” - fighter against drug mafia

Light attack aircraft (Argentina)

An armor plate is built into the lower fuselage of the IA-58, protecting the cockpit from fire from 7.62 mm weapons at a distance of up to 150 m

The FMA IA-58 Pucara was the first combat vehicle entirely designed and built in Latin America. Work on it began in 1966, when the troubled continent needed an aircraft capable of fighting guerrillas in the jungle.

The attack aircraft was equipped with two turbojet engines and a high landing gear, which made it possible to suspend a variety of bomb loads under the wing and on the fuselage, as well as numerous removable skin panels, which facilitated its maintenance.

In 1974, the aircraft, launched into mass production, received the name “Pucara”, which means “fortress” in the Quechua Indian language. At first, the aircraft attracted the attention of various third world countries, but only Uruguay (six aircraft) and Colombia (three aircraft) became its buyers.

In 1976, immediately after entering service, the Pucara was used to strike rebels in the Tucumán area. By the beginning of the war with England in 1982, the Argentines had 45 Pucara aircraft, 24 of which were based in the Falkland Islands. One was hit by a bomb, another was shot down by a British fighter. The Pukar's catch in this war were two English helicopters.

In total, during the hostilities the aircraft made 186 sorties. Subsequently, five such machines were delivered to Britain for study. Colombian Pucaras were actively used in the fight against the drug mafia - to strike the plantations of cocaine barons. These aircraft are still in service with the air forces of Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and Sri Lanka.

SU-25 - a worthy descendant of IL-2

Sturmovik (USSR/Russia)

The Su-25 is designed so that it can continue to fly unhindered on one engine if the second one fails.

In the mid-1960s, in an era of frequent small wars and local conflicts, the futility of relying only on nuclear superiority became obvious. To achieve victory in the war, conventional weapons were also required.

At some point, aircraft manufacturers had to return to the idea of ​​an attack aircraft - a machine capable of not only flying over enemy borders and penetrating behind enemy lines, but also constantly being on the front line. The machines that existed at that time were not suitable for this.

Flying at supersonic speeds and extreme altitudes, these aircraft proved to be of little use in conventional combat. In addition, due to the lack of reliable armor, they became a convenient target for snipers as soon as they descended.

In 1969, the USSR Ministry of Aviation Industry announced a competition for projects to create an attack aircraft. Four leading design bureaus of the country took part in it: Mikoyan, Yakovlev, Ilyushin and Sukhoi. The latter submitted a draft T-2 vehicle for consideration. Unpretentious to use and easy to manage, it ultimately won the competition. Since the car had to constantly be in the combat zone, and not in the rear, its speed was limited to 850 km/h.

The Su-25 pilot is protected on all sides by titanium armor

By November 7, 1974, the first prototype aircraft was built. During its testing, an accident occurred, one of the engines began to smoke and collapsed. Nevertheless, on February 22, 1975, the car took off.

In December, we began testing the next one, with a cabin made of titanium armor. By the spring of 1980, two more such aircraft were manufactured at the Tbilisi Aviation Plant. In April - June, two attack aircraft already fought in the skies of Afghanistan. Thanks to the use of special wing control devices, the speed of the vehicle was increased to 1000 km/h.

A year later, a separate squadron was formed from these aircraft, already bearing the name Su-25. The nose of the car was decorated with a bird design, thanks to which the plane received the nickname “Rook”. Over the eight years of Afghan battles, Su-25 attack aircraft carried out more than 60,000 combat missions, hitting 137 targets.

About two dozen vehicles were lost. However, in order to shoot down such a plane, the Mujahideen needed to make up to 90 accurate hits. There was a case when an attack aircraft returned to base with 150 holes. The planes, as in the song, reached the airfield with a damaged wing, punctured tanks and only one engine.

"Rook" turned out to be an extremely survivable aircraft

In 1992, production of the Su-25 ceased, by which time their number had increased to 700. They were supplied to Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan and Iraq, which widely used them in the war with Iran. These aircraft are planned to remain in service with the Russian Air Force until at least 2022.

History of the development of the Su-34 fighter-bomber

Fighter-bombers (IB) are multifunctional tactical vehicles capable of both destroying enemy aircraft and destroying (bombing) ground and surface targets at the enemy’s front line and in the operational rear.

IBs are distinguished from attack aircraft by their high maneuverability, allowing them to engage in offensive air combat. This property makes it possible to use vehicles for missile and bomb strikes against ground and surface targets during sorties without the cover of “pure” fighters.

In addition, bombers are used for massive strikes against stationary targets and large objects, while it is more rational to entrust the destruction of mobile targets, for example, military equipment scattered over a large area, to fighter-bombers.

In the 1970s, the Soviet Union developed the fourth generation fighter aircraft, the Su-27. Simultaneously with the first flight of the prototype, which took place in 1977, the design of the Su-27Sh (“Sh” — “attack aircraft”) based on it began, but this topic was subsequently closed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. But the command of the USSR Air Force insisted on the creation of a new two-seat fighter-bomber, which considered it unacceptable to lag behind the US Air Force. By the way, in 1978 they officially announced a competition for tactical information security, and ten years later they received the F-15E Strike Eagle into service.

In 1983, the Su-27IB theme replaced the Su-27Sh. Using the developments of the late 70s on the attack aircraft and the combat training modification of the Su-27UB, the designers of the Sukhoi Design Bureau promptly submitted technical proposals for the new aircraft to the Air Force headquarters. The IS project initially had an important difference from the indicated models - the design of the cabin, where the crew sits not behind each other, but next to each other.

The preparation of technical proposals for the attack aircraft dragged on for three years, and only in 1986 the development of the machine under the designation T-10B officially began.

Further milestones in the history of the Su-34:

• April 13, 1990 - first flight of the prototype, called T-10V-1;
• 1995 - presentation of a new product codenamed Su-32FN at the air show in Le Bourget, France;
• October 12, 2006 - the first flight of a serial IS, produced under a defense government order by the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after. V.P. Chkalov (the launch of the product into series was previously prevented by economic problems characteristic of the “wild nineties”);
• 2006-2011 — IS testing according to the approved state program;
• August 2008 - use of new “sushka” (generation 4++) as part of an operation in South Ossetia to force Georgia to peace;
• March 20, 2014 - adopted by the Russian Air Force.

It is noteworthy that during the operation in South Ossetia, only two aircraft took part in combat missions, limiting themselves to covering the actions of other aircraft with electronic warfare (electronic warfare). But in Syria, Su-34s, like real bombers, are striking from the air at the infrastructure facilities of terrorist groups.

Production of the Su-34 continues in 2022, although the aircraft plant has reduced its production plan. But the news that came out in May about the transfer of production of these IBs from Novosibirsk to Komsomolsk-on-Amur was refuted with the clarification that at the Komsomolsk Aviation Plant. Yu.A. Gagarin are preparing to build the 5th generation Su-57 fighters.

Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after. V.P. Chkalov, where Su-34 fighter-bombers are produced

"PANAVIA TORNADO GR.MK-4" - a symbol of the revival of the aviation industry

Fighter-bomber (Germany, Great Britain, Italy)

The Tornado aircraft is capable of achieving maximum performance in all flight modes due to its variable sweep wing

The idea of ​​a European fighter-bomber capable of breaking the speed of sound and having a short runway began to take shape at the turn of the 1950s-1960s, when the United States began creating the F-111.

In 1957, the Royal Air Force submitted to the government a list of requirements for such an aircraft: a two-seat cabin, a variable geometry wing, and the ability to take off from highways. However, the military never received funding. The socialists who soon came to power set a course for reducing military spending.

In 1965, England and France jointly began to create such an aircraft. The project was called AFVG (Anglo-French Variable Geometry). However, the work was not successful: the French saw the car primarily as a fighter, while the British were mainly interested in a bomber.

In 1967, the project was closed. The British, still in need of their own bomber, continued to work independently, renaming the project UKVG and starting a search for other partners in Europe.

At that time, West Germany had the most developed economy on the continent. In 1964, this country, together with the United States, developed a project for the AVS aircraft, a fighter-bomber with vertical landing and take-off.

However, in 1968, activity was stopped due to loss of interest from America, which was completely focused on its F-111. A year later, the British company BAC, the German Messerschmitt-Belkov-Blom and Aeritalia, which joined them, formed the Panavia consortium to create the aircraft of the same name.

The first of these machines took off on August 14, 1974. In September, the word "Tornado" was added to the aircraft's name. In 1980, the Tornado began to enter service with the British Air Force. A year later, Italy and Germany received them. Airplanes destined for Great Britain could carry atomic bombs on the wing.

In 1990, in preparation for the war with Iraq, radar-absorbing coatings were applied to visible parts of aircraft. However, this led to a decrease in the reliability of the machines - coating particles got into the engine. Iraq became the most serious combat campaign for the Tornado aircraft, whose mission was to destroy Iraqi airfields at the very beginning of the war.

The first flight ended in vain: not a single bomb hit the target, and one plane was shot down by Iraqi anti-aircraft guns. The complex vehicle, filled with the latest electronics, had a relatively low combat “survivability”. The altitudes at which it flew turned out to be very convenient for Iraqi anti-aircraft guns.

The special design of the thrust reverser allows the Tornado to land at airfields with a short runway

In the 1990s, the Tornado underwent various upgrades, primarily in Germany. New precision-guided munitions, American cruise missiles, Israeli laser guidance devices were installed on the aircraft, and the equipment in the cockpit was updated.

In 1999, these aircraft took part in the war with Yugoslavia. On the very first night of the raid, one of them was shot down by a MiG-21 fighter. According to reports from the Yugoslav side, several more Tornadoes were subsequently destroyed. However, an exact count of losses was not kept. Now these aircraft, produced in quantities of about 1,000, are still in service with Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Saudi Arabia.

Fighter weapons

Fighter-bomber with weapons
The minimum armament of the Su-34 consists of one GSh-30-1 aircraft cannon of 30 mm caliber.

At the same time, the design of the strike aircraft includes twelve weapon hardpoints used for attaching missiles, bombs, torpedoes and other ammunition of a very wide range.

Vehicle combat load:

• 12 thousand kg is the maximum, possible only with a combat radius of less than a thousand kilometers;
• 4 thousand kg - at maximum fuel load (with outboard tanks);
• 8 thousand kg - under other conditions.

"SEPECAT JAGUAR" - Anglo-French long-liver

Fighter-bomber (UK, France)

This Jaguar was photographed before accepting fuel from the tanker - the extended fuel rod is visible on the starboard side

In 1965, the French Air Force and the British Royal Air Force decided to join forces to create a tactical combat training aircraft, and on May 17, 1965, the British Air Force and the French Breguet signed a cooperation agreement.

A year later, the SEPECAT concern appeared - the European Association for the Production of Combat Training Tactical Aircraft. The wing and empennage were developed by the British, and the fuselage was designed by the French. Two more, included in SEPECAT and Turbomeka, created the engine.

In 1966, the general appearance of the aircraft was determined and construction of 10 prototype prototypes began, 3 of which subsequently crashed during testing. Finally, in 1968, 400 aircraft, 200 for each country, went into mass production. On April 20, 1972, the first flight of the French car, already under the name “Jaguar,” took place. A total of 531 aircraft were built by 1986.

The Gulf War in 1991 was Jaguar's high point. On it he repeatedly demonstrated his high combat capabilities

In 1977, French Jaguars bombed columns of partisans from the North-West African Liberation Front in Mauritania, and in 1986 they took part in military operations in Chad. In total, nine squadrons were formed from them in the French Air Force.

British Jaguars first encountered a real enemy only in 1991 in the skies of Iraq. Unlike heavier and loaded with ammunition

"Tornado" they did not suffer losses in those battles. The replacement of Jaguars with a German-British creation, which had begun, stopped. It was only in 2007 that the French Mirage 2000 N forced them to give way.

GR3A is the latest modification of the Jaguar, which eliminated the main drawback of previous versions: insufficient engine power

"DOUGLAS A-4 SKYHAWK" - small hawk

Deck attack aircraft (USA)

"Douglas A-4 Skyhawk" - the first American jet attack aircraft

The history of the Douglas A-4 attack aircraft began during the Korean War, when the US Navy decided to replace outdated piston attack aircraft with jet combat vehicles.

American specialists were tasked with creating an inexpensive and lightweight aircraft that could deliver nuclear weapons over short distances. At that time, atomic weapons were considered applicable in all conflicts without exception. The Douglas designers coped with the task, promising to create a machine weighing no more than 5.5 tons. In October 1952, they presented a model of the aircraft. All machine systems were created anew in accordance with the task of reducing their weight. At the same time, the fuselage skin became thicker, which improved the protection of the aircraft.

The tasks of the attack aircraft were expanded during the work. He was capable of conducting air combat, dropping bombs during a dive flight and providing air cover for ground forces. The attack aircraft prototype, named XA4D-1, left the assembly shop in June 1954. The plane made its first flight that same month.

A-4s are capable of taking off and landing on tiny runways at front-line airfields

Named "Skyhawk" ("sky hawk"), it had less mass than promised and showed higher speed and range. In 1956, the aircraft began to enter service. Their first campaign was the Vietnam War, where the Skyhawks managed to shoot down several MiG-17s.

However, in general, the “survivability” of the vehicle turned out to be quite low, which forced us to proceed with the next development - the A-7 Corsair. Skyhawks began to be supplied in large quantities to the Air Forces of Israel, Argentina, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore. In 1982, they took part in the Falklands conflict, during which they launched the first strike on two British landing ships, killing over 50 British troops. 22 attack aircraft were lost in that campaign. The aircraft are still in service with the US Marine Corps.

Later versions of the A-4 received a “hump” dorsal fairing, which housed additional communications and navigation equipment

With its exploits, the A-4 proved that small and light aircraft are in no way inferior to large and heavy machines.

What are the differences between a fighter and an attack aircraft?

The question arose: what is the difference between a fighter-bomber and an attack aircraft. As far as I understand, an attack aircraft is an aircraft designed to destroy small and moving ground targets. But isn’t a fighter-bomber working for the same purposes? And perhaps a modern attack aircraft like the Su-24 is capable of operating against air targets if necessary? So what's the difference? Why is the Su-24 an attack aircraft and the Su-27 a fighter-bomber?

apparently because the SU-27 is capable of conducting maneuverable air combat, while the SU-24 is difficult to do this.

The Su-24 is not an attack aircraft, but a front-line bomber. Attack aircraft - Su-25.

The Su-24 is not an attack aircraft.

The closest thing to an attack aircraft is the Su-25...

the classic attack aircraft is the Su-25, the Su-24 should be classified as a front-line bomber, and the Su-27 is a heavy fighter, an aircraft for gaining air superiority.

Another difference - attack aircraft / front-line bomber

And as for which of the subsonic “rook” interceptors, Dmitry, decide for yourself, although it happened that in the Middle East an Mi24 shot down a phantom. As they say, everything is possible.

Alexy:

On the SU-25, is it you who is “exceptionally beautiful...”? Shindan?

Let's identify ourselves...

And as for which of the subsonic “rook” interceptors, Dmitry, decide for yourself, although it happened that in the Middle East an Mi24 shot down a phantom. As they say, everything is possible.

2 DmitryS:

An attack aircraft is a direct support for troops on the BATTLEFIELD. Those. screw around here, there, make some noise here, but don’t touch there.

A front-line bomber means covering it according to a pre-approved plan.

A fighter-bomber is a FIGHTER, which, incl. can work well on the ground, at the level of an attack aircraft.

anno nim:

=and which of the subsonic “rook” interceptors, Dmitry, decide for yourself, although it happened that in the Middle East an Mi24 shot down a phantom. everything is possible, as they say.=

"Rook" - who is this?

And the most important thing, in my opinion, is that the attack aircraft is designed taking into account powerful counteraction from the ground. Therefore, there are high requirements for aircraft protection (armor, duplication of main systems, fire safety).

Anonymous.. "Rrach" is a Su-25

Anonymous:

==“Rook” - who is this?=

“Rook” is EVERYTHING!!!

“...The nickname “Rook”, which originally served as their radio call sign in Operation Diamond, the Su-25 was fully justified by its ability to find and “peck” prey, its very appearance reminiscent of this hardworking bird...”

https://militera.lib.ru/h/marko …

I would like to note...at present there is no fighter-bomber aircraft in the Russian Air Force...it doesn’t exist

But it remained there, where you can’t erase it with any pieces of paper... right, IBA-nicks?

Another fundamental difference between an attack aircraft and a fighter-bomber and front-line bomber is the ability to be based at poorly prepared airfields. So that the flight time to the battlefield is minimal and the ability to work on calls from ground troops is ensured. Also, strict conditions are set for attack aircraft in terms of preparation time for a second flight.

Irina:

Thanks about the “rook”, I found about him, and this exact phrase :). But it came as a surprise to me that the Su-25 is subsonic.

Irina:

Thanks about the “rook”, I found about him, and this exact phrase :). But it came as a surprise to me that the Su-25 is subsonic.

————

Actually, this follows quite obviously from its silhouette and geometric proportions.

And its ceiling, if I’m not mistaken, is up to 7000m

What, is the A-10 supersonic? And is supersonic needed for an aircraft whose purpose is the destruction of armored vehicles, firing positions and personnel on the battlefield? Don’t forget that there was no online reconnaissance back then, so what the pilot determined was what he attacked. The M-17 was just being developed, unmanned aircraft too...

who objects? flies at transonic speed, “pecks” at its enemies, yes, it pecks so well, it’s so compact, it’s a miracle! and how tenacious! I remember in 1995, in Mozdok, we made friends with the “rook” techies (I think they were from Budennovsky) and wrote good wishes to FABs

I also heard the Su-25 being called a “comb”. IMHO, due to the number of DBs on the wings.

Air Force tactics, especially in the twilight, were a complete mess. Based on the interests of the moment, with the light hand of the Kremlin elders, labels were hung at random, often illogically and recklessly.

So you can find out the difference from a tactical point of view between the Su-17M3 fighter-bomber and the Su-25 attack aircraft until you are hoarse, but to no avail.

And there is no need to push A-10 here. The Amers, unlike the USSR, have a clear system, starting with the designation. And they don’t write Su or MiG. F - fighter, FB - fighter-bomber, A - attack aircraft. But the developer is not in the title.

I wonder why the A-10 is superfluous in the topic about attack aircraft? By the way, returning to the roots: remember the Thunderbolt from the 2nd World War, that same P-47D? after all, at first it was an interceptor, and then it “found itself” as a womber fighter and even a dive bomber

anno nim

So you want to discuss the differences between the Su-25 attack aircraft and the F-111A fighter-bomber?

So the Su-25 then won’t even be suitable for a light (very light) attack aircraft.

calm down, 17th, read the title of the topic, I think my monologue is appropriate. ))

Who knows how to classify it... Probably, it is possible according to the technical requirements of the developers. The party wrote - “stormtrooper” - there will be a stormtrooper, wrote “IDD” - please. This means that in the USSR, apparently, two attack aircraft were developed - the Il-103 (if I’m not mistaken) and the Su-25. The rest were in other categories, although the same Su-17 developed into a very good “attack fighter”. :)))

The criterion is probably still the response time to a call. Although in our reality both Su-24 and Su-25 worked according to a previously approved plan.

there was no such concept in the “fighter-attack aircraft” alliance

A fighter-bomber, as a rule, has more complex sighting navigation equipment and a longer flight range, and an attack aircraft is something like “throwing a stone at your neighbor’s window”; you don’t really need to aim, the neighbor’s house is close.

Based on the criteria described above, I have no hesitation in classifying attack helicopters of the “humpback” type as attack aircraft, especially if we take into account the 9M114 products on its database!! find 10 differences between this attack aircraft and the IB! :)

Guys, don't be a jerk.

All constructive refinements are a derivative of the tactical problems being solved.

attack aircraft is a cheap battlefield aircraft. Those. it must fulfill its tasks, “iron” it under the powerful influence of air defense. Ideally, do not pay attention to MZA and MANPADS. Hence the armor, etc. research on the topic of survivability. But a fully armored aircraft from the MZA is not realistic, and our hero begins to suffer unacceptable losses (attacks by Su - 25 lightly armed detachments of Muzhdahideen had certain problems, but what to expect from the air defense of the regular army?). Trying to reduce the percentage of losses, attack aircraft forget about their purpose and begin to behave like fighter-bombers. The pedigree of the latter came from thunderers, typhoons and fokkers. Those. fighters adapted to perform strike tactical missions. The Amers did this out of idleness - there were too few clients for their fighters in the air, the Germans because of the lack of fighters for escort. Their tactics are akin to cavalry - suddenly appear, attack, run away. The second approach was not encouraged - when the anti-aircraft gunners came to their senses, the chances of returning intact among the turret men dropped sharply. After the war, they began to produce specialized aircraft for IBA. The classic Soviet fighter-bomber is Su-17. That is. a fighter-bomber is a light bomber in the size of a fighter (although looking at the F-105, you understand that in the USA money is through the roof).

Yes, also, the concept of modern attack aircraft has again reached a dead end. And it’s all to blame for the vampire-like behavior of modern warring parties, like “night has fallen and work has begun in the land of fools.” During the day, everyone hides in cracks and shelters. Attack aircraft such as A-10 and Su-25 are not really loaded. At night, when everyone is frolicking happily, they are blind as moles. Yes, you can hang night equipment and guided weapon systems. But then why the armor, because the X-25 is not S-8. This is where the ears of replacement in the Su-17 regiments grow with Su-24.

I suggest reading the KULPPs of IBA and SHA. Understand the differences in the tasks performed and the question will disappear by itself.

Slayer is an outdated concept for “romantic knights”.

Good morning!

Although it’s rainy, damn... I’m thinking, how to combine the simplicity of an attack aircraft’s sight with the need for more careful aiming? IMHO, a stormtrooper - it’s just like a herurk should be - combat contact of troops on the ground, here are ours, here (very close!) adversaries... Like, come on, brothers, let’s kill the rooks!!! If the aim is poor, air support will ruin things - “The Rooks have arrived,” damn it, an oil painting.

The bomber, it seems to me, could use a simpler sight. Although - who knows.

PS: ...why did I get in, am I an air defense specialist?!?! :)))

292: yes I know, I know :)))

hmm, it’s a bit damp, but it’ll bite, sir (probably). and I thought

Having read the founder of the topic, he apparently has nothing to do with these matters and is simply interested, because, you see, for the average person, all these little sharp-nosed beasts with a “whistle in the anus” (may the flying brethren forgive me) are nothing more than “ fighters,” and therefore all explanations come down to definitions from the TVVS and the bureau-factory nomenclature. but then there would be no discussion at all... in short, good morning, celestials and loved ones!

Why don’t you like it? What are you doing? damn clone...

eh... I remember the piles of patched years... this kada ya praparam nastayaschim was... oh there were vrimina... damn the legs are dancing and walking...

pumped? take a breath and continue according to the situation...

carbon

Kazakh style adnaka - “what I see, I pay.”

Not a bomber, but a bomber. Learn Ukrainian better.

Roy Brown

And what does KULP have to do with it? For those who don’t know, this is a flight training course. Determines the procedure for completing flight training for flight school cadets. KBP - Combat training course. This is for combat units.

Both of them are being developed for the types (or branches) of the Air Force. In general, it is necessary to dance away from military doctrine in accordance with tactical tasks.

And then you see in the reference books, the Yak-52 is a light attack aircraft.

Madhouse.

Su-17:

Exactly. So - and a bomber hang glider... It depends on what you bomb with :)))

Topper

Well, hello, as in the First World War. Grenades were taken out of pockets and thrown down. And even steel peaks.

And what air battles there were!! They chased each other in Farmans and shot from Mausers.

2su17: buddy, if you suddenly materialize here virtually, please tell me, what kind of piece of hardware is this Su-2? I imagine the configuration, but what is the purpose?

2su17: thank you, everything is in its place! :)

guys, please explain about this garbage:

THERE IS ONE One trick:

in one place, namely, in the Vasysilkovsky district in the village. Vinnitsa Stavs once shot down three DBF 3,100 lb aircraft in 1942.

Bro, what the hell, I haven’t heard anything about these planes, maybe they’re telling me something? In general, I can’t understand anything. I won’t press F1 - just help the sucker figure it out. Thanks to those who understood the question.

Write to: [email protected]

About 10 years ago I had to write a note for the head of the GRU. For Su-24 abroad. Since I’m not an aviator, and they gave me 20 minutes of time, I went to the GRU General Staff Intelligence Reports. More precisely - No. 4. And I read that Iran is armed with ... Su-24M3 fighter-bombers, and in Syria - .... front-line bombers Su-24-M3. F.I. Ladygin is not an iceman either, but he asked a question. I didn't have an answer. What remains is the reprimand. Later I asked about 20 pilots in the system, everyone said that it was a front-line bomber. Question - which bitch wrote in the official document sent out via mailing list to the highest “echelons” that the Su-24M3 is an IB? Because of him, I didn’t get a general and now I work for 3.5 thousand raccoons a day, trading secrets?

LTV A-7 "CORSAIR II" - Honored Veteran of the Assault

Deck attack aircraft (USA)

To protect himself from fragments of his own bombs when dropping ammunition from low altitudes, the A-7 pilot uses Mk.82 slow-fall bombs

The main disadvantage of the Skyhawk attack aircraft was its short flight range. It was impossible to use the vehicle to strike targets deep behind enemy lines. Initially, this role was assigned to the F-111 bomber, but it could not take off from the decks of aircraft carriers.

There was a need for another aircraft that would be as cheap as the Skyhawk, but would have superior range. Research to create such a machine began in 1962. 27 options were considered, with the main focus being on the cost of delivering one round of ammunition behind enemy lines. After the devastating war with Korea, the Americans were going to fight the next one, Vietnam, very economically. The announced design competition was won by proposing an inexpensive modification of the F-8 Crusader carrier-based fighter, created in 1955.

Maintenance A-7. The airborne radar station is visible under the raised nose cone

Externally, the attack aircraft was very similar to the Crusader, but had a cheaper engine and a reinforced wing capable of carrying ammunition. There were two cannons located in the forward part of the fuselage. The aircraft was equipped with a new navigation and targeting system, which made it possible to accurately calculate the course to the target and strike at it. In 1964, a model of the aircraft was built. On September 27, 1965, the first of three prototypes took off. The aircraft was named "Corsair II". In 1966-1968, 199 such machines were produced. In 1967, the first squadron was formed from them. Soon she went to Vietnam. At the very beginning of the war, the aircraft flew about 1,400 combat missions, while only one attack aircraft was lost.

In 1983, one plane as part of the peacekeeping forces in Lebanon was shot down by Syrian air defenses. In 1986, in the Gulf of Sidra, the Corsair took part in strikes against Libya. During Operation Desert Storm, the attack aircraft was used both to penetrate deep into Iraqi territory and to refuel other aircraft in the air.

In 1993, the aircraft was removed from service with the US Army, but it is still part of the air forces of Libya, Lebanon, Grenada, and the Gulf countries.

Combat training modification of the A-7 of the Greek Air Force

Combat aircraft. Fighter-bombers of World War II. Part 1

Well, having criticized our experts who compared the aircraft of the Second World War, according to the ancient postulate “criticize - suggest,” I offer my view on the piston combat aircraft of that war.

Why did I decide to start with such a controversial class as fighter-bombers? Because they appeared and formed into a class right then. And with the advent of jet aviation, they developed tremendously. Well, you will also need to take a break from just fighters.

So, fighter-bombers of World War II. According to the principles that I voiced in the previous article, we will clearly divide them into 2 groups.

The first is 1939-1943, the second is 1943-1945.

Exactly. Fighters and bombers that are “clean” will have to be divided into three groups. But such a division is quite sufficient here.

What was the fighter-bomber we are talking about?

Actually it was more of a fighter bomber. That is, an aircraft that could take a bomb load and deliver it to the enemy. There, launch a bomb attack (or, as an option, rockets) and, if necessary, engage in combat with enemy aircraft.

The difference from stormtroopers immediately becomes visible. An attack aircraft is, first of all, a well-armored vehicle that carries a variety of weapons for “working” against ground targets and is not at all intended for air combat.

Whoever now says that ours on Ila were quite successful in shooting down them will not be entirely right. Ours also shot down the Hurricanes; ours didn’t care what they shot down with. It would be what, and on what this weapon is installed - aspects.

But we will talk about attack aircraft and attack aircraft in great detail another time.

And today our goal is a single-engine fighter-bomber. That is, in fact, it is a fighter equipped with bomb racks and guides for the RS, capable of operating both against enemy targets and in combat with his aircraft, both bombers and fighters (in particular).

We'll talk about dual-engine IS a little later.

What led to the creation of this class of aircraft? The correct answer is war. Before the start of World War II, the strike aircraft class was a rather dismal sight. Attack/attack aircraft were equipped with outdated models capable of lifting a pair of 50 kg bombs and armed with a pair of rifle-caliber machine guns.

But the war began.

It immediately became clear that the enemy’s front line of defense was a tough nut to crack. Since small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery and anti-aircraft machine guns do not allow bombers to operate from a low altitude. And from a great height you can send your gifts. There have been cases.

Therefore, an inexpensive aircraft was needed that had better maneuverability and speed than a bomber, capable of clearing space for bombers to work. Yes, the escort fighters coped quite well with the task of suppressing the enemy’s MZA, but no one has ever removed the protection of the bombers themselves from enemy fighters.

In addition, there were targets that were difficult for bombers to target. For example, it turned out that a 20-mm cannon is much more effective than a bomb in terms of disabling a steam locomotive. And so on.

And thus, goals and objectives were outlined. Attack aircraft operated against armored targets in conditions of strong air defense resistance, usually in several passes; fighter-bombers were tasked with quick and unexpected raids on targets in the front-line zone. Bombers were protected by altitude, attack aircraft by armor, and information security by speed and maneuver. Everything looks pretty logical.

A small exception is strike fighters, but we’ll talk about them too.

Of course, there is no point in listing all fighter-bombers. As examples, I will give (by tradition) five aircraft that I considered the most interesting and indicative of the class.

Let us create a kind of top classification of single-engine fighter-bombers of the Second World War of 1940-1942.

No. 5. LaGG-3 type 11. USSR.

This plane was on the list not because it was necessary to stick someone in. Yes, already in 1941 it became clear that the LaGG-3 is not a machine that is capable of fighting on equal terms with the Me-109F. And it was then that the idea was born to use not the fastest and most maneuverable fighter of the Red Army Air Force as an I-B. They say that it will carry the load, cause damage, and then, lo and behold, it will fight off the “Messers.”

But even to be used in this form, LaGG-3 had to be lightened. To begin with, we returned to the original three-tank version. Since work deep behind enemy lines or patrolling over the front line was not expected, it was possible to sacrifice the fuel supply. Moreover, for LaGG-3 there were hanging tanks of 100 liters, which, if necessary, could be suspended. One large-caliber synchronized machine gun was removed.

In some units they removed ShKAS, which actually became useless by that time.

But in terms of load, the aircraft turned out to be quite remarkable.

First, six launchers for the RS-82, and later for the RS-132.

Secondly, bomb racks D3-40.

Thanks to these bomb racks, aircraft could use:

— high-explosive bombs FAB-50; — fragmentation bombs AO-25M and FAB-50M; — chemical bombs KHAB-25 and AOX-15; — chemical containers VAP-6M (Aircraft Pouring Device) with 38 liters of phosphorus gas and an ASBR-2 sprayer capable of releasing all the gas within 3-4 seconds; — incendiary containers ZAP-6 (incendiary aircraft device).

For 1941 - a very good set of weapons. Considering also the ShVAK cannon and the BS heavy machine gun - not bad at all. And if you remember that the delta wood from which the LaGGs were made did not burn well, the plane is quite normal.

Speaking about combat use, it is worth mentioning the actions of the 129th Aviation Regiment, fully equipped with LaGG-3 11th series aircraft. For successful actions at the beginning of 1942, the regiment received the rank of Guards.

LTX LaGG-3 11th series, 1941. Weight, kg - empty: 2560 - take-off: 3080 Engine: 1 x M-105PA x 1050 l. With. Maximum speed, km/h - near the ground: 490 - at altitude: 552 Practical range, km: 760 Practical ceiling, m: 9400 Crew, persons: 1 Armament: - one 20-mm ShVAK cannon; — one 12.7 mm BS machine gun; — two 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns; - 6 RS-82 or RS-132 - 2 bombs up to 50 kilograms.

According to various sources, more than 300 LaGG-3 aircraft of the 11th series were produced.

Advantages: very powerful and varied weapons. Disadvantages: heavy airframe and weak engine.

No. 4. Re.2001 Ariete (Falco II). Italy, 1940.

A very unique aircraft that fought the entire war, first as part of the Axis, and then against Germany.

Initially it was planned and built specifically as a fighter-bomber. The plane was a real success, had quite decent performance characteristics, and dived very well with a bomb load.

Falco II entered combat only in February 1942 in Sicily. Their main task was the classic escort of bombers in raids on Malta and the fight against British air defenses.

In the skies of Malta, Re.2001 first collided with Spitfire Mk.V and Hurricane Mk.II fighters. And, it is worth noting, the Italian was an equal rival for the British fighters.

Re.2001 aircraft entered service with the 2nd, 22nd, 24th, 59th, 60th, 160th and 167th Fighter Groups (Gruppo di Caccia).

Malta, Sardinia and, in general, the entire Mediterranean theater of operations became the battlefield for the Falco II. A fairly good aircraft plus good training of pilots gave such tangible results that in August 1942 the British suspended convoy pilots.

Of course, Luftwaffe pilots played a huge role here, but the Italians also had something to brag about.

The aircraft quickly became obsolete by 1943, mainly due to the inability to install a more powerful engine. In northern Italy, Falco IIs were used until the end of the war, specifically for bombing strikes, first against the Americans, and after Italy’s “turnaround” - against the Germans. But by that time, the Italian Air Force was suffering significant losses from more advanced enemy vehicles, and by the end of the war, of the 273 Falco IIs produced, about fifty remained in service.

After the end of the war, the remaining aircraft were quickly scrapped, with the exception of a few lucky ones that were transferred to the hydrometeorological service after repairs. And for many years, instead of bombs, they carried barographs, hygrographs and other equipment on external slings.

Performance characteristics Re.2001 Weight, kg: - empty aircraft: 2070 - normal take-off: 2900 Engine: 1 x Alfa Romeo RA.1000 x 790 l. With.

Maximum speed, km/h: 540 Practical range, km: 1040 Practical ceiling, m: 12,000 Crew: 1 Armament: - two 12.7 mm machine guns and two 7.7 mm machine guns - 640 kg of bombs.

Advantages: good design Disadvantages: weak engine

No. 3 Hawker "Typhoon". Great Britain, 1940.

This creation of the genius of Sidney Camm (our analogue is Tupolev) could easily be called “Hemorrhoids”, since this plane drank so much blood from its creators and pilots that our LaGG can be considered its brother.

Having not yet put his Hurricane into production, Camm had already proposed to the Royal Air Force a project for a new machine, which, in theory, was supposed to replace the Hurricane. In 1937.

The British Air Force Directorate needed an interceptor fighter capable of fighting armadas of enemy bombers and heavy escort fighters.

Camm agreed, but in the spirit of the times, he decided to arm the plane with a battery of 12 7.69 mm machine guns. The directorate believed that guns were more effective against bombers.

Plus, for a long time they could not settle the issue with the engine. So it is not surprising that the first flight of the Typhoon was carried out on February 24, 1940.

The engine was the weak point of the Typhoon. It overheated and jammed while climbing. Often he was engulfed in flames on takeoff. If we take into account that the lines from the gas tanks were nearby, then finding that there was smoke coming from under their feet, the pilots, even at the start, jumped out of the cockpits as if scalded, and rushed as far as possible from the plane. This saved some people's lives. The Saber poisoned pilots with exhaust gases, so that simultaneously starting the engine and putting on an oxygen mask became the norm among the British.

Having identified and partially corrected the main shortcomings of the new fighter, the British began equipping the first combat units with it. Due to the wartime rush, testing and mastery of the vehicle by combat pilots proceeded almost in parallel. Therefore, the units experienced plenty of accidents and fires. The pilots were freaking out, jumping out with a parachute from the planes falling apart in the air. Of the first 142 Typhoons delivered to the Air Force, 135 were involved in accidents of varying severity.

The pilots were suspicious of the heavy, unreliable, although fast, Typhoon. This fighter was strikingly different in its characteristics from the Spitfires and Hurricanes they had flown before.

Gradually the understanding came that the Typhoon, as an interceptor, was not a pudding at all. At altitudes up to 3000 meters, it could at least withstand the Focke-Wulfs, but higher up the Germans made roast beef out of the Typhoons, taking advantage of their speed advantage.

They say that the idea to use the Typhoon as a fighter-bomber came to one of the air group commanders, Beaumont. The experiment was successful, and squadron after squadron began striking ground targets. Four rapid-fire cannons destroyed locomotive boilers, smashed trucks to pieces, and sank river barges. By April 1943, 609 Squadron alone had shot more than 100 locomotives in France and Belgium.

The Typhoon's finest hour came in the summer of 1944. Then, 22 Typhoon squadrons were brought in to ensure the Allied landings in Normandy. A few days before the landing, the Typhoons shot at German radar stations on the coast, “blinding” the enemy.

After the invasion, the Typhoons' functions were divided. Some of them, using the Cab Rank system, provided direct support for the advancing troops. At the commands of the aircraft controller on the front line, they attacked armored vehicles, artillery positions, pillboxes and bunkers with bombs or rockets. It was almost impossible to hit a tank or pillbox with a missile, but it had a strong morale-demoralizing effect.

Surprisingly, the Typhoon turned out to be very durable and withstood numerous hits, although it did not have particularly powerful armor protection.

Performance characteristics of Typhoon Mk.IB Weight, kg - empty aircraft: 3942 - maximum take-off: 5854

Engine: 1 x Napier Saber IIB x 2200 hp. With. Maximum speed, km/h: 658 Cruising speed, km/h: 530 Practical range, km: 1460 Rate of climb, m/min: 831 Practical ceiling, m: 10300 Crew: 1 Armament: - four 20-mm wing cannons; - 8 x 27 kg PC or 2 x 454 kg bombs.

Total produced: 3317 pcs.

Advantages: powerful weapons, good handling. Disadvantages: engine. Unreliable plus the constant threat of poisoning of the pilot.

That is why, in fact, only third place. The Napier Saber turned out to be not a miracle, but a monster. A little more, and the Typhoon would not have gotten into the war at all. But he got there and carried out his tasks.

No. 2. Curtiss P-40D(E) Kittyhawk. USA, 1941.

Well, tell me, the cowboy is a handsome man! It has everything, a good engine, good visibility, layout, weapons... If you think about it, it’s a song, not a plane.

Only we could give them the brains. And they did.

The first aircraft of the series took off on May 22, 1941. That's how long it took to understand that a fighter-bomber was needed, and needed seriously.

And this was no longer a simple modification of the fighter; the R-40E was very different from the R-40D. It became heavier, the layout changed, the armor protection in front and behind the pilot was strengthened, and the head armor reached a thickness of 18 mm.

Since the P-40E was planned for use as a fighter-bomber, there were a lot of changes. Instead of a drop tank, it could carry a standard American 500 lb (227 kg) bomb under the fuselage. Later, holders were installed under the wings, allowing two more hundred-pound (45 kg) bombs or six twenty-pound (9.1 kg) bombs to be taken.

The alteration is not God knows how complicated, it was also altered at the front. The P-40E could also bomb from a dive at an angle of up to 70 degrees. A new, more powerful engine and improved aerodynamics ensured an increase in speed in almost the entire altitude range, and an increase in flight range due to the larger volume of tanks.

But all this came at a price. The increase in weight entailed a deterioration in the rate of climb, the turn time increased, and the length of the takeoff run and landing roll increased. Flight performance deteriorated.

In general, the fighter unit was sacrificed to the bomber unit.

As for combat use, there are two sides of the coin. The P-40E began its war in the North African deserts in December 1941. Kittyhawks were used specifically as fighter-bombers. At first they took one 250 pound bomb under the fuselage, and later - three (two under the wings). 1000-pound bombs (454 kg) were also used to strike bridges and ships.

The P-40E turned out to be very convenient for working against German columns in the desert.

But as a fighter, the situation was worse. The obsolete Italian fighters Fiat CR.42, G.50, Macchi S.200, although they were more maneuverable, in general did not become equal rivals to the Kittyhawks, which could easily break away from them due to their speed.

But the more modern Macchi S. 202 and the German Messerschmitts posed a great danger to them.

And exactly the same planes ended up in the USSR. The first to receive them were those regiments that had already successfully mastered Tomahawks - the 126th and 154th. However, significantly more Kittyhawks arrived than Tomahawks, and more and more new units began to be re-equipped with them.

And then it turned out that the “hawk” was good. Yes, not just good, but right in full. The different approach had an impact.

We tried, first of all, to use the positive aspects of this aircraft - powerful weapons, long range and flight duration, survivability, good (by Soviet standards of that time) radio and instrumentation equipment.

Therefore, “Kittyhawks” were used where these qualities could be realized: in air defense, for bombing and assault strikes, for escort and reconnaissance.

The functions of the Kittyhawk fighter-bomber were performed very often. Especially in the difficult year of 1942, when, due to the shortage of front-line bomber aircraft, a special order was issued by the People's Commissar of Defense “On the use of fighter aircraft on the battlefield as daytime bombers.”

The standard option was to use the P-40E as a carrier of the FAB-250, but in some regiments and in the Northern Fleet aviation they also took the FAB-500. A combination of one FAB-250 and two 100 kg bombs was often used. For example, during the attack by North Sea pilots on the port of Kirkenes, the Kittyhawks carried one FAB-250 high-explosive bomb and two ZAB-100 incendiary bombs.

The targets for fighter-bombers were airfields, positions, and sometimes enemy ships. The already mentioned 78th Regiment used fighters for top-mast bombing. In this case, the bomb was dropped from a horizontal flight over the water itself and ricocheted off its surface, hitting the side of the ship. In this way, a group of aircraft led by Captain V.P. Strelnikov sank two barges and six motorboats in one day, October 11, 1944.

Hero of the Soviet Union Vasily Polikarpovich Strelnikov made 150 combat missions, sank (reliably confirmed) 2 minesweeper boats, a patrol ship, a self-propelled barge, 2 motorboats and an enemy tug, and shot down 6 enemy aircraft in air battles.

The best recommendation for the plane on which Strelnikov fought. R-40E.

It is generally recognized that the successes of our pilots on the P-40 cannot be compared with the successes of their colleagues from the Allied camp.

Performance characteristics of P-40E Weight, kg - empty aircraft: 2880 - maximum take-off: 3996 Engine: 1 x Allison V-1710-39 x 1150 hp. With. Maximum speed, km/h: 582 Cruising speed, km/h: 431 Practical range, km - with PTB: 2,253 - without PTB: 1,046

Rate of climb, m/min: 640 Service ceiling, m: 8,800 Crew, persons: 1 Armament: - six 12.7 mm Colt-Browning M-2 machine guns; - 3 x 227 kg bombs.

Total production: 13,738 units

Advantages: survivability, weapons. Disadvantages: speed and maneuverability.

No. 1. Focke-Wulf Fw.190A-2. Germany, 1941.

Well, here is the last object of our consideration. The quintessence of destruction, the best, in my opinion, fighter-bomber of the first half of the war.

The 4 machine guns of the first series gave way to 4 guns, and the plane learned to fly. The new BMW 801 C-2 engine produced 1780 hp. With. and completely resolved the issue of speed for the considerably heavier aircraft.

The booking was also excellent. The 57 mm thick windshield was set at an angle of 63 degrees, which allowed rifle-caliber bullets to ricochet easily and naturally, and the pilot was also protected by a 14 mm armored headrest, 8 mm armored seat and armored backrest. In addition, for protection from fire from the rear and sides, 8-mm armor tiles were installed on the inside of the fuselage.

Lots of electronics and useful gadgets. Part of the Focke-Wulfs of the A2 series received, in addition to the usual FuG VII radio station and the FuG 25 “friend or foe” aircraft transponder, also a PKS radio compass.

The weapon control system made it possible to fire from any pair of cannons or only from machine guns. By switching the corresponding toggle switches in the cockpit, the pilot could connect “mixed” options to the combat button: only guns, a couple of guns and a couple of machine guns, all weapons at the same time.

For the Allies, the 190th was a very unpleasant surprise. It turned out that the Focke-Wulf can more or less withstand the Spitfire of the 9th series, but it has only just begun to enter service with the troops. And on the Western Front, the Luftwaffe gained such a real advantage that even the most optimistic British memoirists remember 1942 with trembling voices.

Strange, but on the Eastern Front the 190th did not receive such “recognition”. Yes, the new car was noticed and appreciated. Yes, many of our pilots recognized the 190th as a serious adversary, and ground troops felt its firepower.

But no one canceled the command to “take everyone down,” and therefore our pilots shot down the 190s without much reverence. It was necessary to.

Many experts attribute this to the fact that on the Eastern Front the fighting took place at heights where the 190th was somewhat clumsy. And a slightly different approach to tactics existed in the Red Army Air Force. But this is a matter of a completely different examination through a magnifying glass.

The fact is that it was in 1942 that the Focke-Wulf 190A2 was not just a serious opponent, but a very, very successful attack aircraft. The most powerful cannon and machine gun armament, impressive bomb load, armor, speed - all this made the 190 the best fighter-bomber of that time.

And the successes of the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe are the best confirmation of this. After all, it was by the middle of the summer of 1942 that Germany reached the peak of its capabilities, gaining control over almost the entire territory of Europe and a significant part of the European territory of the USSR.

It is unlikely that this period simply coincided with the peak of the FW 190's combat career. It truly was an excellent attack aircraft.

Performance characteristics Fw.190a-2 Weight, kg - empty aircraft: 2900 - normal take-off: 3980 Engine: 1 x BMW-801D x 1780 hp. With. Maximum speed, km/h - near the ground: 500 - at altitude: 610 - in afterburner: 668 Maximum rate of climb, m/min: 864 Service ceiling, m: 10,600 Crew, persons: 1 Armament: - two 20-mm MG cannons -151 in the wing root with 200 rounds per barrel; — two 20-mm MG-FF cannons in the wing with 55 rounds per barrel; — two 7.9 mm MG-17 machine guns with 1000 rounds of ammunition per barrel in the forward fuselage; - up to 500 kg bomb load on external holders.

A total of 909 Fw.190a-2 units were produced.

Advantages: speed, armor, weapons. Disadvantages: maneuverability caused by the weight of the machine.

Actually, by 1942, fighter-bombers had fully formed as a class, which is only confirmed by the work of such machines as the P-40E and Fw.190a-2. But in the next part we will look at the continued evolution of these machines.

Based on materials from the Great Aviation Encyclopedia https://airwar.ru/index.html.

FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC A-10 THUNDERBOLT II - tank destroyer

Stormtrooper (USA)

Although the use of shells with depleted uranium cores for the GAU-81A gun is extremely effective against tanks, it caused an international scandal, as the uranium residues heavily polluted the area

In the early 1960s, the US Air Force faced the same problem as its Soviet opponents - the lack of vehicles capable of delivering precise strikes against small ground targets, as attack aircraft and front-line bombers did during World War II.

Meanwhile, in the 1960s, the new T-62 tank appeared in service with the Soviet army, and a little later - the even more advanced T-64 and the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle, which had air defense systems to combat aircraft flying at low altitude . All this equipment was superior to that available to the United States and its allies.

In 1967, the US Air Force announced a competition for a new attack aircraft and sent out requests to 21 aircraft manufacturing companies with requirements for an aircraft that had to fly at low altitude at a speed of at least 650 km/h, have high maneuverability and at the same time carry on board a powerful cannon and bomb weapons.

The YA-10A project was recognized as the winner. In 1976, this company received an order for mass production of aircraft, which were called “Thunderbolt II” (Thunderbolt - “lightning strike”). In October of the same year, the vehicles began to arrive in US Air Force units. Until 1984, 713 pieces were produced.

A thunderstorm for lightly armored targets - the seven-barreled 30-mm GAU-81A cannon

Initially, the A-10 aroused great interest in a number of US allies. However, subsequently, none of these countries acquired the attack aircraft. The narrow specialization of the vehicle, designed mainly to fight tanks, had an effect. In addition, many used combat helicopters against tanks.

In an effort to increase demand, Fairchild Republic began construction of an all-weather aircraft designated N/AW in 1987. In 1991, 144 A-10s participated in Operation Desert Storm, flying approximately 8,100 sorties and destroying approximately

1000 Iraqi tanks. Seven aircraft were lost at the same time. In 1999, they attacked Yugoslavia, where they suffered no losses. The US Air Force is still the only user of this machine.

The A-10 is maximally optimized for maneuvering at low altitudes and low speeds, which is very important for an attack aircraft

"GENERAL DYNAMICS F-111" - passing through walls

Fighter-bomber (USA)

The F-111 wing has a variety of mechanization: double-slotted flaps, slats and spoilers, which at low speeds can act as ailerons

The history of the F-111 dates back to 1958. Among the requirements for the aircraft being created were short take-off, landing and supersonic speed developed at low altitude. It was possible to combine such contradictory characteristics in one machine only if a variable-sweep wing was used (folded when the plane “sneaks” at supersonic speed at low altitude under the cover of the local terrain, and wide open during landing, allowing to reduce the speed and length of the run). She took on the development of such an aircraft, and acted as an assistant.

The F-111 performed quite well during the Gulf War, destroying 10 times more tanks than the F-16

The first production F-111 flew in December 1964. From 1964 to 1976, 562 of these aircraft were built. Only the target coordinates were entered into their on-board computer; the machine did everything else itself. The first combat test was the skies of Vietnam, where seven vehicles were lost.

In 1986, General Dynamics bombers raided the residence of Libyan leader Gaddafi; then one of the three planes died. F-111s were used extensively during Operation Desert Storm. In 1993, these aircraft were withdrawn from service with the US Air Force. Some of them were transferred to Australia, which planned to operate them until 2022.

Performance characteristics

The inherent characteristics of the Su-34 are divided into tactical, technical and flight characteristics. Let's name the main ones from both categories:

• The length of the device is 23.3 m;
• Wingspan - 14.7 m;
• Weight of information security with crew and loaded gun - 22.5 thousand kg;
• Maximum take-off weight - 45 thousand kg;
• Max speed at low altitudes - 1400 kilometers per hour, at high altitudes - 1900 km/h;
• Range - 1100 km with external fuel tanks, 1500 km without;
• The maximum range of ammunition is 260 km.

Su-34 as a bomber

"LOCKHEED AC-130" - sky dreadnought

Fire support aircraft (USA)

The latest version of the AC-130U aircraft

The idea of ​​a heavily armed sky battleship originated with the US Air Force in the early 1960s. The program was called "Ganship" (cannon ship) and began its implementation in 1965. The base for Ganship was the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, produced by . It was equipped with six-barreled machine guns, Vulcan rapid-fire cannons, a night vision system, an on-board computer and a radar station. And later they even installed a 105 mm howitzer!

Flight tests of the rearmed Hercules began in 1967. The first combat flight of the vehicle, which did not yet have an official name, but received the name “Vulcan Express” from the crew, took place on September 27, 1967. The winged monster in the blink of an eye turned a column of trucks coming from North Vietnam along the so-called Ho Chi Minh Trail to the aid of their South Vietnamese brothers into a pile of flaming debris.

Such a promising start prompted the US Air Force leadership to take a closer look at the new vehicle. And for good reason. After all, in 1970-1971 alone, “Ganships” destroyed about 12,000 units of Vietnamese military equipment! Our own losses were minimal due to the almost complete absence of air defense systems on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Later, with their appearance, the flights of the Gunships had to be stopped. Since 1972, the name “Spectrum” has been assigned to the AS-130.

To protect against missiles with infrared homing heads, the AS-130 shoots false thermal targets

At the end of the 1970s, the “N” modification aircraft gained the ability to refuel in the air. Four of these vehicles hovered menacingly over the Iranian capital while American hostages were there. In 1983, during the US operation in Grenada, AC-130s suppressed enemy air defenses and allowed troops to land.

AC-130s took part in Operation Desert Storm, defeating a convoy of armored vehicles in the early days of the war, as well as in raids on Yugoslavia. None of the recent US campaigns could have gone without them: in 2001, Lockheeds bombed Afghanistan, in 2003 - Iraq, in 2011 - Libya. Today, the US Air Force is armed with 8 aircraft of the “H” modification and another 13 of the “U” modification, equipped with the latest on-board radar system.

The side of the AC-130U bristles with a 25-mm GAU-12/U cannon, a 40-mm Ml Boffors cannon and a 105-mm M-102 Howitzer howitzer.

BAC-167 "STRIKMASTER MK-80" - the simplest attack aircraft

Light attack aircraft (UK)

VAS-167 "Strikemaster" - one of the first attack aircraft converted from a training vehicle

In the early 1960s, attack versions of jet trainer aircraft entered the global aviation market. They were called “weapons of the poor”, as the military tried to get an inexpensive and versatile aircraft in this way.

In 1967, the British also decided to convert the light training aircraft VAS-145 Jet Provost, created in 1954, into a combat vehicle. It was equipped with an ejection pilot seat, built-in machine guns, bombs and missiles suspended on the wing and fuselage, for which the structure had to be strengthened. A more powerful engine and additional fuel tanks were installed.

The aircraft was named VAS-167 “Strikemaster”. Its first flight took place on October 26, 1967, and in 1968 the machine went into mass production. "Strikemaster" was used in many local conflicts, the last of which was the war between Peru and Ecuador, which broke out in 1995. There were 15 such vehicles in service with the Ecuadorian Air Force, and, apparently, there were no losses among them.

In addition to bomb and missile strikes, cannon and machine gun fire, the aircraft is capable of performing aerial photography, for which special equipment is provided. The Strikemaster light attack aircraft is still in service with the Ecuadorian Air Force.

Four New Zealand Air Force BAC-167s are on combat duty

Fighters

Su-7. Fighter-bomber. (THE USSR)

Su-7 is a Soviet fighter-bomber. Developed in the 1950s by the OKB im. Sukhoi.

On May 14, 1953, by order of MOP No. 223 P.O. Sukhoi was appointed instead of V.V. Kondratyev Chief Designer of OKB-1, formed a year earlier with the aim of copying the American F-86 Saber fighter. By order of MAP No. 135 of October 26, 1953, OKB-1 transferred a branch of plant No. 155 (former plant No. 51 MAP) as a production base.

Since the summer of 1953, the OKB began work on the design of supersonic fighters in two layout options - with swept and delta wings (code codes “S” and “T”, respectively). Officially, the work was specified by the Government Decree of August 5, 1953.

The preliminary design of a front-line fighter with a swept wing (variant “C-1”) was defended in November 1953, and in February 1954 a mock-up commission was held. Six months later, in August 1954, the design of a swept-wing interceptor fighter (S-3) was also considered, but work on this option was soon closed.

Su-7. Fighter-bomber. (THE USSR)

The design of the S-1 aircraft and its systems included many innovations: a 60º swept wing along the ¼ chord line, an all-moving main wing, an axisymmetric adjustable nose air intake, a new powerful AL-7F turbojet engine (OKB-165 design) with a declared afterburner thrust of 10,000 kg, a hydraulic system with working pressure 210 kg/cm², irreversible booster control system, two-chamber boosters, ejection seat of our own design, etc.

The construction of the prototype aircraft was completed in June 1955, the aircraft was delivered to the LII on the night of July 15-16. The flight test crew on the S-1 was headed by leading engineer V.P. Baluev. By agreement with the Air Force, A.G. was appointed lead test pilot. Kochetkova from GNIKI, because the OKB did not yet have its own “branded” pilots. On July 27, the aircraft performed its first taxiing, and its first flight was on September 7, 1955. The first stage of factory testing was carried out with the AL-7 engine (i.e. the non-afterburning variant of the AL-7F) and was completed in January 1956, with 11 flights completed. Since March 1956, test pilot of GNIK V.N. Makhalin continued testing the S-1 with the standard AL-7F.

By this time, OKB-155 (General Designer A.I. Mikoyan) was testing the first prototypes of the future MiG-21. The leadership of MAP, wanting to demonstrate the high level of performance of new domestic aircraft, secretly encouraged the policy of competition between the two design bureaus. The first to be “lucky” was OKB P.O. Sukhoi: On June 9, in the next test flight on the S-1, a flight speed of 2070 km/h was achieved, which was 270 km/h higher than the level specified in the tactical and technical requirements (TTT)! As a result, by government decree of June 11, 1956, even before state tests were carried out, the aircraft was launched into a small series at plant No. 126 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur under the designation Su-7. On June 24, 1956, along with other new products of domestic aviation, the S-1 was first publicly shown during the traditional air parade in Tushino. By the fall of 1956, production of the second prototype of the S-2 aircraft was completed, and its flight tests began in October.

Su-7. Fighter-bomber. (THE USSR)

Su-7 State tests of the Su-7 began in September 1956 and continued intermittently until December 1958. The main difficulties were the extremely unreliable operation of the AL-7F engine. In particular, it was for this reason that on November 23, 1957, the first experimental aircraft crashed and test pilot of the Air Force State Research Institute I.N. died. Sokolov. As a result, the production of the Su-7 in the AL-7F version was limited, and the installation of an improved version of the engine, the AL-7F-1, was recommended on the aircraft. The Su-7 front-line fighter was mass-produced from 1957 to 1960, a total of 132 aircraft were produced (from the 1st to the 12th production series). The first production Su-7s entered service with the fighter aviation regiment based at the Vozdvizhenka airfield in the summer of 1959. In 1959-60 Military tests of the aircraft were carried out in this regiment. Su-7 fighters were in operation in the USSR Air Force and Air Defense units in the Far East until 1965.

In the second half of the 50s, attack aircraft were eliminated in USSR aviation. At the same time, no one removed the task of supporting the ground forces from the Air Force. The MiG-15 and MiG-17 became a temporary replacement for the Il-10, but this was a half-measure, and it was clear that a specialized attack aircraft was needed for front-line aviation. In this regard, since 1957, on the initiative of the Air Force OKB-51, it was proposed to create a Su-7B fighter-bomber based on the Su-7. Officially, the creation of the aircraft was set by a government decree of July 31, 1958. The first prototype S22-1 was completed at the end of 1958. In March, we flew over an aircraft with an AL-7F engine, and the first flight after installing the standard AL-7F-1 was test pilot E.S. Soloviev performed on it on April 24, 1959. Factory tests of the aircraft were completed in September 1959. State joint tests (GST) were carried out from December 1959 to May 1960, and from January 1960 - on two prototype aircraft at once. The Su-7B was put into production at plant No. 126 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in 1960, starting with the 13th production series; and was produced until the end of 1962. The first production Su-7Bs entered service with the 4th Air Force Pulp and Fiber Plant in Lipetsk in the summer of 1960, and among the combat units, the first to be re-equipped with Su-7Bs in the Air Force was a separate air regiment based at the Martynovka airfield; in the period from January to October 1961, military tests of a fighter-bomber were carried out here. Based on the results of these tests, by government decree of January 24, 1961, the Su-7B was put into service.

According to the results of the GSI, short flight range was indicated among the main disadvantages of the Su-7B. At the beginning of 1961, the second prototype C22-2 was modified accordingly: fuel compartments were placed in the wings, and underwing pylons were equipped for hanging fuel tanks. Factory tests of the aircraft were carried out from May to September 1961, and state tests - in October-November 1961. This modification of the aircraft with an increased fuel supply and improved avionics was produced in series under the designation Su-7BM from 1963 to 1965. The Su-7BM fighter-bomber became the first aircraft from the Su-7 family to be exported: in 1964, the first 12 Su-7BMs were transferred from the USSR to Czechoslovakia. In addition to Czechoslovakia, Su-7BMs were supplied to the Polish Air Force. Thus, the same aircraft were supplied to the USSR's closest allies under the Warsaw Pact as for its own air force.

For deliveries to other countries friendly to the USSR, in the mid-60s the OKB developed a special export modification of the aircraft. The main production model of the export Su-7BM was built at the production plant by March 1966. After control tests, in 1967 the aircraft was put into production under the designation Su-7BMK (i.e. commercial). Aircraft of this type in the period from 1967 to 1971. were exported to 7 countries: Algeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, India, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the United Arab Republic (Egypt and Syria). As part of the Air Forces of Middle Eastern states, these aircraft took part in combat operations during the Arab-Israeli wars and military clashes of 1967-73, and as part of the Indian Air Force - in the Indo-Pakistan conflict in 1971.

A significant drawback of the entire family of Su-7 type aircraft was poor takeoff and landing performance (TLP), which was entirely determined by the chosen aerodynamic configuration with a relatively thin, highly swept wing. The consequence was high takeoff and landing speeds of the Su-7, which, in turn, led to a significant extension of the required runway length. In order to improve the performance characteristics of the Su-7B, the design bureau considered various modernization options. So, in particular, in the period 1960-61. On the basis of the Su-7, the S-25 experimental aircraft was developed and built, equipped with a flap with a boundary layer blowing system (BLS) with air bleed from behind the engine compressor. The aircraft underwent factory tests in the period 1961-62, but the effect of reducing takeoff and landing speeds with the help of SPS turned out to be too small and it was not recommended for production. To improve the performance characteristics of the base aircraft, another upgrade option was chosen, tested on the experimental aircraft S22-4. In the period from 1960 to 1963, a suspension of powder rocket boosters was tested on it, providing accelerated acceleration of the aircraft on takeoff, and new brake parachutes of increased area, reducing the length of the landing run. These installations were recommended for series production.

Su-7. Fighter-bomber. (THE USSR)

Su-7 Another innovation developed at the Design Bureau was the installation of a ski landing gear, designed to improve the conditions for basing front-line aircraft on unpaved airfields with reduced soil strength. Experimental research in this direction has been carried out at the OKB since 1956. On the basis of the serial Su-7 and Su-7B, several experimental aircraft with ski landing gear were built - S-23 and S-26, which underwent experimental testing at various unpaved and snowy airfields in the period from 1959 to 1966. The ski chassis, installed on the main supports of the Su-7B, showed high efficiency when based on unpaved runways, and was recommended for production and adoption, but another option was launched into mass production - the so-called. “wheel-ski” chassis, tested on S22-4. Thus, the S22-4 became the prototype of the last serial modification of the base aircraft, designated Su-7BKL (i.e., wheel-ski). The Su-7BKL replaced the Su-7BM on the stocks of the plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur since 1965; production of this modification continued intermittently until 1972. A batch of Su-7BKL was exported to Czechoslovakia and Poland.

Su-7 A two-seat combat training aircraft based on the Su-7B was designed by the OKB in 1962, but its construction, carried out by a branch of the OKB at the serial plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, was greatly delayed: the first prototype U22-1 aircraft was flown by a pilot - OKB tester E.K. Kukushev only on October 25, 1965. Factory tests of the aircraft were carried out in a short time - in just 2 months, and state tests were completed in May 1966. Serial production of the Su-7U twin was carried out from 1966 to 1972, and an export version, the Su-7UMK, was also produced in parallel. It is interesting to note that Su-7Us were supplied not only to Air Force regiments equipped with Su-7s, but also to air defense units that were armed with Su-9 and Su-15 interceptors, because the latter very often lacked standard twins like Su-9U and Su-15UT.

In total, over the entire period of serial production, 1,847 Su-7 aircraft of all modifications were built, of which 691 aircraft were exported to 9 countries. Su-7B type aircraft remained in service with the USSR Air Force until the mid-80s, during the period of greatest deployment in the late 60s and early 70s. they equipped up to 25 combat units of fighter-bomber aviation (IBA). Beginning in 1970, the Su-7B was gradually replaced in the IBA regiments by aircraft such as the Su-17 and MiG-27.

On the basis of the Su-7B, the OKB and LII tested several flying laboratories, in particular:

• 100LDU, created on the basis of the Su-7U to test the remote control system of the T-4 (“100”) missile carrier and the Su-27 fighter.
• Laboratory for testing new rescue equipment based on the Su-7U.

Su-7. Fighter-bomber. (THE USSR)

Characteristics:

• Crew: 1 pilot;
• Length: 16.607 m;
• Wingspan: 9.31 m;
• Height: 4.157 m;
• Wing area: 34 m²;
• Leading edge sweep angle: 63°;
• Empty weight: 8370 kg;
• Normal take-off weight: 11,983 kg;
• Maximum take-off weight: 13,043 kg;
• Fuel mass in internal tanks: 2760 kg;
• Powerplant: 1 × AL-7F-1 turbofan engine;
• Non-afterburning thrust: 1 × 6800 kgf;
• Afterburner thrust: 1 × 9600 kgf;
• Maximum speed: 2120 km/h;
• Cruising speed: 786 km/h;
• Practical range: without PTB - 1130 km;
• Service ceiling: 15,000 m;
• Rate of climb: 9600 m/min;
• Takeoff length: 1350 m;
• Run length: 900 m;
• Small arms and cannon weapons: 2 x HP-30 (70 rounds per gun);
• Suspension points: 6;
• Combat load: 2000 kg;
• Unguided missiles: S-3K or S-5 or S-24;
• Bombs: 2 x 500 kg or 4 x 250 kg or 1 x nuclear RDS-4;
• Suspended gun containers: UPK-23-250 with a GSh-23L cannon and 250 rounds of ammunition.

"HAWKER SIDLEY HAWK MK-1A" - a small but formidable "hawk"

Light attack aircraft (UK)

A pair of Hawks perform a training flight, preparing pilots for the Typhoon and Tornado fighters.

In 1976, the new Hawker Sidley Hawk trainer entered service with the British Royal Air Force, which was also produced as a combat trainer and light attack aircraft.

In the combat training version, the Hawk was armed with a 30-mm air cannon and two launchers with unguided missiles or bombs. Additional mounts for bombs or napalm tanks were added to the light attack aircraft version.

The Siddley Hawk made it possible to train cadets using an improved accelerated flight program and, due to its low cost, significantly increased the export of combat training aircraft abroad. They were purchased by the air forces of Finland, Kenya, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.

The US Navy purchased 207 of these vehicles. They are still in service with Great Britain, India, Finland and America.

At the rear of the fuselage, a brake flap is visible from below, which is released during landing to quickly reduce speed.

DASSO-DORNIER ALPHA JET - small but bold

Light attack aircraft (France, Germany)

RAF Alpha Jet

In the 1970s, serious competition for expensive and complex fighter-bombers came from trainers equipped with the latest weapons and converted into light attack aircraft. This was the Alpha Jet - an aircraft created by the French and German and Dornier with the participation of the Belgian ones.

In the German Luftwaffe, the new aircraft was supposed to replace the Fiat G-91 fighter-bomber, and in the French Air Force, the SM-110 and Lockheed T-33 training vehicles. The first flight of the Alpha Jet took place in October 1973, and in January 1974 the machine took off in its best version. Its serial production in France began in 1977, in Germany - in 1978. The possibility of acquiring a license for Alpha Jet with production was considered even in the USA.

When Alpha Jet performs combat rather than training flights, the seat in the second cabin is removed to reduce take-off weight

Equipped with air-to-ground guided missiles, rapid-fire cannons, incendiary bombs and anti-tank mines, the attack aircraft was considered a reliable and inexpensive weapon against tanks. The low speeds and altitudes at which the aircraft flew made it quite difficult prey for a supersonic fighter. It is still in service with the German Luftwaffe and the French Air Force.

According to some pilots, Alpha Jet is one of those aircraft that has a soul

"AERMAKKI MV-339" - an attack aircraft for the poor

Light attack aircraft (Italy)

Additional fuel tanks are attached to the ends of the MV-339 wings

In the 1970s, Italy decided to create “the poor man’s weapon,” as training vehicles converted into combat aircraft were called. In 1972, Aermacchi received a contract from the Italian Air Force to develop a new jet combat trainer to replace the Aermacchi MV-326. The first prototype of the MV-339 took off in August 1976.

The first production MV-339A began to enter service in August 1979.

Serial production of the most modern modification of this aircraft, the MV-339S, began in 1987.

The attack aircraft carried air-to-air and air-to-ground guided missiles, the fuselage had a built-in 30 mm cannon and 12.7 mm machine guns, and there were free-falling and adjustable bombs under the wing. The entire arsenal was controlled by the most modern electronic system at that time.

The MV-339 is equipped with ejection seats, allowing you to leave the aircraft even while parked or moving around the airfield

The aircraft also featured upgraded digital electronic navigation equipment, a multi-function screen display on a monochrome CRT in the cockpit and a head-up display. The only case of combat use of the MV-339 was recorded during the Falklands conflict in 1982, when six Argentine MV-339s were used as light attack aircraft. The MV-339 has become one of the most common combat training aircraft in the world.

In addition to the Italian Air Force, this model has found application in the aviation units of Argentina, Peru, the United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Malaysia and Nigeria. A total of 177 Aermacchi MV-339 aircraft were built, which are still in service with the listed countries.

MV-339 is a relatively inexpensive combat training aircraft with good performance characteristics

Suspended under the wings of this MV-339 are containers with deadly 30 mm DEFA 553 cannons.

Modification of Su-34

Su-32
To date, only one modification of the “Duckling” is known - the Su-32. The aircraft is designed as an export version. Designed for use as coastal aviation, that is, as an anti-ship and anti-submarine tactical bomber.

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AMX - “inexpensive” attack aircraft

Light attack aircraft (Italy, Brazil)

Participation in work under the AMX program was distributed as follows: - 30% of the scope of work; - 47%; — 23%

In 1977, the Italian Air Force decided to replace the G-91Y fighter-bombers produced by Aeritalia and the American F-104G that were in their service. The idea was to make the car inexpensive and get a good income from its export.

The plane was going to be used both in a combat zone - as an attack aircraft, and far from them - as a reconnaissance aircraft. Prior to this, negotiations were conducted with the Brazilian military, who also needed to replace their old attack aircraft. The participation of Brazilians promised to make development even cheaper. An international consortium was formed, which, in addition to the Italian Aermacchi and Aeritalia, included the Brazilian one.

The AMX cockpit canopy provides the pilot with full all-round visibility in the air

In 1980, the design of a new machine began. To increase combat survivability, all the main systems were installed on the aircraft in duplicate, but in order to save money, it was decided not to armor the cockpit.

The AMX light attack aircraft left the assembly shop of the aircraft plant in Turin on March 29, 1988.

A month and a half later, on May 11, its first flight took place. That same year, the Italian and Brazilian air forces ordered a total of 88 of these aircraft. In total, 193 of them were produced over the next eight years.

At different times, Brazil's neighbors on the continent - Argentina, Chile, Peru, Thailand - showed interest in the economical attack aircraft, but none of them bought the plane: despite the efforts of the creators, its price was close to the American F-16 and the Soviet MiG-29 with much lower combat and flight capabilities.

The AMX attack aircraft never entered the global aviation market due to its high cost.

Description of the aircraft design

By design, the Su-34 fighter-bomber is a twin-engine mid-wing, that is, a machine with two engines and a monowing located in the middle of the fuselage, which is typical for tactical combat aircraft.

The tail of the vessel is vertical, double-keeled. The chassis is tricycle (two wheels on the front strut and two on the rear).

The engines are located in the compartments of the tail section of the aircraft.

The front part of the aircraft, where the cabin is located, is flattened, for which the Su-34 was affectionately nicknamed “Duckling”.

The fighter-bomber really looks like a duckling

Power point

The Su-34 is equipped with two AL-31F afterburning turbojet engines or their variations. The thrust of one AL-31F is 13.3 thousand kgf.

IB modernization involves the installation of improved AL-41F engines, characterized by afterburner thrust of up to 14-14.5 thousand kgf, while at the same time maintaining supersonic speed during cruising flight, which significantly reduces fuel consumption compared to jet aircraft, which are forced to maintain high speed to move in afterburner mode.

The Su-34's equipment is complemented by an auxiliary power unit (APU), which plays a very important role. Thanks to it, the pilot can start the engines autonomously and take off from any flat areas, and not just from specially equipped airfields. This significantly increases the combat radius of information security, allowing them to be used as carrier-based aircraft.

Providing the vehicle with fuel is carried out using:

• six stationary tanks (3 in the fuselage + 2 in the wing consoles + 1 in the center section);
• 3000 liter drop drop tanks;
• in-flight refueling systems from tanker aircraft.

Night refueling is provided under the light of two special headlights.

Forward looking radar

The aircraft is equipped with a Sh-141 radar station that supports:

• simultaneous tracking of up to ten targets;
• simultaneous destruction of four targets;
• air-to-air missile guidance;
• determination of target coordinates for the R-73 short-range missile.

The station's detection range for various targets is shown in the table:

The radar also supports flight at extremely low altitudes with automatic avoidance of hills thanks to a special function - TFR.

Rear-view radar

The design of the IB, or more precisely the increased dimensions of the tail boom, provides for the location of the N012 rear-view radar in the tail. However, aviation expert Nikolai Yakubovich writes that the second station is not part of the equipment of serial Su-34s, and the APU is placed in its compartment. At the same time, the specialist admits that the designers will create a new variation of information security, where the rear radar will appear.

Outboard exploration equipment

Thanks to its versatility, the Su-34 can be used not only for its intended purpose, but also as a reconnaissance aircraft.

In this case, the aircraft is equipped with a special suspension - the Sych universal reconnaissance container (UCR).

This UCR exists in three variations for each type of reconnaissance mission:

1. Radio engineering;
2. Radar;
3. Optic.

When used for reconnaissance missions, the crew does not carry bombs on board.

Reflective area

The body of the Su-34 is made using composite materials, which act as special radio-absorbing coatings. They “quench” radar waves, reducing the visibility of the aircraft to enemy radars.

The same purpose was served by the well-thought-out geometry of the supporting structure of the fighter-bomber with the exception of the ventral fins.

The Sukhoi Design Bureau notes that the radar visibility of an IS when moving at low altitudes is equal to that of a cruise missile.

Electronic warfare and air defense suppression

Su-34 with containers of the L-175V "Khibiny" electronic warfare complex on the wing consoles and with a group aircraft protection container under the fuselage.
The capabilities of the Su-34 electronic warfare complex are sufficient for using a multifunctional machine as an electronic warfare aircraft, as shown by the events in South Ossetia.

The complex includes:

• radar beam receivers;
• module L-175V “Khibiny” or L005-S “Sorption-S”;
• various missiles for striking radars at ranges up to 160 or (X-31PD) up to 250 kilometers.

Aircraft guidance aids

The Su-34 is equipped with an targeting system that detects and hits targets using radar. It includes the Platan optical system, with the help of which air-to-ground missiles and aerial bombs with homing heads are aimed at the target. At the same time, the complex is extremely effective when using unguided bombs that have remained in Russian arsenals since Soviet times. The use of such ammunition in Syria ensures the completion of combat missions at a much lower cost of bombing than attacks with guided bombs.

Su-34 in Latakia (Syria), October 2015, Khmeimim airbase. Photo by the Russian Ministry of Defense

The vehicle can also be equipped with the Damocles module, developed jointly with the French company Thales Group, which opens up the possibility of arming the fighter-bomber with NATO missiles and aerial bombs.

Su-34 cockpit

The cabin is protected from the outside by high-strength 17-mm armor made of solid titanium alloy. The glazing, of course, is also armored.

The K-36DM crew seats make it possible to safely eject at any speed and altitude of the aircraft, and, if necessary, from the ground. The entrance to the cabin is through the lower hatch located at the front landing gear.

Sunset from the cockpit of a Su-34. Photo by the Russian Ministry of Defense

Crew life support

For the comfort of the crew, the following life support equipment is used:

• kitchenette with thermoses and microwave;
• folding berth (between the chairs);
• dry closet;
• heater and air conditioner;
• electric massagers built into the seats;
• a space in which you can stand upright;
• an oxygen system that allows you to fly at an altitude of up to 10 km without oxygen masks;
• a system for projecting sensors onto the windshield to monitor equipment performance outside the seat.

The listed systems support the good physical and emotional state of the crew during the longest flights.

Fire extinguishing system

An automatic fire extinguishing system is a natural means of increasing survivability for modern aircraft. In addition to this, the designers created additional means to prevent fire and explosion of fuel tanks, isolating the contents of the tanks from the air by “encapsulation”. The technology is based on filling with open-cell polyurethane foam.

"SOKO J-22 ORAO" - Balkan eagle

Fighter-bomber (Yugoslavia, Romania)

“Orao” means “Eagle” in Serbian, but in Romania the aircraft received the unofficial name “Vultur” - “Vulture”

At the end of the 1960s, Romania and Yugoslavia were the first among the countries of the socialist camp to attempt to create a modern combat vehicle on their own.

In mid-1972, designers from the Yugoslav Air Force Technical Institute and the Romanian National Institute of Science and Technology completed work on the project. Then, at the Yugoslav and Romanian plants in Craiova, they simultaneously began assembling two prototypes. Their fuselage was the same, and each country supplied its own equipment and weapons.

With a difference of 20 minutes, on October 31, 1974, both cars took off. The Yugoslav version was called J-22 (from jurishnik - “attack aircraft”), and the Romanian version was called JAR-93. Two years later, aircraft began to arrive in combat units. After the collapse of Yugoslavia, the Orao ended up being part of the Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro. Five to seven vehicles fell into the hands of the Bosnian Serbs. The Yugoslav “Orao” took an active part in all the events that unfolded on the territory of this country. During the war in Croatia in 1991, one plane was shot down.

In 1999, this fighter-bomber fought against Kosovo rebels as part of the Serbian army. With complete dominance in the skies of US and NATO aircraft, the Orao flew at ultra-low altitudes and attacked ground targets. There is no information about their losses in this war. SOKO J-22 Orao are still in service with Serbia.

When designing the J-22, Romania developed the forward fuselage, fin and additional tanks, and Yugoslavia developed the wings, central and rear fuselage

J-22 "Orao" - the first combat aircraft of the countries of the socialist camp, built without the participation of the USSR

What does the swinging of a fighter's wings mean?

The wagging of an airplane's wings is a common "got it" signal around the world. Most often it is used when radio equipment fails or during the “interception” of aircraft. May be accompanied by switching signal lights on and off. In civil aviation, such a signal is often used as a greeting.

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