The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has delivered another batch of Su-34 Fullback strike fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS). The aircraft successfully completed a full cycle of ground and flight acceptance tests and were transferred to the customer as part of the State Defense Order (SDO) program. UAC’s press service announced the latest delivery.
This marks the sixth batch of Su-34s delivered to the VKS in 2025. The first consignment arrived on April 19, followed by subsequent deliveries on July 10, August 12, September 15, and October 6. Since 2022, the exact number of aircraft in each batch and their respective tail numbers have remained undisclosed. According to open-source intelligence, the Russian VKS operated an estimated 150 to 180 Su-34s as of early 2025.
The Su-34 Fullback remains a cornerstone of Russia’s tactical air force. Its multi-role design enables it to conduct precision strikes against ground and naval targets while also engaging in air-to-air combat. The aircraft’s robust design and advanced avionics allow it to operate at ranges up to 1,100 kilometers (approximately 680 miles) from its home base and effectively engage targets defended by sophisticated air defense systems.
The Su-34 achieves its operational versatility through an extensive array of weaponry. Its integrated combat system can deploy various types of guided aerial bombs and missiles, including advanced precision-guided munitions (PGMs).
The “Military Analytics” Telegram channel, citing the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, reports a significant increase in Russian VKS guided glide bomb strikes against Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) targets in October 2025. Approximately 5,330 high-explosive aerial bombs (FABs), equipped with Universal Gliding and Correction Modules (UMPC kits), were reportedly dropped. This represents the highest monthly total of UMPC-equipped FABs employed since the beginning of the current year. Assuming an average of four bombs per Su-34 sortie, this operational tempo equates to approximately 40 combat missions per day.
Kyiv asserts that Su-34 aircraft have delivered roughly 40,000 guided aerial bombs on AFU targets in the first ten months of 2025 – a figure matching the total Russian forces utilized throughout all of 2024.
UAC CEO Vadim Badeha stated that the corporation consistently supplies the military with combat aircraft. UAC enterprises maintain a high production tempo, fulfilling planned volumes of the State Defense Order on schedule. He emphasized that recent combat experience serves as the basis for modernizing the primary strike fighter.
Sukhoi Design Bureau engineers are implementing modifications to the Su-34 based on operational feedback from its deployment in the conflict zone. These enhancements target navigation, communication, targeting systems, and defensive countermeasures. The ongoing modernization aims to improve strike precision and extend the aircraft’s capabilities, enabling it to execute missions with greater standoff capabilities, thus avoiding entry into enemy air defense engagement zones.
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