Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has inspected the progress of fulfilling the state defence order at the Novosibirsk Chkalov Aviation Plant, an enterprise of the defence industry complex.
“The head of the Russian military inspected the flight test station and the final assembly shop of the enterprise, which is part of the United Aircraft Corporation and carries out serial production, repair and modernisation of Su-34 fighter-bombers,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
Director of NAZ Sergey Panasenko reported to the Minister that at present the enterprise is able not only to produce serial production, but also to perform overhaul of aircraft that have exhausted their service life in the course of operation.
The head of the Russian military department set a task to the management of the enterprise to increase the pace of production and repair of equipment taking into account the demand for the products.
“This machine is the main workhorse, they have four to five sorties every day, so we need to step up, hurry up. We have enterprises that are on the 2024 programme this year – they are ahead of schedule. So we need to organise work here as well,” Sergey Shoigu stressed.
The head of the Russian military department noted that this year, thanks to the joint efforts of the industry and the Ministry of Defence, the delivery of new Su-34 aircraft and upgrading of those already in service with the troops are being carried out in accordance with the schedules. “Besides, we have the 2024 contract here finalised. There are no issues requiring our attention for 2024,” Sergei Shoigu said.
The modernisation of Su-34 frontline bombers into the Su-34M version takes into account the experience of their use in Syria and began in 2016. By 2020, design work was completed, and in June 2020, the Defence Ministry signed a contract to modernise the Su-34s in service. By the end of 2023, about 20 vehicles are to undergo modernisation. According to Sergei Panasenko, in accordance with earlier instructions issued by the Minister of Defence, in order to save production costs, the company is now combining repair work with the modernisation of combat vehicles, which are now being carried out simultaneously.
The Su-34Ms are equipped with optical-electronic, radio-technical and radar reconnaissance containers created as a result of the Sych development work. With their help, the aircraft can independently detect ground, sea and air targets in any weather at a greater distance than before. Also, the radar, sight and communication system on the bombers have been replaced, the range of high-precision missile and bomb armament has been expanded, and the onboard radio electronic equipment and REB means have been improved.
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