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Voronezh air base to get five more Su-34 fighter bombers

Five bombers for the first squadron arrived in Voronezh late in December 2012

MOSCOW, January 8 (Itar-Tass) — A second squadron of advanced fighter bombers Su-34 will be formed at the air base of the Western Military District in Voronezh in January. Five bombers for the first squadron arrived in Voronezh late in December 2012.

“The transfer of another five Su-34 fighter bombers to Voronezh pilots will begin right after the New Year holidays, and they are expected to arrive at Baltimor airfield (Voronezh) on January 15,” they said.

Sources from Sukhoi Company said earlier that all necessary documents for the transfer of another five aircraft for the Russian Ari Force were signed on December 29, 2012, and now the bombers only have to make a flight to the point of their stationing.

The transfer of fighter bombers is made in accordance with the state contract for the supply of 32 Su-34 aircraft for the Defense Ministry, signed in 2008. Early in 2012 the ministry and Sukhoi signed a new contract envisaging the supply of another 92 aircraft of that type by the year 2020. Thus, by the end of this decade, the Russian Air Force must have 124 such fighter bombers.

According to publicly available sources, with the five new planes for the second squadron, the number of Su-34 in the Russian Air Force will increase to 22.

Already in the second half of January, pilots of both Su-34 squadrons at Baltimor airfield will begin planned flights, during which they will train the use of their weapons for hitting air and ground targets. Particular attention during the flights will be paid to in-flight refueling.

The Su-34 fighter bomber is 4+ generation aircraft. The plane can efficiently hit ground, sea and air targets at any time of the day and in any weather conditions. In the future, Su-34 aircraft must replace all Su-24 fighter bombers currently in service with the Russian Air Force.