The Suhoy Su-34 (Russian: Сухой Су-34) (export name: Su 32, NATO reporting name: Fullback) is a Russian-made twin-seat fighter-bomber. It is planned to replace the Suhoy Su-24s.[1] Developed on the basis of the Su-27 Flanker, this aircraft has been developed to be used in high-precision attacks, including nuclear weapons, against ground and air targets day and night.
Some uncertainties delayed the start of the project.It started to be developed in the mid-1980s to be used in different and more complex missions instead of the Su-24s with reciprocating wing structure. In the construction process of the aircraft, it was decided to base the Su-27s, which are better in maneuvering, range and payload.[3] In reality, the base aircraft was the T10KM-2, the training model of the Suhoy Su-237K. The development process, known in-house as the T-10V, was shelved as a result of the political turmoil during the disintegration of the Soviet Union, following the same fate as the aircraft carrier project.
In August 1990, TASS (Soviet Union Telegraph Agency) photographed an aircraft approaching the Tbilisi aircraft carrier.[2][3] Later, this aircraft was mistakenly served by Western intelligence services as the Su-27KU, the first flight of which was made by Anatoliy Ivanov on 13 August 1990. It was the prototype of the SU-27IB, with a new nose inspired by the Su-27UB and the landing gear of the previous SU-27s.[5] Although the development process of the aircraft was parallel to the development process of the double-seat SU-27KUB trainer aircraft, which was planned to be produced for the navy, the two aircraft did not have much of a relationship with each other.Flight tests continued from 1990 to 1991.