Mezza From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (11 years 11 months 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 1078 times:
What are the main differences between these three, they all appear to share the basic airframe with some modifications, either engines, two seaters over one seaters etc.
LY744 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 5536 posts, RR: 11 Reply 1, posted (11 years 11 months 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 956 times:
The SU-30 (The original version, not the MK) is a 2 seat advanced interceptor, that was designed to lead and manage air combats, in a way its like a small AWACS.
The SU-34 (formerly known as the SU-32FN, among others) is a tactical ground attack a/c. It was designed to replace the aging SU-24's of the Russian AF. The SU-34 is a two seater (unlike the SU-30, the pilots of the SU-34 seat side-by-side), it is heavily armed, and designed to penetrate the enemy's defense in low altitude. The SU-34's cockpit also includes a washroom and a food cabinette.
Feel free to ask more questions about the SU-27 family.
LY744 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 5536 posts, RR: 11 Reply 3, posted (11 years 11 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 948 times:
Yeah I'm sure its the SU-34 now. This a/c had many designations over the years:
First it was the SU-27KM-2, which was supposed to be a training version of the SU-27K (now known as the SU-33), the pilot and instructor seats were put side-by-side to improve safety when a trainee would be landing on an aircraft carrier, it provides the same view to the instructor and the trainee.
Then, it became the SU-27IB. The first SU-27IB was actually an SU-27UB that had its whole front section replaced to accomodate the different cockpit. The SU-27IB was designed to be a ground attack a/c to replace the SU-24.
Later, it was renamed the SU-32FN, probably because it needed an attack aircraft designation rather than a fighter one (see my reply to the "SU-42" post).
Finally it was named the SU-34.
LY744 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 5536 posts, RR: 11 Reply 5, posted (11 years 11 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 940 times:
I don't think they ever actually made a carrier trainer, did they???
And yeah, the carrier trainer was quite different from the eventual SU-34, I included it on the designation list because it looks like the SU-34 program was a direct result of the carrier two-seater program.
Whistler From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (11 years 11 months 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 939 times:
The trainer was made, it is called the Su-27KUB. I am not sure how many Russia has thought, if they have any. Apparently the side by side cockpit was used because it is a lot better for carrier training.
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