Embed CodePlays: 8106 (Embed: 0)The Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO reporting name: Fencer) is an all-weather interdiction and attack aircraft developed in the Soviet Union. The two-seat, twin-engined Su-24 carried the USSR's first integrated digital nav/attack system. It remains in service with former Soviet air forces and various export nations.

The Soviets used some Su-24s in Afghanistan in 1984, and the aircraft saw combat again in the Chechen conflicts of the 1990s.

About 1,400 Su-24s were produced. Substantial numbers of ex-Soviet Su-24s remain in service with Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. Roughly 415 are currently operational with Russian forces, split 321 with the Russian Air Force and 94 with the Russian Navy.

There are reports of Su-24s being used by Russia to attack Georgian targets in the August 2008 South Ossetian conflict.. The Moscow Defense Brief journal says that two were shot down by Georgian MANPADs. On 19 December 2008 a Su-24M bomber crashed near the southwest Russian city of Voronezh. A source in the Russian Defense Ministry said that according to preliminary information the crash was caused by a malfunction in the plane's flight control system, after which the pilots ejected.

General characteristics * Crew: Two (pilot and weapons system operator) * Length: 22.53 m (73 ft 11 in) * Wingspan: 17.64 m extended, 10.37 m maximum sweep (57 ft 10 in / 34 ft 0 in) * Height: 6.19 m (20 ft 4 in) * Wing area: 55.2 m² (594 ft²) * Empty weight: 22,300 kg (49,165 lb) * Loaded weight: 38,040 kg (83,865 lb) * Max takeoff weight: 43,755 kg (96,505 lb) * Powerplant: 2× Saturn/Lyulka AL-21F-3A turbojets o Dry thrust: 75 kN (16,860 lbf) each o Thrust with afterburner: 109.8 kN (24,675 lbf) each * *Fuel capacity: 11,100 kg (24,470 lb)

Performance * Maximum speed: 1,315 km/h (710 kn, 815 mph, Mach 1.07) at sea level; Mach 1.35 at high altitude * Combat radius: 615 km in a lo-lo-lo[clarification needed] attack mission with 3,000 kg (6,615 lb) ordnance and external tanks () * Ferry range: 2,775 km (1,500 nm, 1,725 mi) * Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,090 ft) * Rate of climb: 150 m/s (29,530 ft/min) * Wing loading: 651 kg/m² (133 lb/ft²) * Thrust/weight: 0.60 * G-force limit: 6 * Takeoff roll: 1,550 m (5,085 ft) * Landing roll: 1,100 m (3,610 ft)

Armament * 1 × GSh-6-23 cannon, 500 rounds of ammunition * Up to 8,000 kg (17,640 lb) ordnance on 8 hardpoints, including up to 4 × Kh-23 (AS-7 'Kerry') radio-command missiles; up to 4 × Kh-25ML (AS-10 'Karen') laser-guided missiles; up to 2 × Kh-28 (AS-9 'Kyle'), Kh-58 (AS-11 'Kilter'), or Kh-31P (AS-17 'Krypton') anti-radiation missiles; up to 3 × Kh-29L/T (AS-14 'Kedge') laser/TV-guided missiles; up to 2 × Kh-59 'Ovod' (AS-13 'Kingbolt') TV-command guided missiles, or KAB-500KR TV-guided and KAB-500L laser-guided bombs. * Unguided rocket launchers with 55 mm S-5 rockets, 80 mm S-8 rockets, or 120 mm S-13 rockets * Other weapon options include general-purpose bombs, external gun pods, and tactical nuclear bombs. * 2 × R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid') air-to-air missiles are normally carried for self-defense; upgrade aircraft can carry R-73 (AA-11 'Archer') as well.

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