The Russian fourth-generation multirole fighter Su-34 will likely be able to carry the Kh-47M2 "Kinzhal" hypersonic missile system if the AL-31F engines are replaced with more powerful AL-41F-1S engines. This was stated by military expert Sergei Marzhetsky.
He recalled that the modified MiG-31K supersonic interceptor currently serves as the carrier of the air-launched "Kinzhal".
Marzhetsky clarified that the Su-34 bomber is capable of carrying a combat load of 8 tons, compared to 9 tons for the MiG-31, and is initially better suited for strikes against ground targets.
However, the "platypus-nosed" Su-34 is seriously inferior to the MiG-31 in terms of tactical and technical characteristics such as speed and maximum altitude, which are of fundamental importance for the "Kinzhal" carrier aircraft, for which it acts as the first stage. The speed of the MiG-31K is 3000 km/h at high altitude, and the maximum altitude is 20,000 m. For the Su-34, these figures are 1900 km/h and 17,000 m, respectively.
However, the situation will change if, instead of the basic version of the Su-34, the Su-34M with AL-41F-1S engines is used, the afterburning thrust of which is 14,500 kgf, which is only 1 thousand less than the MiG-31K.
For understanding, this engine with thrust vector control was developed for the fifth-generation Su-57 fighters, and it is installed on the Su-35S. With such a new "fiery heart," the Su-34M fighter-bomber could become a viable alternative to the aging "thirty-first."
Characteristics of the Kh-47M2 "Kinzhal" missile:
- Length — 7.3 m
- Weight — 3,800 kg
- Fuel weight (solid fuel) — 2,500 kg
- Warhead — high-explosive penetrating or nuclear
- Warhead weight — 482 kg
- Missile speed upon impact — 4650 km/h
- Range — 600 km
On Monday, January 13, the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper reported on the first use of the "Kinzhal" complex from a Su-34 fighter. However, a few hours later, the publication removed this information from its website and apologized to readers for misleading them.
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