Sukhoi Su-24M: Tactical Bomber

• The upgrades to the Su-24M2 encompassed the installation of a new SV-24 computer
• A fundamental aspect of this upgrade initiative is the incorporation of the SVP-24
• the Russian Federation evaluated upgrade opportunities for its Su-24 "Fencer" aircraft.

The Su-24M "Fencer-D" is a tactical bomber capable of delivering both nuclear and conventional munitions. It is primarily employed for the suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) and air interdiction operations. Typical missions for the Su-24M entail engaging high-value targets such as command posts, bridges, railway hubs, tactical missile launchers, and concentrations of enemy troops, often conducted at ranges of 150 to 300 kilometres (81 to 162 nautical miles) behind the forward line, while operating at low altitudes.

On September 30, 2015, the 555th Aviation Group of Russia was deployed to Khmeimim air base in Latakia, Syria, to initiate combat operations in support of Syrian government forces. The Su-24 aircraft served as the principal strike element. During the initial weeks, the Russian contingent comprised thirty-two combat aircraft, including twelve Su-24M bombers from the 2nd Composite Aviation Regiment based in Chelyabinsk (Su-24M SVP-24 versions) and additional units from the 277th Bomber Aviation Regiment stationed in Khurba (Su-24M2 versions).

Additionally, Syria operates its fleet of Su-24 aircraft. Between 1989 and 1990, the Syrian military acquired twenty Su-24MK export variants, supplemented by two aircraft received from Libya, which included one reconnaissance variant. From 2010 to 2013, the Syrian fleet underwent upgrades to reach the Su-24MK2 standard, comparable to the Russian M2 variant.

Facts:

1. The Sukhoi Su-24 is a supersonic, all-weather bomber aircraft that was developed in the Soviet Union during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

2. This twin-engine, two-seat aircraft is equipped with a variable geometry wing, specifically designed to execute ultra-low-level strike missions. It was the first Soviet-produced aircraft to feature an integrated digital navigation and attack system.

3. While NATO assigned the code name "Fencer" to this aircraft, Soviet crews informally referred to it as "Chemodan," which translates to "suitcase," due to its versatility and extensive weaponry.

4. The aircraft's deployment in East Germany in 1979, coupled with its apparent capabilities, raised significant concerns within NATO intelligence services. A primary aspect of these apprehensions was the aircraft's use of turbofan engines, which conferred a substantial increase in operational range.

5. The Soviet Air Force utilised several Su-24s during the Afghanistan conflict in 1984, and the aircraft participated in combat operations during the Chechen conflict in the 1990s.

6. The Sukhoi Su-24 continues to be operational in various countries, including Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Libya, Syria, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, as well as in Russia. The aircraft has also been utilised by the Iraqi Air Force.

7. The current models, namely the Su-24M and Su-24MK, are undergoing an extensive upgrade and life extension program. This initiative includes enhancements such as the incorporation of GPS technology, multifunction displays, digital map generators, and advanced armaments, including the R-73 (AA-11 Archer) air-to-air missiles. The upgraded variant is designated as the Su-24M2.

Design

The Su-24M's fire control system and avionics are representative of technologies developed in the 1980s. This system includes the Orion-A dual-band air-to-surface radar, which operates in two distinct modes: a low-resolution, long-range X-band (3 cm) and a high-resolution, short-range Ka-band (8 mm). Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with the Kayra-24 (Guillemot) laser/television daytime sight and target designator, which facilitates the employment of laser and TV-guided munitions. The Phantasmagoria radar homing and warning pod is designed to support the Kh-58 (AS-11 ‘Kilter’) anti-radiation missile, while the Tekon datalink pod guides the TV-controlled Kh-59M (AS-18 ‘Kazoo’) missiles and KAB-1500TK bombs.

In its strike capacity, the Su-24M can carry one or two tactical nuclear bombs. The variety of guided missile options includes two Kh-58U anti-radiation missiles with a range of sixty-five nautical miles (120 km), in addition to Kh-59 and Kh-59M TV command-guided missiles with ranges of twenty-two nautical miles (40 km) and sixty-two nautical miles (115 km), respectively. Furthermore, the aircraft can deploy three heavy Kh-29L/T (AS-14 ‘Kedge’) missiles or four lightweight Kh-25ML short-range laser/TV-guided missiles. For precision strike operations, it can carry 500 kg (1,102 lb) KAB-500L/Kr bombs and 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) KAB-1500L/TK/Kr bombs, both of which are laser- and TV-guided.

Regarding unguided munitions, the Su-24M can accommodate up to 16,535 lb (7,500 kg) of free-fall bombs, sub-munitions dispensers, incendiary tanks, rockets, and SPPU-6 and UPK-23-250-gun pods. These ordnance can be mounted on eight external pylons: four located beneath the fuselage, two positioned under the wing gloves, and two pivoting pylons affixed to the outer wings. Additionally, the aircraft features a fixed six-barrel 23 mm GSh-6-23M (AO-19) cannon, which is equipped with five hundred rounds stored in a fairing beneath the starboard side of the lower fuselage.

The avionics of the Su-24 Fencer represented a noteworthy advancement for its time. Central to the avionics suite was the PNS-24 Tigr navigation-attack (nav-attack) system, which effectively integrated multiple subsystems. The primary avionics subsystems included:

- An Orion-A pulse-Doppler radar located in the aircraft's nose, utilised for navigation and targeting purposes.

- An integrated Chaika (Seagull) targeting system, which encompassed an electro-optic sight and a radio datalink intended for the Kh-23 (AS-7 Kerry) and Kh-25 (AS-10 Karen) radio-guided air-to-surface missiles (ASMs). The external component of the Chaika system was positioned beneath the nose of the aircraft. To employ laser-guided munitions, it was necessary to mount a Fantasmagoria-series targeting pod on a wing pylon. 

- A Filin-N defensive countermeasures system that featured a Beryoza (Birch) SPO-15 radar warning receiver (RWR), characterized by distinctive antenna fairings located on either side of the tail fin and adjacent to the engine inlets; an SPS-161 jammer with an antenna affixed beneath the brake parachute fairing; and a Geran-F (Germanium-F) jammer with an antenna situated under the rudder and beneath the nose.

- Comprehensive radio navigation aids encompassing short, medium, and long-range capabilities; a gyro-based inertial reference system (IRS); HF and VHF radios; an identification friend or foe (IFF) transponder; an instrument landing system (ILS); and a flight data recorder.

The Su-24M variant was enhanced with the Kaira-24 laser designator, facilitating the delivery of precision-guided ordnance and superseding the original electro-optical sighting system. The significant advantage of the M variant was the implementation of an advanced weapons control system known as the PNS-24M Tiger NS.

Modest mid-life upgrades

Following the conclusion of the first Chechen War from 1994 to 1996, the Russian Federation evaluated upgrade opportunities for its Su-24 "Fencer" aircraft. Two concurrent modernisation programs were initiated: one by the private entity Gefest&T and the other by the Sukhoi design bureau. The first upgraded variant, the Su-24M modified with the SVP-24 system by Gefest&T, made its inaugural flight in December 1998, while systematic upgrades commenced in 2008 and received official commissioning that same year.

A fundamental aspect of this upgrade initiative is the incorporation of the SVP-24 (Spetsializirovannaya Vychislitelnaya Podsistema, or Special Computation Subsystem) module. This enhancement markedly improves navigation accuracy through the integration of a new computer and radio navigation system, complemented by a satellite receiver. Gefest&T asserts that the navigation accuracy is enhanced by a factor of two to three. Furthermore, the upgraded system facilitates the deployment of unguided munitions during complex flight manoeuvres, in contrast to the Su-24M, which was limited to employing unguided weapons only in straight-line flight patterns before the upgrade.

The new UVV-MP pre-flight data input device has significantly improved data entry efficiency, reducing the time required to input information into the onboard computer from 47 minutes to merely five minutes.

The upgrades to the Su-24M2 encompassed the installation of a new SV-24 computer, liquid crystal displays, an ILS-31 head-up display, a digital moving map, and a global positioning system (GPS).