Two Russian Su-34 fighter bombers crash after colliding over the Sea of Japan. Both Crew Members ejected safely

Two Russian Su-34 fighter bombers crash after colliding over the Sea of Japan. Crew Members ejected safely

By Dario Leone
Jan 18 2019
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The two Su-34 fighter bombers were performing a training mission

The Russian Defense Ministry says that two Su-34 fighter bombers have collided in midair in the Far East on Jan. 18, 2019.

According to the Russian military the two Su-34 fighter bombers were performing a training mission when they came into contact about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the shore in the Sea of Japan.

As reported by The Economic Times, both crews ejected from their aircraft but it was not immediately clear where they were. Rescue crews have been dispatched to the area. There was no immediate information about the fate of the aircraft.

The Russian military said the fighter jets were not armed.

The Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO reporting name: Fullback) is a Russian twin-engine, twin-seat, all-weather supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber/strike aircraft. It first flew in 1990 and entered service with the Russian Air and Space Force (RuASF) in 2014.

Based on the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker air superiority fighter, the Su-34 has an armored cockpit for side-by-side seating of its two-man crew. The Su-34 is designed primarily for tactical deployment against ground and naval targets (tactical bombing/attack/interdiction roles, including against small and mobile targets) on solo and group missions in daytime and at night, under favorable and adverse weather conditions and in a hostile environment with counter-fire and electronic Warfare (EW) counter-measures deployed, as well as for aerial reconnaissance. The Su-34 will eventually replace the Su-24 tactical strike fighter.

Photo credit: Vadim Savitsky Mil.ru via Wikipedia


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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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