On January 17, the Su-24 front-line bomber with a variable-sweep wing celebrated its 55th anniversary.

On January 17, the Su-24 front-line bomber with a variable-sweep wing celebrated its 55th anniversary. On that day in 1970, its prototype, the experimental T-6-2I aircraft, performed its maiden flight.

The development of a new bomber to replace the problematic Yak-28 began in the early 1960s. On August 24, 1965, the experimental T-6 aircraft took its first flight. Although often referred to as the first Su-24 prototype, this model was far from the final design. For example, it featured a trapezoidal fixed wing and different engines. The aircraft did not meet military requirements, particularly due to its poor takeoff and landing performance. These shortcomings were resolved by introducing a variable-sweep wing, which also enhanced the bomber’s maneuverability.

Serial production of the Su-24 began in 1971 and continued until 1993, with over 1,200 units produced in six main variants. These included bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, and electronic warfare aircraft, all capable of low-altitude terrain-following flights.

The upgraded Su-24M bomber was powered by two AL-21F-3 engines, each with an afterburning thrust of 11.2 tons. The aircraft measured 24.6 meters in length, with a wingspan of 17.64 meters at a sweep angle of 16° and 10.37 meters at 69°. Its maximum takeoff weight was 39.7 tons, maximum speed reached 1,700 km/h, and ferry range exceeded 3,000 km. The payload capacity was 7 tons, including a six-barrel 23-mm GSh-6-23 cannon and a wide range of guided and conventional munitions, such as bombs up to 1,500 kg and air-to-surface missiles Kh-25 and Kh-29. It could also carry tactical nuclear weapons.

Su-24 aircraft were adopted by 14 countries, including Azerbaijan, Algeria, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Syria. They were used in several regional conflicts, including the wars in Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Syria.

Ukraine inherited over 280 Su-24 aircraft, which were part of seven regiments. By 2014, only the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force operated Su-24M bombers and Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft. These were used in combat during the early stages of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO). When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Su-24 crews resumed combat missions, executing many complex operations. Notably, on September 22, 2023, they carried out a precision strike using British Storm Shadow cruise missiles on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol. To carry these missiles, the Su-24s were equipped with pylons from the European Panavia Tornado GR4 aircraft.

A Su-24 of the first production variant, with serial number 0815311, is displayed at the State Aviation Museum named after O.K. Antonov. Built at the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant in 1975, it served with the 29th Aviation Regiment in Berdyansk. On November 15, 2007, it was transferred to the museum from the military faculty of NAU.