NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia — A Russian Air Force Su-34 fighter-bomber crashed during a training mission after suffering a landing gear malfunction, Russian defense officials confirmed.
The incident took place in the early afternoon near Veletma village, about 300 kilometers east of Moscow. As the twin-seat jet prepared to land, one of its landing gear struts failed to deploy properly. Despite repeated attempts to correct the issue, the crew could not restore full function. Following orders from ground control, the pilots guided the aircraft away from residential areas and safely ejected.
Authorities stated that the Su-34 was unarmed at the time and crashed in a sparsely populated area, with no damage or injuries reported on the ground. A rescue team quickly located and retrieved the pilots, who escaped without serious injury. Military investigators have been dispatched to examine the wreckage and determine the exact cause of the malfunction.
This marks the third Su-34 crash in just over a year. In June 2024, another Su-34 went down in North Ossetia, resulting in fatalities, while a similar accident in July 2024 near Volgograd ended with the pilots ejecting safely.
The Su-34, known by NATO as the “Fullback,” was developed in the late Soviet era and entered full production in 2004, officially joining Russian service in 2014. The air force has since modernized many of its Su-34s with upgraded radar, avionics, and communications systems. Over 160 Su-34s have been produced to date, with more than a dozen delivered in 2024 alone.
Designed primarily as a frontline bomber, the Su-34 can perform precision strikes with guided bombs and air-to-ground missiles, while also carrying air-to-air missiles for defense. It has played a central role in Russian bombing campaigns, including recent operations in Ukraine.
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