Su-34 vs F-16 in Russia conflict

The newspaper Topwar.ru published a Russian commentator's assessment of the technical qualities of the F-16 and compared it with a corresponding advanced product of the Russian air force, the Su-34.

With the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the transfer of US F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is only a matter of time. In addition, training for Ukrainian pilots has already begun in several European NATO countries.

The Ukrainian armed forces consider that having the Falcon (the American name for the F16) will solve the problem of protecting their airspace, which has been completely ceded to Russian aircraft since the conflict began.

Su-34 đối đầu F-16 tại xung đột Nga - Ukraine: Lợi thế sẽ thuộc chiến đấu cơ nào?

According to various sources, the Ukrainian Air Force is likely to receive a number of F-16 Block 50/52s. This variant appeared in 1990 with an important feature: it is equipped with the AN / APG-68V5 radar system, which is used to use the advanced AGM-88 anti-radar missile. The presence of a separate radar complex greatly helps in detecting and, most importantly, processing enemy radar signals.

F-16 Block 50/52.

Today, American advanced anti-radar missiles (HARMs) are programmed underground and launched from Ukrainian MiG-29 fighters into the target area, with the hope that the missile will detect active enemy radar and target it.

Unlike the MiG-29, the F-16 has the ability to command anti-radar missiles, thereby significantly increasing its combat effectiveness against Russian air defense systems.

However, there is a small detail here, the F-16 Block 50/52 costs more than $55 million, compared to the base variant which costs only $30 million. So the US will not rush to supply the expensive F-16 to Ukraine.

F16 combat features:

The F-16 carries JDAM (guided bomb) with conventional bombs Mk.82, Mk.83 and Mk.84.

The system is very good and has proven its usefulness in the field. JDAM is most effective in Iraq and Afghanistan, where there is almost no air defense system.

In Ukraine, things are a bit more difficult due to the presence of a dense Russian air defense system (surface-to-air missiles). So, in a test, an F-22 fighter flying at an altitude of about 15,000 meters at a speed of 1.5 times the speed of sound can drop a 454 kg JDAM bomb on a target at a distance of more than 44 km. However, that will not happen in Ukraine because the Russian air defense system does not allow the F16 (as well as all F generations) to do that. The presence of modern fighters and missiles, combined with the surface-to-air missile system, makes it difficult to use the F-16's altitude.

AGM-154 JSOW (Precision Launched Weapon from Safe Range)

A bomb with an engine would become a missile. This weapon is not so much dependent on altitude as on cost. At present, this type of weapon is not mentioned in the list of weapons transferred to Ukraine. The Americans themselves need it.

In addition, according to applicable US regulations, the F-16 is not used as an independent combat unit but as part of a mixed combat mechanism in which the F-16 acts as a fighter, in addition to the F-15, F-22 and the AWACS system (Airborne early warning and control system).

Without AWACS, the range of detection of air targets of the “Falcon” is halved to 120-150 km. Organizing a full air group in Ukraine is unrealistic, which means that the 9 weapon stations on the F-16 will be used almost with difficulty. And with a few bombs, there is no big point.

But with air-to-air missiles on board, the F16 is an option that can intercept radar stations and aircraft.

The AIM-9 Sidewinder (Air Intercept Missile) is a short-range air-to-air missile.

This is a classic weapon in the sky, like the AK on the ground. AIM-9 has been used a lot in nearly 70 years of operation (more than 200 thousand). But the question here is what type of missile can be transferred to Ukraine.

The AIM-9X, the latest variant of the missile, has a very good imaging receiver, is capable of creating "smokescreens" with heat traps, and missile control is integrated into the pilot's helmet-mounted display. Overall, it is a great weapon. The AIM-9X has a range of about 40 km, making it one of the best short-range missiles in the world.

Only the price is terrible: $ 600,000 / missile. However, the first version of the AIM-9B missile costs about $ 15,000. So if this line is transferred to Ukraine, it certainly will not be the type of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

AIM-120 AMRAAM

AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile - AMRAAM) - advanced medium-range air-to-air missile.

This is already a medium-range class, heavier and more impressive in terms of firing capabilities. The range of the latest AIM-120D variant is about 180 km. However, the one delivered to Ukraine will be older and cheaper, about 300-320 thousand, and the range is 120 km.

It was the first medium-range missile equipped with a radar seeker and was a fairly reliable weapon that shot down modern aircraft such as the MiG-29 and Su-24.

The F16 can be summarized as follows: easy to climb (takeoff weight 12 tons), fast (1400 km/h at moderate altitudes and over 2000 km/h at higher altitudes), 9 weapon attachment points, very good missiles and most importantly, relatively new avionics.

Su-34

Take-off weight is 45 tons, of which fuel accounts for 12 tons. The entire F-16 weighs only as much as the Su-34's fuel tank when taking off. The Su-34 can fly up to 2,000 km one way, and has over 12 weapon attachment points ranging from 4 to 8 tons.

At altitudes above 10,000m, the “Falcon” is faster and the Su-34 will have a hard time escaping the F-16. At lower altitudes, they have almost the same speed.

So what does the Su-34 have to deal with the F-16?

The maximum air-to-air weapon system of the Su-34 in the event of an air conflict is as follows:

- 6 R-27RE missiles (TE, R, T), medium range, up to 110 km;

- 8 R-77/RVV-AE missiles, also medium range, up to 110 km, but a more modern product than the R-27;

- 8 R-73 missiles, short range, up to 40 km.

The typical Su-34 variant for handling “air-to-air” missions could be 6 R-27 / RVV-AE missiles and 4 R-73 missiles. In the case of performing guard missions, a Su-34 only needs to carry 2 R-77 and 2 R-73 missiles.

For long-range missiles like the R-37, their use may be quite common, but for fighters like the Su-34, it's really a bit redundant.

A very important question in combat is which plane sees the opponent first is likely to win.

If equipped with a remote-controlled electronic radar system, the F-16 will guide the pilot quite well, but the problem is that the operating range is only within 120-140 km. Meanwhile, the Su-34 crew can see the enemy at a distance of 200-250 km, and with the modern A-50 radar equipment equipped, the operating range is up to 400 km.

Moreover, even with guidance from the radar complex, approaching the Su-34 is not easy. The Su-34 has a rear-view radar system that not only detects enemy aircraft or missile launches, but also provides target data for the air-to-air missile guidance system and the electronic warfare complex. In particular, the missile can change direction and attack in the area behind the aircraft.

It should be noted that during the recent conflict, not a single Su-34 was shot down by the Ukrainian Air Force. All losses were from ground-based missile systems, operating at close range by aviation standards.

And finally, the crew. The Ukrainian pilots who are retrained in a six-month intensive program will have a tough time, everything depends on the experience of the crew and the ability to use the strengths of the combat vehicle.

To summarize:

The F-16 can fight on par with the Su-34, but only if it is a pilot with the appropriate level of training.

The F-16 is lighter, smaller and easier to handle, but that doesn’t give it an advantage, because the days of dogfights with machine guns at 200-500 meters are long gone. Today, “close combat” ranges are 20-40 km, and missiles are the lethal weapons. And the Su-34 sees the F-16 well before the F-16 can launch its missiles, making things easier for the Su-34.

As for the speed advantage, both the Su-34 and the F-16 fly at the same speed. The problem is the time in the air, the Su-34 is four hours, while the F-16 is only one hour due to fuel capacity. In general, the speed of 1,400 km or 1,800 km is not so important. The problem is who has more missile reserves.

In terms of “air-to-air” missiles, Russia and the US are similar so there is no difference, the issue is whether the US will transfer the latest missiles to Ukraine or not. Modern air combat is missiles and only missiles.

In the author's opinion, the F-16 is a very good aircraft, even the best in its class. But to fight the Su-34, there are still many problems to discuss.

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