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How Many Su-34 Fighter-Bombers Does Russia Have Left? Ukraine’s Intelligence Has the Figures
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Russia continues to produce and modernize its Su-34 fighter-bombers despite significant losses sustained during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with approximately 140 aircraft of this type remaining in service as of October 22, 2026, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR).
The Su-34 fighter-bomber is a key component of Russia’s strike aviation capabilities, particularly due to its use as a platform for launching guided aerial bombs against ground targets, including Ukrainian frontline positions and settlements near active combat zones.
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According to HUR, Russia’s Aerospace Forces currently operate approximately 140 Su-34 aircraft of various configurations, including the upgraded Su-34M, also designated Su-34NVO.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has lost 43 Su-34 fighter-bombers, while another seven aircraft have sustained damage, Ukrainian intelligence reported.
These losses represent a substantial reduction in Russia’s fleet of fighter-bombers, particularly given the time, financial resources, and specialized industrial cooperation required to manufacture replacements.
HUR estimates that Russia’s current production capacity stands at approximately 14 to 18 Su-34 aircraft annually. At that rate, replacing the 43 aircraft destroyed since February 2022 would require roughly 2.5 to three years of production.
Despite these losses, Moscow continues to manufacture and upgrade the aircraft in an effort to maintain its operational fleet and sustain the intensity of missile and bomb strikes against Ukraine.
However, according to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia’s ability to expand its Su-34 fleet remains dependent on several factors, including available manufacturing capacity, access to technological components, and the defense industry’s ability to compensate for aircraft losses.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Su-34 fleet has also faced threats at the airfields where the aircraft are stationed. On October 23, Ukrainian forces carried out a missile strike against Russia’s Baltimor military airfield in Voronezh, a major base for Su-34 fighter-bombers, according to the Exilenova+ OSINT community.
Preliminary reports suggest that the attack targeted aircraft parking areas and the grounds of the former Voronezh Military Aviation Engineering University, located immediately adjacent to the airfield.
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