Ukrainian drone strike fires up Russian airbase, fuels tensions

Ukrainians once again conducted an attack on the Russian Morozovsk airbase, where Su-34 strike aircraft, which can drop highly dangerous bombs equipped with UMPK modules, are stationed. Here, we present the details of this attack.

The attack carried out during the night of August 2 to 3, 2024, caused a fire on the airbase and led to secondary explosions, which damaged stored bombs or rockets. Fuel tanks are also burning.

Some sources indicate that the Ukrainians used a swarm of drones, similar to the attack in June. The Morozovsk airbase is one of the most important targets because it is home to the 559th Bombardment Aviation Regiment, which flies Su-34 aircraft. These machines are among the most valuable for the Russians, and the loss of even a few, given the current production shortages, poses a significant problem for the Russian Air Force.

The Su-34 tactical bomber, known in NATO code as Fullback, is a development of the Su-27 design, specifically created for ground attack missions. This aircraft, significantly larger than its predecessor, is equipped with canard winglets and pilot cabin armour, increasing resistance to ground fire. The Su-34 was intended to replace older Su-24 models in the Russian air force gradually.

A distinctive feature of the Su-34 is the cockpit design, where pilots sit side by side rather than one behind the other. The Russians believe this arrangement improves their cooperation. Additionally, the cockpit is encased in a titanium shell, enhancing survival chances in the event of anti-aircraft artillery fire, such as Gepard, or fragments from nearby exploding anti-aircraft missiles.

As a tactical bomber, the Su-34 can carry up to 8 tonnes of armaments on 12 pylons. Options include S-8 unguided rocket pods, Kh-25 missiles, glide bombs from the FAB family weighing up to 1,500 kg or 3,000 kg, and Raduga Kh-59 missiles with a range of over 200 km. Additionally, the Su-34 is equipped with a 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon.

Particularly, glide bombs dropped from over 40 km are a significant problem for Ukrainians. Even if they miss by a few dozen metres, their enormous destructive power can eliminate any field fortification that would normally provide shelter from artillery fire.

The most effective way to protect against them is to use one's own air force or medium-range anti-aircraft systems like the Patriot or SAMP/T to shoot down the planes carrying this weaponry before they can release it. Unfortunately, Ukraine has significant shortages in both categories of equipment.

This allows the Russians to progress on the front, as detecting Ukrainian resistance points through so-called "meat assaults" and then destroying the fortifications with aerial bombs has proven to be an effective tactic. However, this method requires two key components.

While people within or outside Russia and aerial bombs are still available, the situation is worse with Su-34/M aircraft, of which Russia has lost at least 31 since the beginning of the war, according to Oryx. Given the inadequate supply of new machines and a combat readiness likely around 50% or less (aircraft are also being retired due to wear and tear), Russia now has significantly fewer than the approximately 130 aircraft it had at the start of the war.