The crews of the second Su-34 squadron have started performing flights at Baltimor airfield (Voronezh). The second Su-34 squadron has been formed following the delivery of five new Su-34 bombers, press-service of Western Military District (WMD) reports.
The crews of the second Su-34 squadron performed the first sortie on January 31st 2013 in the network of the planned combat training. At present the main objective of the flight personnel is takeoff and landing practice at the base airfield, flights to a firing ground and performance of exercises related to interaction between flight personnel and steering groups and between the crews.
"In 2013 the crews of the second Su-34 squadron should perform a total of over 200 flights to the firing grounds located in Voronezh, Tver and Leningrad Regions and practice in air ordnance delivery – perform bombing and launches of guided and unguided missiles. They will also perform in-flight refueling and refueling at the operational airfields of different regions of WMD along with long-endurance nonstop flights. Voronezh air base of the WMD is the only air base having 20 advanced Su-34 bombers", - WMD noted.
The crews of the second Su-34 squadron of Voronezh air base have already passed the necessary theoretical retraining at Lipetsk Air Base in 2012. The flying personnel have studied the structural system of the advanced bomber, its control system and concept of operation of the latest multi-role Su-34 bomber along with air weapons used by the aircraft. The engineering and technical personnel of Voronezh air base, which is carrying out the maintenance of Su-34 aircraft have also passed necessary retraining and already started servicing the bombers.
Five Su-34 bombers manufactured in 2012 performed ferry flight from the plant to Baltimor airfield on January 25th 2013. Skilled pilots and engineers have been assigned to each jet, WMD reminds.
