Preface
As the Russo-Ukrainian War persists, the performance of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ mainstay Su-34 fighter-bombers has been less than satisfactory. At the onset of the conflict, there were approximately 127 Su-34s, but by the end of 2023, only about 107 remained. Among the reasons for these losses, the lack of onboard radar capable of ground imaging has become a significant shortcoming of the Su-34. Relying solely on a simple electro-optical targeting system (essentially a camera) for target acquisition, its narrow search field severely limits its combat effectiveness. Additionally, Russia lacked precision-guided weapons at the time, resorting to unguided bombs and rockets, which required low-altitude visual targeting. This led to serious losses as they fell into the enemy’s medium and low-altitude air defense missile networks.
Facing these battlefield challenges, the Russian Aerospace Forces began mass-producing UMPB glide bomb kits combined with 500-pound bombs as makeshift precision-guided munitions. Despite their crude appearance, these glide bombs, modified from short and stubby iron bombs, exhibit high precision and relatively low cost. With a glide range of over 40 kilometers, Su-34s could safely deliver bombs outside enemy air defense zones.
In recent months of combat, the Russian Aerospace Forces have continuously deployed thousands of FAB-500 glide-guided bombs from Su-34s, effectively supporting ground attack operations. Furthermore, glide-guided bombs in the 1000 and 1500-kilogram range have emerged, further enhancing the Russian Aerospace Forces’ strike capability.
Lessons Learned from Su-34 Losses
During the initial stages of the conflict, Ukrainian Air Force fighter jets suffered heavy losses, and their long-range air defense systems were insufficient. Under these conditions, the Russian Aerospace Forces should have played a more significant role. However, due to deficiencies in air defense command and technical equipment, aircraft like the Su-34 suffered heavy losses, with valuable A50 aircraft also losing two units in succession. Besides operational command issues, shortcomings in air defense command and technical equipment were significant contributors to these losses. This is not only due to technological deficiencies but also due to negligence in detail during research, design, and manufacturing processes, as well as a lack of understanding of underlying logic.
Military equipment is becoming increasingly complex and precise. This complexity is reflected not only in technological advancement but also in the relentless pursuit of detail. While macro-strategic planning and overall technical control are important, the key to determining equipment performance often lies in every detail of the research, design, and manufacturing process. The outcome of modern warfare often hinges on “milliseconds of difference” and “micrometers of precision.” This pursuit of detail is not just a technological requirement but also an attitude!
Details determine success or failure, and attitude determines everything. This is not just a slogan but a guiding principle that must be put into practice. We should learn from the losses of the Su-34, prioritize every detail, enhance our technical capabilities and research and development capabilities, to ensure that our military equipment can maximize its effectiveness in future wars.
We also need to strengthen our understanding and comprehension of the underlying logic of equipment, not merely satisfied with surface technological advances but delving into the essence and laws of technology. Only then can we seize the initiative in future wars.
Advantages of Supersonic Stealth Bombers in Breakthrough Operations
For non-stealth fighter-bombers, the pressure and success rate of breakthrough missions are low when facing complete enemy air defense equipment and warning networks. Therefore, the development of high-speed stealth fighter-bombers like the JH-26 is essential. While the Russian Aerospace Forces have relied on glide-guided bombs for now, the future battlefield will be much more complex, with higher intensity, and victory cannot be relied upon with such makeshift guided bombs.
The earliest mass-used stealth attack aircraft, the F117, carried laser-guided bombs. During Operation Desert Storm, the F-117A undertook 1271 risky missions without a single loss. Among various participating aircraft, only the F-117A carried out attacks on targets in downtown Baghdad. Throughout the war, the F-117A accounted for 40% of all attack targets, with a bomb hit rate of 80 to 85%. All weapons of the F-117A were carried in two weapon bays, providing a payload capacity of 2300 kilograms. This configuration included two 907-kilogram BLU-109B low-altitude laser-guided bombs (similar to the F35A’s size, capable of carrying two 907-kilogram guided bombs).
According to online rumors, the JH-26 is similar to the FB22, developed based on the Su-20 fighter jet, featuring large stealthy payload, stealth, supersonic breakthrough protection capabilities, and air combat capabilities. It is an advanced avionics system for long-range stealth supersonic bombers. It is said that the maximum takeoff weight is close to 45 tons, carrying an internal payload of 3-4 tons, with a combat radius of 2500 kilometers, which can be extended to 3500 kilometers after aerial refueling (online rumors, not data from the JH-26 war chronicle novel).
We typically consider the F35A as an air superiority fighter, but judging from its large bomb bay and low cruising speed, it is more similar to the JH-26 type of fighter-bomber, primarily focusing on ground attack.
High-Speed Penetrating Aerial Strikes
High-speed penetrating aerial strikes are divided into three basic categories: high-speed penetrating aerial combat, high-speed penetrating ground strikes, and high-speed penetrating sea strikes. Implementation methods include high-speed cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and strike systems composed of manned/unmanned combat bombers.
Penetrating aerial combat emphasizes high-intensity, long-range aerial combat among large-scale fighter formations, while reinforcing our air combat platforms to carry ultra-long-range air-to-air missiles and attacking enemy tankers and early warning aircraft.
In penetrating ground strikes, amid strong electromagnetic interference, strong counteraction, and high-threat complex environments, coordinated use of multi-domain, multi-directional, stealth supersonic bombers as combat forces penetrate the enemy’s tight air defense systems, conduct effective reconnaissance and parallel strikes on their deep key target groups, using precision-guided ammunition to effectively destroy key ground targets in the area. This opens up avenues for subsequent non-stealth fighter-bombers to exploit their advantages in large payload, large volume of munitions, long loitering time, and ability to attack multiple targets, launching precise and efficient large-scale munitions strikes from a safe distance, causing catastrophic damage to high-value military targets of the enemy in a short time and at a high intensity. In actual combat, both occur simultaneously.
Characteristics of Modern Land-Based Air Defense Networks
The composition of land-based digital air defense networks primarily includes four sub-networks: early warning intelligence network, weapon combat network, command and control network, and logistics support network. These sub-networks are closely connected via ground and underground communication lines and router nodes spread across air defense areas, forming a combat system with high redundancy, resistance to destruction, and concealment.
The role of the data processing center: The backbone of the air defense sub-networks is a systematic data processing center, acting as a “brain” that tightly integrates the four networks and incorporates all
combat and non-combat data into the data center. By employing advanced algorithms, the data processing center can quickly generate accurate intelligence and combat orders, providing decision support for air defense commanders.
Core roles of weapon combat networks and early warning intelligence networks: The weapon combat network, as the core force against enemy weapons, includes air defense interceptors, medium to long-range air defense missiles, and terminal defense systems. Meanwhile, the early warning intelligence network achieves real-time monitoring and warning of enemy situations through various ground-based warning detection radars, passive detection ground stations, and facilities.
In the context of modern network technology, the strategy of dispersed deployment and concentrated firepower has gradually become the core strategy of land-based air defense networks. This strategy aims to prevent the enemy from implementing a “one-basket” attack, thereby enhancing the survivability and combat efficiency of air defense systems.
This new strategy poses unprecedented challenges for non-stealth fighters and bombers. They not only struggle to approach target areas but also find it difficult to identify targets in complex jamming environments. Additionally, the dispersed deployment of long-range air defense missiles poses a significant threat, making non-stealth aircraft highly vulnerable to sudden attacks during their attack process.
Challenges for the JH-26 in Facing Modernized Digital Air Defense Networks
Facing modernized digital air defense networks, the addition of stealth fighters and high-speed data links has significantly increased the difficulty of sudden attacks for non-stealth aircraft. Organizing early warning aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, and fighter aircraft in large formations for sudden attacks is challenging. However, due to the presence of stealth fighters, even a few of them can disrupt the entire operation. Hence, supersonic stealth bombers are indispensable, like air itself. Conversely, the mass deployment of our J-20 makes this digital air defense network even more robust!
Conclusion:
The modernized digital air defense network, combined with stealth fighters and high-speed data links, greatly increases the difficulty of sudden attacks for non-stealth aircraft. Although organizing early warning aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, and fighter aircraft in large formations for sudden attacks is challenging, the presence of stealth fighters can disrupt such operations even with only a few aircraft. Therefore, supersonic stealth bombers, like the JH-26, are indispensable. Conversely, the mass deployment of our J-20 enhances the strength of this digital air defense network!