Documents
Russia Legacy Sukhoi
Su-24M
A Cold War-era variable-geometry supersonic strike aircraft designed for low-level penetration bombing, historically the backbone of Russian tactical strike aviation. Progressively replaced by the Su-34 but still operated in reduced numbers.
In service since 1974 · 3 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
1,700
km/h
11,000
m ceiling
8,000
kg payload
Pricing: No public modern unit cost; Soviet-era production run
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Russian state channel
Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.
Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)
Fielded & proven
Limited · 3 operators
In service since 1974. Status: legacy · ~1,400 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the Su-24M can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 1,700 km/h |
|---|---|
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 1.35 Mach |
| Combat radius Distance an aircraft can fly, complete its mission and return without refueling. Roughly a third of ferry range. | 615 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 11,000 m |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 23 mm GSh-6-23 rotary cannon |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 8 |
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 8,000 kg |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 24.53 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 17.64 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 4.97 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 22,300 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 39,700 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 2 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2x Saturn AL-21F-3A afterburning turbojets |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Thrust Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable). | 110 kN |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbojet |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 1,400 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 3 |
Specifications compiled from public Sukhoi and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Boeing B-1B Lancer Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Sukhoi Su-24M? +
The Sukhoi Su-24M has a maximum speed of 1,700 km/h.
What is the weapons payload of the Sukhoi Su-24M? +
The Sukhoi Su-24M can carry up to 8,000 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the Sukhoi Su-24M weigh? +
The Sukhoi Su-24M has a combat weight of 39,700 kg.
How many crew does the Sukhoi Su-24M require? +
The Sukhoi Su-24M requires a crew of 2.
What is the main armament of the Sukhoi Su-24M? +
The Sukhoi Su-24M's primary weapon is the 23 mm GSh-6-23 rotary cannon.
What engine does the Sukhoi Su-24M use? +
The Sukhoi Su-24M is powered by the 2x Saturn AL-21F-3A afterburning turbojets.
What is the Sukhoi Su-24M used for? +
The Sukhoi Su-24M is a bomber typically used for deep strike, close air support.
How many countries operate the Sukhoi Su-24M? +
The Sukhoi Su-24M is operated by 3 countries.
How much does the Sukhoi Su-24M cost? +
Sukhoi Su-24M: No public modern unit cost; Soviet-era production run. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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