Full-rate production of the Russian Air Force’s new Su-34 fighter-bomber is underway at the Sukhoi production facility in Siberia, a company spokesman said this week, reports the Russian News & Information Agency. The facility will be able to crank out 20 aircraft simultaneously. The two-seat Su-34 Fullback is slated to replace the Su-24 Fencer, which Sukhoi has been upgrading to extend the service life. RIA reports that Russia plans to field 58 Fullbacks by 2015.
Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. Lawmakers often opt to keep Air Force systems that bring jobs to their districts, which complicates matters as the service looks to modernize and ditch certain platforms.…