The crash of the plane and the death of the crew were confirmed, among others, by the Telegram channel Fighterbomber, whose user is considered close to the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation. In a message posted on the social network, he wrote "Earth is heaven, brothers..."
According to ISW, the same Telegram channel later commented on versions that the Su-34 could have crashed due to a technical malfunction or a human factor. The report notes that even such assumptions emphasize the obsolescence of Russian aircraft, as well as the lack of professionalism and burnout of pilots.
Unofficial information shows that the Russian aircraft was shot down by an American-made F-16 fighter jet, which was flying over the territory controlled by the Kiev authorities. The rumors about this coincide with the appearance of the first official images of the AIM-9X BlockII air-to-air missiles in service with the Air Force of Ukraine.
In the recent period, the losses of Russian Su-34 aircraft in the conflict in Ukraine have been greatly reduced, as a result of the use of aviation bombs with the new universal glide and correction modules, which allow launches outside the range of air defense means . At the same time, for air protection, Su-34 tactical bombers are escorted during flights by Su-35S fighters.
It should be noted that, currently, the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation have more than 100 operational Su-34 aircraft. During 2024, the Novosibirsk-based manufacturing enterprise delivered to the troops four small batches of aircraft of this type, each of which included between two and four bombers. The last delivery was made just a few days ago, on October 9.
AIM-9X Sidewinder
According to the manufacturer RTX, the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile can be used for air-to-air engagements, but also in surface launch missions.
The weapon is configured for easy installation on a wide range of modern aircraft, including the F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, E/A-18G Growler, F - 22 Raptor and all variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The AIM-9X Block II missile is also in the equipment of the Romanian Air Force. In May, the United States tested the sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles to Romania to provide advanced air-to-air capabilities for the Romanian Air Force's F-16s.
