As I understand it, a company called Gefest & T did an upgrade for the Su-24M called Su-24M2, and that Algeria’s Su-24MKs are actually of this type. I also heard that Sukhoi “adopted” this upgrade themselves with minor modifications and it’s either still called Su-24M2 for export and it’s called Su-24SM for the RuAF. This article would seem to indicate its still Su-24M2, but you never know:

Russia Spreads her Wings

In his annual message to the federal assembly, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin declared that we need a military that has all the capabilities for adequate reaction to existing threats and that it should guarantee Russia’s security and territorial integrity in any scenario. It is already to speak right now about the first results of work carried out in this direction.

Today there will be a ceremony for the handover to Russia’s air force of a Tu-160 strategic missile carrier at the Kazan’ T. Gorbunov Aviation Production Association. As air force commander-in-chief, General of the Army Vladimir Mikhaylov, reported to Interfax-AVN, representatives of defense ministry and air force leadership have arrived for acceptance of the upgraded airplane. There will be a ceremonial welcome of the “strategist” by a formation of personnel who will be bearing the air unit’s combat banner at the Ehgel’s airbase in the Saratov Oblast’. The airplane will be the 15th Tu-160 strategic bomber in the air force inventory and it will be conferred the name “Valentin Bliznyuk” in honor of the airplane’s designer.

According to the commander of the Supreme High Command (Strategic) air army, General-Lieutenant Igor’ Khvorov, the Russian air force will received a bomber with a modern digital system ((TSIFROVAYA BORTAVAYA MASHINA)) which will replace the bombing system and which will be an order of magnitude better ((VYSHE)). More over, completely new avionics which operate according to a special principle, have been installed on the airplane. The airplanes has been so upgraded that only the shape remains from the old one.

It has to be noted that the strategic Tu-160 supersonic missile carrying bomber is intended for destruction by nuclear and conventional weapons of the most important targets in remote military and geographical regions and the deep rear of the continental theaters of military actions. There are powerful cruise missiles in its arsenal, and it can carry up to 40 tonnes of various types of bombs.

And at the Novosibirsk Chkalov Aviation Production Association (NAPO), the first series-built Su-34 strike airplane has been manufactured. As of today, eight airplanes of an experimental and pre-production batch have been built during its development. Starting with the eighth aircraft, an on-board complex is being installed on the Su-34 which in many ways is standardized with the upgraded Su-27SM multirole fighter.

It is planned to produce one more aircraft before October – November of this year. In all, the air force will received 18 airplanes from 2006 through 2008. After which, the series production of 8 – 10 Su-34 a year is planned at NAPO.

The upgrade of the Su-34 tactical bomber into the Su-24M2 variant is provided for by the draft of the state arms program for 2007 – 2015 (GPV-2015) at the very same association.

As we see, purchases of modern and upgraded weapons are attaining a massive nature. However, it is still early to rest on our laurels. Other tasks also have to be carried out that were set by Russia’s president. ((Rest discusses problem of creating a single arms procurement system, drawing up a list of critical weapons systems, supporting those systems and upgrading it, and building a technological base that will allow major breakthroughs in the design and construction of absolutely new weapons systems. Not further translated.))

Source: 05.07.06, Krasnaya Zvezda, Correspondent: Yuriy Avdeev

And hey, a new Tu-160 name!

The Su-24SM/M2? upgrade is pretty low key. First revealed at I think MAKS 2001:

– doesn’t exceed 10% of the cost of a new Su-24M;
– SVP-24 weapons management system, features a MIL-STD-1553b equivalent databus and SV-24 mission computer. The SV-24 controls the new Obzor-RVB-T radar signal-processing unit, allowing greater precision in target acquisition and at a greater distance;
– bombing accuracy is significantly increased due to the above new avionics, while the navigation and targeting accuracy has been fine-tuned to approximately 30m due to a new satellite-navigation system using GPS;
– old monochrome CRT has been replaced with a new model, the OR4-TM. It allows the display of better-quality SAR imagery and facilitates target identification, and is used for cartography, radar and tactical information display;
– The navigator is now able to mix the radar image with the digital navigation map provided by the new navigation system. There is also a new HUD, the KAI-24;
– The replacement of the old avionics has resulted in weight savings of 270kg;
– The upgrade also includes a ground based automated mission preparation and control unit, reducing the time necessary for flight preparation and debriefing;
– For self-defense, it can be armed with the R-73 AAM in place of the older R-60;
– Airframe life extension to 30 years;

Basically, I doubt the Su-34 bears much similarity to the Su-24M2/SM.