Aircraft & UAVs

Su-24

Also known as
  • Sukhoi Su-24
  • Fencer
  • Su-24 Fencer
  • Su-24M
  • Su-24MK
  • Su-24MR
  • Su-24MP

The Su-24, NATO reporting name Fencer, is a Soviet-designed twin-engine variable-geometry tactical bomber built by Sukhoi for long-range all-weather strike and reconnaissance missions. The type has appeared across Soviet, Russian, Ukrainian, Syrian, Libyan, Iranian, and Sudanese service, with Ukrainian Su-24M/MR aircraft adapted to launch Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG cruise missiles during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

Su-24, Variable-geometry tactical bomber and strike aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: File:Su-24M Storm Shadow.jpg

Role in Conflicts

2008 Russo-Georgian War
Reconnaissance & Surveillance
Side
Russia and South Ossetian forces

CAST's postwar study of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War records Russian Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft among the tactical aviation assets used over Georgia, including a Su-24MR loss during the air campaign.

1979 Soviet-Afghan War
Fire SupportInterdiction
Side
Soviet Union and Afghan government forces

A Royal Air Force historical study of Soviet air power in Afghanistan identifies Su-24 Fencer aircraft among Soviet fixed-wing assets used during the 1979 Soviet-Afghan War.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Soviet Union
Built by
Sukhoi
Type
Variable-geometry tactical bomber and strike aircraft
Service note
Cold War design, still used in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Designer
Sukhoi Design Bureau
Designed
1960s development; variable-geometry prototype first flew in 1970
Produced
1970s-1990s

Specifications

Crew
2
Powerplant
2 x 75.0 kN Saturn/Lyulka AL-21F-3A turbojets
Maximum takeoff weight
39,700 kg
Maximum speed
Mach 2.18
Range
565 NM
Length
24.50 m
Wingspan
17.60 m
Wing planform
Variable-sweep wing
Mission systems
All-weather navigation/attack aircraft with strike and reconnaissance family variants
Mission Profile

The Su-24 family was built around fast low-altitude penetration, a two-person cockpit, variable-sweep wings, and an all-weather navigation/attack role. That combination explains why the same airframe appears in the catalog as a conventional strike aircraft, a reconnaissance platform, and an adapted carrier for Western standoff missiles.

Crew layout

Pilot and navigator sit side by side, matching the type's navigation-heavy strike mission.

Wing geometry

The variable-sweep wing supports takeoff, cruise, and high-speed dash regimes rather than a single fixed-wing flight profile.

Catalog role

Direct conflict rows cover strike, interdiction, reconnaissance, and standoff-missile carriage where sources identify the exact conflict use.

Key sources: SUKHOI Su-24; Su-24 (Fencer) Russian Attack Aircraft; Su-24 Fencer Is Ukraine's Storm Shadow Missile Carrier; The Tanks of August.

Variants

The main Su-24 family splits between bomber/strike models, an export strike model, a reconnaissance variant, and a limited electronic-warfare variant.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Su-24MModernized strike bomber

SKYbrary lists the Su-24M among the Fencer family variants; Ukrainian Su-24M aircraft are documented as Storm Shadow/SCALP launch platforms.

Sources: SUKHOI Su-24, Video Shows Ukrainian Su-24M Fencer Launching a Pair of Storm Shadow Missiles

Su-24MKExport strike variant

SKYbrary lists Su-24MK as a Fencer variant; a Libyan Su-24MK was documented in 2011 combat around Ras Lanuf.

Sources: SUKHOI Su-24, Libya: Gaddafi fighter bomber is shot down in Ras Lanuf

Su-24MRTactical reconnaissance variant

SKYbrary lists the Su-24MR variant, and CAST documents Russian Su-24MR use during the 2008 Russo-Georgian War.

Sources: SUKHOI Su-24, The Tanks of August

Su-24MPElectronic-warfare variant

SKYbrary lists Su-24MP as a Fencer family variant; open sources describe it as the electronic-warfare member of the family.

Sources: SUKHOI Su-24

Carried Standoff Munitions

Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft became Western cruise-missile carriers after adaptation work documented during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
Storm Shadow, Air-launched cruise missile, MunitionsStorm ShadowAir-launched cruise missile

The War Zone identified the Ukrainian Su-24 as the Storm Shadow carrier, and later reporting showed a Ukrainian Su-24M launching Storm Shadow/SCALP-class missiles.

Sources: Su-24 Fencer Is Ukraine's Storm Shadow Missile Carrier, Video Shows Ukrainian Su-24M Fencer Launching a Pair of Storm Shadow Missiles

SCALP-EG, Air-launched cruise missile, MunitionsSCALP-EGAir-launched cruise missile

Kyiv Post reporting on Ukrainian Su-24M launches describes the aircraft as carrying Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles after pylon adaptation work.

Sources: Video Shows Ukrainian Su-24M Fencer Launching a Pair of Storm Shadow Missiles

Timeline

Su-24 Key Events

  1. Enters service

    SKYbrary lists the Su-24 as in service from 1970 as Sukhoi's long-range strike fighter and bomber.

    Sources: SUKHOI Su-24

  2. Soviet Fencers fly in Afghanistan

    Royal Air Force historical analysis identifies Su-24 Fencer aircraft among Soviet fixed-wing assets used during the 1979 Soviet-Afghan War.

    Sources: The Experiences of the Soviet Air Force in Afghanistan 1979-1989

  3. Su-24MR aircraft operate over Georgia

    CAST's postwar account records Russian Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft in the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and discusses a Su-24MR loss during the short air campaign.

    Sources: The Tanks of August

  4. Libyan Su-24MK shot down near Ras Lanuf

    BBC reporting from Ras Lanuf identified a Gaddafi government Su-24MK shot down during fighting with rebel forces in the 2011 First Libyan Civil War.

    Sources: Libya: Gaddafi fighter bomber is shot down in Ras Lanuf

  5. Sudan sends Su-24s to Yemen operations

    Defense News reported that Sudan deployed Su-24 Fencer aircraft for Saudi-led coalition operations in Yemen.

    Sources: President: Sudan Launches Strikes in Yemen

  6. Russia begins the Syria air campaign

    RAND's Road to Damascus report places Su-24 strike aircraft in the Russian air campaign launched on 30 September 2015.

    Sources: Road to Damascus: The Russian Air Campaign in Syria, 2015 to 2018

  7. Russia transfers Su-24s into Libya

    U.S. Africa Command said Russia transferred Su-24s through Syria into Libya in support of Wagner personnel and Libyan National Army operations.

    Sources: Russia Deploys Military Fighter Aircraft to Libya, Africom Officials Say

  8. Ukraine's Storm Shadow carrier is identified

    The War Zone reported that Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft were carrying Storm Shadow missiles, confirming the type as a standoff launch platform in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

    Sources: Su-24 Fencer Is Ukraine's Storm Shadow Missile Carrier

  9. Iranian Su-24s appear in a reported strike attempt

    Wall Street Journal and follow-on reporting said Iran used Su-24s in a reported strike attempt toward Al Udeid Air Base and Ras Laffan, with Qatar saying it shot down two aircraft.

    Sources: Qatar Says It Shot Down Two Iranian Planes, Qatari F-15QAs Confirmed Behind Shootdown of Iranian Su-24s

Media

Su-24 Videos

Su-24 Images

Su-24, Variable-geometry tactical bomber and strike aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: File:Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24M at Starokonstantinov.jpg
Su-24, Variable-geometry tactical bomber and strike aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: File:A IRIAF Su-24 ready to takeoff from THR.jpg
Su-24, Variable-geometry tactical bomber and strike aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 3
Source: File:Islamic Republic of Iran Army Day, 2017 (077).jpg
Related Weapon Systems
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SCALP-EG, Air-launched cruise missile, MunitionsMunitionsSCALP-EGAir-launched cruise missileSCALP-EG is the French-service member of the Storm Shadow/SCALP air-launched cruise-missile family, an MBDA deep-strike weapon built for pre-planned attacks on high-value fixed targets such as hardened facilities and key infrastructure. French aircraft used SCALP-EG in Libya, Iraq and the 2018 Syria strikes, Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft later carried it as a Western long-range precision-strike option, Indian Rafales were reported to have used SCALP during Operation Sindoor in the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict, and the UK-France 2025 defence declaration tied new SCALP and Storm Shadow acquisition to production-line upgrades.
Su-25, Ground-attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsSu-25Ground-attack aircraftThe Su-25 is a Soviet-designed armored close air support aircraft built for low-level battlefield strike, rough-field operation, and heavy stores carriage. Developed by Sukhoi and produced in Soviet, Russian, and Georgian factories, the twin-engine subsonic jet combines a protected cockpit, internal 30 mm cannon, and multiple pylons for rockets, bombs, missiles, and adapted guided weapons, with documented use from Afghanistan and Iraq to Darfur, Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Ukraine.
Storm Shadow, Air-launched cruise missile, MunitionsMunitionsStorm ShadowAir-launched cruise missileStorm Shadow is the UK name for the Franco-British Storm Shadow/SCALP air-launched cruise missile, a low-observable deep-strike weapon built by MBDA for precision attacks on hardened or high-value fixed targets. RAF Tornado GR4s used Storm Shadow from the Iraq War through Libya and the April 2018 U.S., UK, and French strikes in the 2011 Syrian Civil War, UK-supplied missiles later gave Ukraine a longer-range conventional strike option from adapted Su-24 aircraft, UK parliamentary records document Saudi use in Yemen, and the UK-France 2025 defence declaration tied new SCALP and Storm Shadow acquisition to production-line upgrades.
Su-27, Twin-engine air-superiority fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsSu-27Twin-engine air-superiority fighterThe Su-27, NATO reporting name Flanker, is a Soviet-designed twin-engine air-superiority fighter built around long range, high speed, and heavy air-to-air armament. Its combat record extends from Abkhazia and the 1998 Eritrean-Ethiopian War to Angola, Tigray, and the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, where operators used it for air superiority, air-to-air combat, and adapted strike missions that now include Western precision and anti-radiation munitions.

Sources

SUKHOI Su-24Publisher: SKYbrary Aviation Safety | Note: Supports manufacturer attribution, aircraft role, variants, dimensions, powerplant, weight, speed, and range data. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Su-24 (Fencer) Russian Attack AircraftPublisher: U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command ODIN | Note: Supports technical and mission-profile context for the Su-24 as a Soviet-developed supersonic all-weather attack aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Su-24 Fencer Is Ukraine's Storm Shadow Missile CarrierPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use by Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft adapted to employ Storm Shadow cruise missiles. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Video Shows Ukrainian Su-24M Fencer Launching a Pair of Storm Shadow MissilesPublisher: Kyiv Post | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use by a Ukrainian Su-24M as a Storm Shadow/SCALP launch platform and notes pylon adaptation from retired Tornado GR4 aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Road to Damascus: The Russian Air Campaign in Syria, 2015 to 2018Publisher: RAND Corporation | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War direct use by Russian Aerospace Forces Su-24 aircraft during Russia's air campaign in Syria. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Two Syrian Su-24 Fencer Jets And A Turkish Drone Shot Down Over Idlib Region, SyriaPublisher: The Aviationist | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War direct use by Syrian Arab Air Force Su-24 jets over Idlib in March 2020. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Russia Deploys Military Fighter Aircraft to Libya, Africom Officials SayPublisher: U.S. Africa Command / U.S. Department of War | Note: Supports 2014 Second Libyan Civil War direct transfer to Libya of Russian aircraft including Su-24s to support Wagner and Libyan National Army operations. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Qatar Says It Shot Down Two Iranian PlanesPublisher: The Wall Street Journal | Note: Supports 2020 United States-Iran Conflict direct use by Iranian Su-24 aircraft used by Iran in the strike attempt on Al Udeid Air Base; Qatar said it shot down two Su-24s and a U.S. official said at least one aircraft was downed. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Qatari F-15QAs Confirmed Behind Shootdown of Iranian Su-24sPublisher: The Aviationist | Note: Supports 2020 United States-Iran Conflict direct use by Iranian Su-24s used by Iran in a reported strike attempt toward Al Udeid Air Base and Ras Laffan on March 2, 2026. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Moscow's Next Front: Russia's Expanding Military Footprint in LibyaPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports 2014 Second Libyan Civil War direct fielding by Russia of Su-24 attack aircraft at Al Jufra to support Libyan National Army and Wagner operations. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Libya: Gaddafi fighter bomber is shot down in Ras LanufPublisher: BBC News | Note: Supports 2011 First Libyan Civil War direct use by a Gaddafi government Su-24MK shot down near Ras Lanuf during fighting with rebel forces. | Accessed: 2026-07-06The Tanks of AugustPublisher: Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies | Note: Supports 2008 Russo-Georgian War direct use by Russian Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft during the air campaign over Georgia. | Accessed: 2026-07-06President: Sudan Launches Strikes in YemenPublisher: Defense News | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct use by Sudanese Su-24 Fencer aircraft in Saudi-led coalition operations in Yemen. | Accessed: 2026-07-06The Experiences of the Soviet Air Force in Afghanistan 1979-1989Publisher: Royal Air Force Centre for Air and Space Power Studies | Note: Supports 1979 Soviet-Afghan War direct use by identifying Su-24 Fencer aircraft among Soviet fixed-wing air assets used in Afghanistan. | Accessed: 2026-07-06File:A IRIAF Su-24 ready to takeoff from THR.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supplemental gallery image provenance for an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Su-24 at Mehrabad; Commons lists the file under GFDL and CC BY-SA licenses. | Accessed: 2026-07-06File:Islamic Republic of Iran Army Day, 2017 (077).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supplemental gallery image provenance for an Iranian Su-24 at the 2017 Islamic Republic of Iran Army Day parade; Commons lists the file under CC BY 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-06File:Su-24M Storm Shadow.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image source for a Ukrainian Air Force Su-24M carrying Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missiles; Commons lists the file under CC BY 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-06File:Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24M at Starokonstantinov.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supplemental gallery image provenance for a Ukrainian Air Force Su-24M at Starokonstantinov. | Accessed: 2026-07-06