German-made IRIS-T SLM scored first Su-34 fighter-bomber kill

The Eastern Air Command confirmed the downing of another Su-34 fighter-bomber of the Russian invaders.

Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said this on Telegram, Ukrinform reported.

Do you know why Russia's #Su34 has become the symbol of Putin's defeat in Ukraine? Both the Su-35S and Su-34 DRFM based radio frequency jammer and PESA radar built just before the collapse of Soviet Union. The aft Spine/tail on Su-34 contain jammer systems.

Su-35S= N0035E or… pic.twitter.com/LLxzcPdFyq

— Global Defense Corp (@GlobalDefCorp) March 3, 2024

“Regarding the combat work I reported an hour ago. The East Air Command confirms the downing of a Su-34 fighter-bomber using IRIS-T SLM. Unfortunately, only one,” he said.

As reported, earlier Oleshchuk said that in the eastern direction, the Air Force had hit two more Russian combat aircraft – Su-34 and Su-35 – with Patriot anti-aircraft missiles.

Ukraine is taking a victory lap after what it has says has been a very successful month of shooting down Russian aircraft.

The reported loss of 14 Russian aircraft — 11 Su-34s, two Su-35s, and one A-50 — marks a hot streak for Ukraine and its greatest results since last fall.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said it had shot down three Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers that day. The reported kills extend what appears to have been a successful month for Ukraine’s air defenders and a devastating one for Russian aviation.

Ukraine had been reporting kills for weeks, including fighter-bombers, multi-role fighters, and even one airborne early warning and control plane.

In another post, the Ministry of Defense boasted about its successes, writing that with “14 destroyed Russian planes in 12 days,” they’re “running out of jokes about Russian aircraft.”

Last October, Ukraine said that it shot down five Russian Su-25 close-air-support planes over a 10-day period. At the time, it was a rate and scale not seen since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

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