Russians are probably using the Su-34s in their proper role as a bomber, and the ukies only come up to shoot them down and ignore dedicated fighter aircraft.
While you're right. Hellducks though have teeth to go with their bark. Their PESA radar had been improved beyond the 90's public released specifications.
They also happen to be fairly capable at visual range combat. Not quite on par of their flanker brethren but still. There was a YouTube video of Su-27 vs Su-34 in a mock/training dogfight from on of Russia's many military shows a while back. While the Su-27 won the engagement. It was by no means a easy one.
Speaking of Su-34 air-to-air capability. Reminds of a well know event in the Soviet air force, That happened between a pair of Su-27 and the Su-34 predecessor ..the Su-24. That was written by then a former Su-17M2 pilot.
This was back in the 80's, over the Caucasus, during a war-game. a pair Su-27's, piloted by of fresh faced lieutenants. Got called up in the air to intercept a pair of Su-24 fencers.
Said Su-27's
pilots brimming with confidence and ego being the elite and flying the latest plane. Decided not to intercept the pair of Su-24 in BVR. And to extend their time in the air and have some fun/entertain at the expense of said Su-24 and their pilots.
So they Instead decided to close in to visual range and get the drop on Fencers from above at speed, then to engaging and 'kill' them with short range missiles or gun.
However, at that time the Soviet air force
had a habit of transferring it's oldest pilots(Colonels) in the fighter aviation. To the attack aviation, mainly the Su-17M2's/M3, etc along to Su-24's. Then afterword's on to military transport aviation and or to Aeroflot. (Which fucking explains the shenanigans of Aeroflot pilots in the 80's so much.)
So this were old dog's. On top of that old dogs nearing being kicked to transport or Aeroflot. So they knew their plane.
Another thing of note was. What the pair of SU-27 pilots didn't know. Was that the Su-24, had surprisingly, excellent acceleration in supersonic flight. And of
the important note here. Was that the
original/vanilla Su-24(in other words not Su-24M's ) were deceptively maneuverable planes
for what they were at low altitudes.
Especially in this case, starting with the the 21st batch of serial produced Su-24 known under NATO label Fencer B' Which had number of changes along with more simplified and less overbuilt airframe. Shaving some kilo's and a fixed intakes as apposed to variable once. Which again shaved like 200+ kilo's of weight. (Which limited Su-24 maximum speed from M=2 to M=1.6 at altitude. Although at the cost of the engines Mach 2 could be still attained if needed.) As such the Fencer-B was the lightest and most maneuverable Su-24.
So In the ensuing dogfight which the Su-27's ended up getting into. To the Su-27 pilots surprise! The Fencers wiped the floor with cocky rookies sitting in the Flankers to the amusement of the entire air forces. Which followed said Flanker pilots throughout their carrier, along with free drinks and jokes.
