ZHUKOVSKY (Moscow region). Aug 30 (Interfax) - Russia has no doubt that the Su-34 fighter-bomber, whose exports have recently been licensed, has good export potential, spokesperson for the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Maria Vorobyova told Interfax.
"Russia is sure that the Su-34, which has proven its value during hostilities in Syria, has a big export potential," Vorobyova said.
"Iraq has not formally applied to buy the Su-34," she said in response to a relevant question from Interfax.
For now, Su-34s are being supplied only to Russian forces and their mass production for the Russian Defense Ministry began in April 2005. Rostec said in April 2018 that it was ready to discuss the delivery of Su-34s (known as Su-32 in the export modification) with foreign partners.
"Representatives of major partner states asked eight years ago whether it could be purchased, but I said 'no'. They can do that now," Rostec Director for International Cooperation and Regional Policy Viktor Kladov told Interfax.
"Su-34 perfectly asserted itself in Syria, and everyone can see that this is a highly effective and serious aircraft. In short, we are ready for talks," Kladov said.
The Su-34 is designed to suppress ground and seaborne targets, including small-sized moving ones. It also can destroy airborne targets any time of the day and in any weather. It operates at a range of 4,000 kilometers at a top speed of 1,900 kilometers per hour and can carry combat payloads of up to eight tonnes, and is armed with multi-channel air-to-surface and air-to-air long-range weapon systems and a smart ECM and defense system.