The crews of the Su-24 front-line tactical bombers of the naval aviation regiment of the Baltic Fleet practice in-flight refueling from the Il-78 tanker aircraft, the fleet’s press service reported on June 13.
Training takes place in the airspace over the Kaliningrad region. More than 10 aircraft took part in the flights, during which the crews practice in-flight refueling. Refueling is carried out both individually and as part of a pair of Su-24 aircraft.
As the press service notes, in-flight refueling is one of the most difficult types of flight training. Pilots 1st and 2nd class with more than 400 flight hours can perform these actions. The first 8-10 dockings with the Il-78 tanker aircraft are carried out by trained pilots with instructor pilots.
Refueling is carried out at a speed of 500 to 600 km/h at an altitude of 2 thousand to 5 thousand m. At night, these actions are carried out using additional lighting installed on both the refueling aircraft and the bomber.
The Su-24 front-line tactical bomber with a variable sweep wing is designed to carry out missile and bomb attacks in simple and adverse weather conditions, day and night, including at low altitudes with targeted destruction of ground and surface targets. The ability of crews to refuel in the air significantly expands the radius of action. The ability to refuel allows you to operate both in operational-tactical depth and to solve problems in remote areas using the entire range of weapons.
Source: Rossa Primavera
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.