The latest title in the growing Aerofax collection is this title on the Su-24 Fencer. With the retirement of the MiG-27 from the ground attack regime, this leaves only the Su-25 Frogfoot for subsonic ground attack and the Su-24 Fencer for high speed interdiction.

Very much a Russian equivalent of the F-111, the Su-24 was developed about ten years later than the US swing wing attack aircraft and so should remain in service for a longer period of time. It is the first Russian aircraft to rely heavily on electronics to assure mission success. Developing the systems and getting them to be reliable was a major stepping stone in the development of the Su-24. But where there is a will, a way can be found and it is much to their credit that a viable, low level, supersonic attack bomber was successfully fielded.

In common with all Aerofax books, there is a general order of things. First a background on why the aircraft was developed, then a section on the prototypes, followed by one on the different variants. For the Su-24, there are not as many as one might think. Next is a section that covers the aircraft itself in detail and this highlights the airframe, engine, electronic systems and ordnance. The aircraft's service history is then discussed with a larger than expected section on foreign users and the differences in the export models. The book ends with several pages of drawings showing the various sub-types and a few pages of color profiles.

I have to say that this is really an excellent book that is absolutely chocked full of superb photographs and an interesting write-up. It is very much the book on the type and one you'd want to have in your library.

July 2005

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