View source for Gladeus Gu-24

{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
 |name= Gu-24
 |image= File:Ukrainian Tu-22 M3.jpg
 |caption= Graphical overview of a Gu-24
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
 |type= {{wp|Strategic bomber}} , maritime strike
 |national origin= {{VLK}}
 |manufacturer=[[Gladeus]]
 |designer=
 |first flight= 23 August, 1973
 |introduced= 31 January, 1974
 |retired=
 |produced= 1974-Present
 |primary user={{VLK}}
 |more users= 
 |number built= 120
 |status= In Service
 |unit cost= 
}}
|}

The Gladeus Gu-24  is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by the [[Gladeus Aircraft Workshop]]. Significant numbers remain in service with the Imperial Air Legion, and as of 2014 more than 54 Gu-24s are in use. The aircraft was one of the most capable bombers in the world when it came out. It was developed off of the previous [[Galdeus Gu-21|Gu-21]] platform as an updated and more potent successor to the poor design. 

==Development==
As in the case of other projects, the advantages of variable-sweep wing (or "swing wing") seemed attractive, allowing a combination of short take-off performance, efficient cruising, and good high-speed, and low-level flight. The result was a new swing wing aircraft named the XG24, derived from the [[Gladeus Gu-21|Gu-21]], with some features borrowed from the [[Gladeus Gu-18|Gu-18]]. The Gu-24 was based on the Gu-21's weapon system and used its bomb bay design and weapons configurations. The aircraft was initially configured to carry free fall nuclear bombs. All production models were reconfigured in 1975 to carry cruise missiles and other smaller nuclear devices. The Gladeus design team released several pre-production aircraft in 1972 and performed extensive testing. The first production aircraft were ready to enter service by late 1973. 

Production of all Gu-24 variants totaled 120 including pre-production aircraft.

==Design==
The Gu-24 is a {{wp|variable-sweep wing}} aircraft capable of supersonic flight. It marked the second supersonic bomber to enter the Veliko service. The aircraft possesses powerful [[AA-20 turbojets]]. These were extensively redesigned utilizing components and structures from the previous [[AA-16 turbojets]], which cut costs and saved time. The airframe is better designed for heat dissipation and uses more high grade titanium and aluminum. Instead of mounting the engines on the rear of the fuselage like in the [[Gladeus Gu-21|Gu-21]], the engines are mounted on either side of the airframe with large intake ports at the wing bases. The exhaust thrusters are directly under the rear wing. Increased crew space within the cockpit allows for the four man crew to have more spacious stations and increases room to work. Earlier lessons from the Gu-21 were heeded and the cockpit contains space for a pilot and a co-pilot, lightening the workload on the primary pilot. Instead of pod mounted landing gear, the landing gear is mounted into dedicated ports designed into the airframe. The wings and airframe are reinforced with additional titanium struts to increase durability at highspeeds as well as payload.

==Variants==
*'''XG24''' - Initial production prototype released in August of 1972 and tested in secret. Passed performance trials. 
*'''XG24I''' - Airframe testing craft stripped down to its most basic propulsion systems. Fully passed trials. 
*'''Gu-24AI''' - Initial production variant beginning production in late 1973. 
*'''Gu-24AII''' - Improved base platform with longer wings and slight modifications to the engines to increase payload. 
**'''Gu-2AKB''' - Aircraft equipped with {{wp|ELINT}} equipment introduced in 1975 to replace older aircraft. 
**'''Gu-24AT''' - Dedicated aerial refueling tanker to refuel fleets of Gu-24s and [[Gladeus Gu-18|Gu-18s]].
*'''Gu-24B''' - Updated base model introduced in 1983 featuring additional frame reinforcements and the addition of lighter weight, stronger composite materials in certain parts of the aircraft. 
**'''Gu-24BMr''' - Maritime reconnaissance aircraft equipped with {{wp|ELINT}} equipment and additional high resolution cameras. Armament and weapons management systems as well as several external hardpoints removed to decrease weight and increase speed slightly. 
**'''Gu-24BAR''' - Dedicated missile strike aircraft with the capability to carry heavy supersonic cruise missiles, anti-radiation missiles, and tactical nuclear devices. Equipped with special passive detection equipment to locate and target enemy sensors. 
**'''Gu-24ECM'''- Electronic countermeasures variant for escorting strike aircraft and providing the capabilities to instigate a full ECM strike. 
**'''Gu-24ECMII''' - Missile guidance and ECM aircraft introduced as an improvement over the ECM variant. 
*'''Gu-24C''' - Drastically updated and improved base model introduced in 1995 with additional improvements to the engines and avionics. 
**'''Gu-24CEW''' - ECM variant introduced in 1996 based off of the updated platform with updated ECM equipment. 
**'''Gu-24EL''' - ELINT variant introduced with external and internal ELINT equipment based off of the C airframe. 
=== Service Life Extension Variants ===
*'''Gu-24SL''' - Modernization introduced in 2009 as an upgrade for 32 airframes. Introduces modern top of the line avionics as well as additional electronic controls replacing hydraulic controls to save weight. The cockpit received two HUD displays with the capability to read signals from analogue mechanical sensor equipment aboard the craft. Reworked AA25 turbofans increase performance and decrease fuel consumption slightly, increasing the aircraft's top speed. The upgrade will extend the life of the aircraft until 2025
*'''Gu-24SLR''' - Updated ELINT variant based off of SL aircraft. 
*'''Gu-24SRe''' - Updated reconnaissance variant based off of SL aircraft 

[[image:Tupolev Tu-22M3 at Ryazan Dyagilevo.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Gu-24 153rd Heavy Bomber Wing on trials in 1991. All pictured are Gu-24BAR bombers]]
[[File:B202albatross.png|thumb|right|300px|A Gu-24 (designated as a B-202 Albatross) in the Royal Gristo-Serkonan Air Force service.]]

==Operators==
*{{VLK}}
*{{flag|Gristol-Serkonos}}: Designated as a B-202 for the Gu-24C Strategic Bomber variant and the EC-202 for the Gu-24CEW Electronic Warfare variant. A total of 40 (10 EC-202s and 30 B-202s) in service.

==Specifications==
{{aircraft specifications
<!-- If you do not understand how to use this template, please ask at [[Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Aircraft]].
     Please answer the following questions. -->
| plane or copter?=plane
| jet or prop?=jet
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|ref=
<!--  
      Characteristics -->
|crew=4 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, weapon systems operator)
|length main= 42.4 m
|length alt= 139 ft 4 in
|span main=<br>
** '''Spread (20° sweep):''' 34.28 m
|span alt=112 ft 6 in)
** '''Swept (65° sweep):''' 23.30 m (76 ft 6 in)
|height main=11.05 m
|height alt=36 ft 3 in
|area main=<br>
** '''Spread:''' 183.6 m²
|area alt= 1,976 ft²)
** '''Swept:''' 175.8 m² (1,892 ft²
|empty weight main= 58,000 kg
|empty weight alt= 128,000 lb
|loaded weight main= 112,000 kg
|loaded weight alt= 246,000 lb
|max takeoff weight main= 124,000 kg
|max takeoff weight alt= 273,000 lb
|max takeoff weight more=; {{convert|126400|kg|lb|abbr=on}} for rocket assisted TO
|more general= '''Fuel capacity:''' 54,000 kg (118,800 lb) internally 
<!--  
      Powerplant -->
|engine (jet)=[[Falcus Designs AA-20]]
|type of jet= [[turbofan]]s
|number of jets= 2
|thrust main= 247.9 kN
|thrust alt= 55,100 lbf
<!--  
      Performance -->
|max speed main= {{convert|1.88|Mach|km/h kn mph}}
|max speed alt= {{convert|2000|km/h|Mach kn mph}} 
|max speed more=; at altitude
|combat radius main= 2,410 km
|combat radius alt= {{convert|2410|km|mi|disp=output only}}, {{convert|2410|km|nmi|disp=output only}}
|combat radius more= with typical weapons load
|range main= 6,800 km 
|range alt= {{convert|6800|km|mi|disp=output only}}, {{convert|6800|km|nmi|disp=output only}}
|ceiling main= 13,300 m
|ceiling alt= 43,600 ft
|climb rate main= 15 m/s
|climb rate alt= 2,950 ft/min
|loading main= 688 kg/m²
|loading alt= 147 lb/ft²
|thrust/weight=0.45
<!--  
      Armament -->
|guns=1 × 23-mm [[Reaper 30mm Autocannon|Reaper 30mm]] [[autocannon|cannon]] in remotely controlled tail turret
|hardpoints= wing and fuselage pylons and internal weapons bay
|hardpoint capacity= {{convert|24000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of
:* Up to 3 × supersonic large antishipping missiles in weapons bay and on wing pylons ''or''
:* Up to 6 × smaller antishipping missiles on a MKU-6-1 rotary launcher in its bomb bay, plus 4 × smaller missiles on two underwing pylons for a total of 10 missiles per aircraft.
:* Various freefall bombs
<!--  
      Avionics -->
|avionics=
}}


[[category:Military of Velikoslavia]]