'Fencer B/C' hybrid with the fin leading edge of the latter and the early rear fuselage and equipment fit of the former version.

FENCER' DEVELOPMENT
1. Initial service variant (NATO 'Fencer A') with rectangular box-section rear fuselage and small brake parachute housing at base of fin.
2. Revised version of initial service variant (NATO 'Fencer B') with reprofiled rear fuselage exhaust shroud, enlarged brake parachute housing at base of rudder, cooling air intake in fin leading edge fairing and heat exchanger air duct on dorsal fairing.
3. Progressive development of initial variant (NATO 'Fencer C') with enlarged fin area (extended leading edge) and fitting of EW aerials on intake flanks and fin tip.

8. Underside view of 'Fencer B/C' showing cannon armament, four underfuselage pylons, nose mounted radar warning antennae, air data probe above radome tip and antenna beneath radome.
9. 'Fencer D' with weapons system electro-optical sensor in ventral fairing, revised centreline pylons and air data probe on radome tip.
10. 'Fencer E' with ventral camera installation (forward for daylight, rear aperture for night infra-red linescan?) cannon armament deleted (gun and ammunition bay fairings both shorter) and small camera in starboard housing.

Sukhoi T.6-1 prototype with original fixed wings incorporating down-turned tips. This aircraft is now preserved at Monino.

'Fencer E' displaying the full span leading edge slats and the two large brake parachutes.

View of the 'Fencer E' reconnaissance variant. Showing up particularly well in the view is the SLAR panel on the side of the nose.

Су-24М из состава 42-го БАП у бетонного капонира на базе Шпротава.
Pictured on July 7, 1992, sitting in front of its hardened shelter from which it would have deployed in the event of a Warsaw Pact attack against NATO, this Su-24M 'Fencer D' of the 42nd Bomber Regiment was about to depart from Szprotawa air base in Poland for Siverskoye, 40km from St Petersburg in the CIS, for disbandment.

Electro-optical blister under an Su-24M. The portside blister contains a gun camera and that on the starboard side has the six-barrel GSh-6-23M cannon.

View of the EW 'Fencer F'. The most obvious feature is the prominent blade aerial under the nose combined with 'hockey stick' antennae projecting from the lower edge of the engine intakes.

Su-24M 'Fencer D' bombers of the 42nd Bomber Regiment departing from Szprotawa, Poland, early in July 1992. Under the wings are 666 Imp gal (3,000 l) fuel tanks.

Developed during the 1980s, the UPAZ-A buddy refuelling pack is now a standard 'add-on' for Su-24Ms and is also carried by the Ilyushin Il-78 ‘Midas’ tanker aircraft. When refuelling at night, 'Fencers' use their landing lights for illumination and the receiver aircraft incorporates a small light on the probe to assist probe/basket contact.

Cockpit of 'Fencer D'. The pilots' HUD can be seen on the left above the small linear display which possibly gives radar range, while on the right is the large radar scope for the weapons system operator. The two crew enjoy somewhat cramped surroundings and with the canopy closed, visibility from the cockpit leaves a lot to be desired.

Cockpit side panel on a 'Fencer E' recce version showing the L-167 countermeasures control unit operated by the WSO. The small black data table on the sill is a chart for camera settings.

Armament options available for the Su-24 ‘Fencer D, E‘ and ‘F‘.

4. Su-24M ('modificatsirovanyi' or modified) (NATO 'Fencer D') later production variant with lengthened and reprofiled radome housing multi-mode radar in place of earlier separate navigation and attack radars, updated avionics suite and provision for inflight refuelling. Addition of wing fences (on early aircraft) and missile launch warning thermal locator on dorsal fairing.
5. Su-24MK ('modificatsirovanyi Komierczieskyi' or modified commercial) export version (NATO 'Fencer D-mod'). Represents 'Fencer-C' brought up to 'D' standard but lacking wing fences and (in some cases) flight refuelling capability.
6. Reconnaissance version (NATO 'Fencer E') having navigation radar and SLAR in nose, enlarged dorsal heat exchanger air duct and no fixed cannon armament.
7. Electronic warfare variant (NATO 'Fencer F'), navigation radar only in nose together with numerous EW aerial panels, blade antenna beneath radome and 'hockey stick' aerials on intake flanks.