Makes sense. Blue paint on the belly, makes them look like the sky, from the ground. Greeny grey on top, makes them look like ground from above.

The Su-34 picture has a look of WWII Luftwaffe paint jobs to my eye.

It's nothing new really. Here's the explanation:

- SU 34 has a daytime camo paint job for daytime operations;
- SU 35BM has a nightime camo paint job for nightime operations.

It is a practice used by the airforces since ww2. Though the new aircraft tech makes this practice rather obsolete. For example the US uses a shade of grey for both daytime and nightime operations, it blends in perfectly with the scenery. Plus some composite materials these days are impossible to paint. Painting them in anything else then radar absorbing paint would make them targets, so SU 34 is constructed on old technology there is a lot in one picture

What's with the long A$$ probe sticking out the su 34s rear end ? Oooh and the su 34 is such a beautiful aircraft

After correcting my earlier mistake that went unnoticed I googled the su34 and my god it's taken top spot in my list of favourite aircraft. And the NATO name for it 'Fullback' sounds pretty awesome

Originally posted by ThePeaceMaker
What's with the long A$$ probe sticking out the su 34s rear end ?

To my knowledge, it is a rear-facing radar unit. Probably for RWR or tracking.