What will receive the Russian Air Force

December 7 2010 1

In the coming 10 years, the Russian Air Force will acquire more than 1,5 thousands of new aircraft and upgrade more than 400 machines of old construction. This was announced on December 1 by Deputy Commander of the Russian Air Force Igor Sadofyev. Such figures have repeatedly been called different media, including with reference to high-ranking military, but now representatives of the Air Force specify the nomenclature of the planned procurement.

Modernization

The modernization of aging aircraft allows for relatively little money to dramatically increase the combat capabilities of previous-generation aircraft. This method of updating the fleet is used by the air forces of many countries of the world. Russia plans to upgrade, first of all, long-range and military transport aircraft aviation.

The lifespan will be extended to the Tu-160 and Tu-95 strategic bombers, as well as to the Tu-22М3 long-range bombers. Modernization will be held by Il-78 tankers and A-50 “flying radars”. It is also planned to update the fleet of military transport vehicles: first of all, it concerns the An-124 “Ruslan” and Il-76 aircraft.

Modernization will also affect front-line aviation, where accents will shift somewhat. So, apparently, the modernization of the Su-27 fighters to the SM version will be stopped - instead, in 2011, the Air Force will receive 12 new vehicles of this type. In addition, in the same year, deliveries to the Air Force of the Su-35С serial fighters will begin - the latest model for today on the Su-27 platform meringues.

However, the modernization of Su-25 attack aircraft, Su-24 bombers and MiG-31 interceptors is intensifying. These vehicles, together with transport workers and long-range bombers, will form the basis of the modernized fleet of the Russian Air Force.

What's new?

The greatest interest is the statement of the deputy head of the Air Force about plans to acquire 1,5 thousand new airplanes and helicopters for 10 years. Taking into account the fact that, so far, annual purchases of aircraft have not exceeded 30-40 aircraft of all classes, these plans mean a repeated increase in the order for new equipment. How realistic are they?

“This number, 1500 machines, most likely, includes not only aircraft and helicopters, but also unmanned vehicles. The overall result is more impressive - explains RIA News one of the leading Russian military experts, director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST) Ruslan Pukhov. “This increase is often practiced by many countries, for example, when submitting information to the UN Register of Conventional Arms.”

In fact, among these “more 1500 machines”, there will most likely be 350-400 new combat aircraft, some 100 military transport aircraft of various types, 120-140 training aircraft Yak-130. The remaining 800-900 units will be represented by helicopters and UAVs.

Speaking about the specific types of aircraft purchased, you can call such numbers. The Ministry of Defense has already concluded contracts for the purchase of X-NUMX Su-32 front-line bombers (up to 34 year), X-NUMX Su-2013 fighters (up to 48 year), 35 Su-2015CM fighters (up to 12 year), 27 Su-2011XXNNXXMXM (4) The 30 Su-XNUMHUBM. This year a contract must be signed for the supply of 2 MiG-2011K fighters up to 12.

Additional contracts for the supply of Su-34 (no less than 80 airplanes) and Su-35 (24-48 airplanes) are expected to follow, giving a total of approximately 240-260 airplanes of these types.

Contracts for the purchase of more 100-110 machines, most likely, will depart Sukhoi Design Bureau (on the fifth-generation fighter T-50 and other company vehicles). Possible purchase fighter MiG-35.

Known and the nomenclature of helicopters. First of all, these are combat Mi-28H and Ka-52 - their number by the 2020 year is likely to be 200-250 and 50-60 machines, respectively. The basis of the fleet of transport and combat helicopters will continue to be the Mi-8 of various options. Their mass production, which began in the 1960-ies, will continue for at least another two decades. But the fleet of light helicopters, which were previously represented by one model of the Mi-2, will be updated. The Mi-2 will be replaced by a light training “Ansat” and a multi-purpose Ka-60 “Killer Whale”.

Mysterious Drones and grand total

The greatest mystery is the nomenclature of UAVs that must be purchased for the Russian Air Force.
In fact, today the Air Force is planning to acquire vehicles that are not yet available or, at best, are at the final design stage. Earlier it was reported that testing of domestic UAVs for the Air Force should begin in the 2011 year. The new year begins very soon, and it remains only to hope that in the coming 12 months we will hear more or less detailed information about new unmanned vehicles.

Speaking about the total number of the Russian Air Force, so far we can only repeat this assessment earlier. By 2020, the Russian Air Force will have approximately 800 combat aircraft capable of solving real tasks. The total number of the Air Force fleet will be approximately 1,5-1,7 thousand aircraft and helicopters. Including naval aircraft and helicopters fleet, in Russian military aviation there will be about 1,8-1,9 thousand aircraft, excluding drones.