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Moscow. New and modernized aircraft
will comprise 70 per cent of the Russian Air Force
by 2020.
"We expect 70 per cent of the Air Force
strength to be new and modernized aircraft by
2020," Russian Air Force Commander Col Gen
Alexander Zelin told reporters recently, adding:
"The development of the Russian Air Force
will be carried out through extensive acquisition
of new advanced aircraft and continuing modernization
of the existing fleet."
One of the new generation aircraft will be the
5th generation combat jet Russia’s United
Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is developing with
India’s HAL under an October 2007 agreement.
Gen Zelin disclosed that flight trials of the
aircraft could begin in the later half of 2009,
indicating that the Russian side had done considerable
work in its development.
"Flight tests of the [fifth-generation]
aircraft are scheduled to start in the second
half of 2009, and the aircraft is expected be
put into service in the next few years,"
he said.
STRATEGIC AVIATION AND
RECONAISSANCE AIRCRAFT
According to Gen Zelin, Tu-95MC Bear and Tu-160
Blackjack bombers, Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range
bombers and Il-78 Midas aerial tankers will form
the backbone of the Russian strategic aviation
in the next decade following extensive modernization.
The bombers, in particular, will be equipped
with new targeting and navigation systems, which
will enable them, in particular, to use conventional
unguided bombs with a very high degree of accuracy
- effectively engaging any target within 20 meters.
They will also have their operational range increased
and their onboard defense systems significantly
upgraded, he said.
In addition, said Gen Zelin, Russia had been
developing a fifth-generation strategic bomber
which could be used effectively in both conventional
and nuclear conflicts.
"The new plane will use a wide selection
of high-precision weapons, and will have a whole
range of new combat capabilities, allowing it
to apply new methods to carrying out deterrence
tasks."
Russia will also develop in the near future a
number of advanced reconnaissance aircraft including
a stratospheric plane capable of avoiding enemy
air defenses.
"Ultra-high altitude reconnaissance planes
will play a key role in future wars because they
will be capable of staying in the air for a long
time and conduct reconnaissance operations deep
into enemy territory while avoiding hostile air
defenses," the Air Force commander said.
FRONTLINE AVIATION
 The
frontline aviation is the core of the Russian
Air Force and currently comprises MiG-31B Foxhound
interceptors, Su-27 Flanker and MiG-29 Fulcrum
fighters, Su-24M Fencer fighter-bombers, Su-25
Frogfoot ground attack aircraft, and MiG-25R Foxbat
and Su-24MR Fencer-E tactical reconnaissance aircraft.
Gen Zelin said the Air Force will receive in
the next decade not only modernized Su-27SM and
MiG-29SMT fighters, but also “Generation
4++ Su-35S Flanker-E and MiG-35C Fulcrum-F fighters.”
"The Russian Defense Ministry will start
purchasing large numbers of these aircraft at
the beginning of the next decade," he observed.
He also said Su-24 fighter-bombers will soon
be replaced by advanced Su-34 Fullback aircraft.
The general reiterated that Russia will start
in 2009 the production of the Su-25UBM, a two-seat
version of the Su-25SM.
MILITARY TRANSPORT AVIATION
There are up to 300 transport aircraft in service
with the Russian Air Force, including An-12 Cub,
An-72 Coaler, An-22 Cock, An-124 Condor and Il-76
Candid planes.
The An-12, An-22, and An-26 planes will be decommissioned
in the near future, Gen Zelin said.
The An-26 plane will be replaced by Il-112B light
transport aircraft with higher payload capacity
and better fuel efficiency.
"The first Il-112 is expected to make its
maiden flight in 2011. The Air Force will order
over 70 planes of this type," the general
said.
The An-12 will be most likely replaced by a medium-haul
transport plane, also jointly-developed by Russia
and India, Gen Zelin said.
Designated Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA), this
plane, with a 20-ton cargo capacity, is expected
to go in service with the Russian and Indian air
forces in about eight years.
The An-124 and its modernized version, the An-124-100,
will remain in service as a strategic heavy airlift
transport aircraft. In addition, 12 Il-76 aircraft
will be modernized to Il-76MD-90A starting in
2011.
HELICOPTERS
The existing fleet of Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters
will be fully replaced with new-generation Mi-28N
Night Hunter and Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters
by 2015.
"We have started deliveries of Mi-28N helicopters
to combat units [in the North Caucasus military
district] and plan to re-equip at least one squadron
with these aircraft by the yearend," Gen
Zelin said.
"We are also expecting to complete the tests
of the Ka-52 helicopter this year," he added.
The Ka-52 is a twin-seat derivative of the Ka-50
Hokum-A attack helicopter, and is designed primarily
for reconnaissance and target designation purposes.
It is similar to the US AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.
UAVs
The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) will start
playing an increasingly important role in future
combat. Given their much lower manufacturing and
maintenance costs they could form as much as 40
per cent of the Air Force fleet by 2025, the General
said.
The Air Force will start receiving domestically-developed
attack UAVs in 2011.
"Unmanned and manned aircraft will complement
one another, and must be able to accomplish a
full range of combat missions in regional or local
conflicts," the general said.
(RIA Novosti)
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