Russian Air Force Expects 100 New Aircraft
By Alexey Komarov 
MOSCOW – The Russian air force will receive 50 new fixed-wing and 50 rotary wing aircraft this year, according to army Gen. Valentin Popovkin, deputy defense minister for armaments.
He did not elaborate on specific types and numbers to be procured. Nevertheless, the figures were immediately decoded by industry experts here who suggested they not only included brand-new aircraft, but also overhauled aircraft.
A range of fixed-wing aircraft would include 24 MiG-29SMT fighters manufactured for Algeria, which refused deliveries last year; eight Sukhoi Su-27SM upgraded fighters; six to 10 modified Su-25SM ground attack aircraft; and the same number of Su-24SM2 upgraded frontline bombers.
The new products that the industry could suggest to the air force now include the Sukhoi Su-34 dual-seat multirole fighter. But the limited capabilities of the Novosibirsk NAPO plant will permit production of only a couple aircraft of this type in 2009, experts believe.
A total number of 50 helicopters also basically would comprise overhauled and upgraded transport and attack rotorcraft from the inventory, as well as a limited number of new Mil Mi-28N attack helicopters and Ansat-U trainers.
In 2008 the Russian air force reportedly received five Su-24M2s, eight Su-27SMs, four Su-25SMs, a couple of upgraded MiG-31Ms, one new and one upgraded Tu-160 strategic bombers, and a single Su-34 fighter. At the same time, the aerospace industry exported more than 40 modern Sukhoi Su-30 type fighters to Algeria, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Venezuela.
Russia’s budget allocated 1.5 trillion rubles ($41 billion) as a defense procurement level for 2009, Popovkin says. Although at the end of 2008 other government officials named a significantly lower figure for the defense order – 1 trillion rubles – the procurement budget will increase domestic expenditure for research, development and production of weapons, along with upgrades for already fielded systems.
Image: President of Russia
