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)