The Future of the Russian Air Force: 10 Years On

Defense Professionals ^ | 3/19/2010 | Ilya Kramnik

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The Russian Defense Ministry plans to overhaul its air force fleet. According to various media reports, the Ministry wants to buy at least 1,500 aircraft, including 350 new warplanes, by 2020. The fleet would include 70 per cent new equipment at that point, said Air Force Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Alexander Zelin.

The state of the warplane fleet which forms the backbone of the Russian Air Force's combat potential remains a major military problem. Russian military aircraft are 25-plus years old, on the average. Consequently, the warplane fleet may shrink considerably in the next 10-15 years. What aircraft will the Air Force wield by 2020, and will the number of planes be enough for national defense needs?

The Defense Ministry has now signed contracts for the purchase of 32 Su-34 Fullback advanced fighter-bombers to be delivered by 2013, 48 Su-35 Flanker-E fighters by 2015, 12 Su-27SM Flanker-B Mod. 1 fighters by 2011, 4 Su-30M2 Flanker-C planes by 2011 and 12 Su-25UBM Frogfoot combat trainers.

This year, the Defense Ministry intends to sign a contract for the delivery of 26 MiG-29K Fulcrum-D fighters by 2015. Additional contracts for the delivery of at least 80 Su-34s and 24-48 Su-35s are expected to be signed. In all, the Russian Air Force is to receive 240-260 new aircraft of these types.

It is hard to say much about the specifications of another 100-110 aircraft, due to be manufactured primarily after 2015. They will probably include 25-30 MiG-35 fighters, another 12-16 Su-30 combat trainers for Su-35 squadrons and 40-60 Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA (Advanced Frontline Aviation Aircraft System) fifth-generation fighters. The T-50's subsequent official designation remains unclear.

Naturally, these 350 fixed-wing aircraft cannot completely meet Air Force demand for new equipment. Operational warplanes

[Sequoyah101]

I think most of our aircraft are at least 25 years old. No concern here by obozo, just leveling the playing field.

F-22s and F/A-18 are newest, F-15E are hitting 20 years old, F-15C/D over 20, most tankers WELL over 25, F-16 long in the tooth, B-2 OK, B-1 20+, etc. And lots of combat hours on many airframes.

[cunning_fish]

It is. People do like to have fun about Russians with their military is falling apart. They are losing the point about US military which is in a same decline since 90s. Iraq and Afghanistan is not counts since it is not in a Cold War league.