Russian Air Force in deep crisis

Major General Bezborodov, a member of the Russian parliament, has recently stated the following facts about the RusAF:

– 57% of the a/c are worn out
– 55% are over 15 years old
– 40% are btw 5 and 10 years old
– to maintain the current numbers RusAF needs to be buying 150 fixed wing and 60 rotary a/c a year; in reality, only 17 Su-27’s and 20 Mi-8/24 helicopters are procured in the 2006 budget.

This is all on the background of the Russian state budget running a record surplus.

Compare this with the US budget deficit projected to exceed 400bln and the USAF procurement running largely unaffected, and it becomes clear that Russia has no interest in the recovery of its air force. The money is there, but the will isn’t.