The air force will continue to focus on upgrading its fleet this year, while the defense industry develops the next generation of warplanes for the military, senior commanders said Wednesday.
The industry will upgrade some 20 Su-27 interceptors into fourth-plus generation multipurpose warplanes for the air force this year, air force chief Alexander Mikhailov said at a news conference.
He did not specify the designation of the upgraded planes; previously, the air force singled out the Su-27I/B and the Su-30KN as the most promising fourth-plus generation projects.
Mikhailov said up to 25 percent of the air force’s tactical aviation fleet will be upgraded in 2002-06.
By then, the Sukhoi design bureau should have a fifth-generation tactical fighter ready for a maiden flight, Mikhailov said. Serial production of this aircraft, which should be capable of attacking both surface and airborne targets in all weather conditions around the clock, is to begin by 2010, he said.
Mikhailov said the Su-27 upgrades will include new avionics designed by the Ramenskoye instrument design bureau rather than Russian Avionics, which the previous air force chief preferred.
Mikhailov also hinted he may reject another project favored by his predecessors. The Tupolev or the Ilyushin design bureau, both based in Moscow, may be picked over Ukraine’s Antonov to develop transport aircraft to replace the ageing Il-76. While saying he was “not burying the An-70,” he made it clear that the air force will opt for either the Il-214 or the Tu-330 if Kiev-based Antonov does not fix “numerous flaws,” including engine glitches, in the An-70.
Some Mi-24 helicopters will also be upgraded this year, Mikhailov said.
Most warplanes and helicopters lack all-weather/night time capabilities, limiting the air force’s capabilities to provide 24-hour air support for ground combat in Chechnya, said Konstantin Makiyenko, deputy head of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies. Acquiring such capabilities should be the main objective of the air force’s modernization program, he said.
In addition to upgrading and developing planes, the air force will also finance the completion of the S-400 air defense system this year, air force chief of staff Boris Cheltsov said in an interview.
Air force officials said increased defense spending over the past few years was providing more money for upgrades and combat training. The extra money allowed pilots to double their flight time last year; but more flight hours are needed to keep them up to par, the officials said. Pilots only logged 20 to 50 hours last year compared to the 180 to 240 hours for NATO pilots.
By Simon Saradzhyan (Staff Writer)
Source: The Moscow Times (January 16th, 2003)
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January 16, 2003 at 3:22 pm