This is interesting.
Lets do debate this!
Never mind what the Russian MoD and millitary says at this point.

Now, do Russia really need a new super expensive strategic bomber?

Cant they build a few more Tu-160 and do a deep upgrade on the remaining fleet, like more efficiant and reliable engines, and cram in all the latest comunication and EW gear for a starter??

Maybe he is scalling down the stealth requirements of new bomber by saying level of SAM development is such that getting close to the target will become impossible and cruise missile will reliably shoot down. see 2nd part anti-missile defense.

“Look at the level of development of anti-aircraft and anti-missile defences: all these planes will never get near their targets,” he added.

but creating such dense mobile airdefense network in third world with sufficient train crews. not possible.
UCAV cannot replace manned bomber. UCAV neither has the engine power for radar/electronics nor the supersonic lunch speeds for missiles.

Transport aviation plans:

http://www.sukhoi.ru/forum/showthread.php?t=76013
http://vif2ne.ru/nvk/forum/0/co/2330325.htm

100 Il-214
10 An-140s already ordered, highly likely there will be follow on.
60 An-70
41 Il-76MDM (modernization). In 2011, 12 Il-76s were repaired, while in 2009 and 2010, only 2-3 planes were repaired yearly.
40 Il-476
An-124: 1st stage 2011-2015, 11 to be modernized, 2nd stage 2016-2020 another 10 slated for modernization. They will be ordering new build planes as well, and goal is to have “25 combat ready An-124s by 2020”.

Now, even accounting for time-table changes and likely force re-organization, that seems very ambitious, and a sizable number considering the size of the RuAF as a whole, in 2020.
I’d like to see more modest plans for Transport aviation in exchange for a MiG-35 batch.
Also looks like An-70 and MTA commitments are firm.

This fairly modest transport size of about 200. it was mentioned transport fleet orders will be 300.
I will add another 100 An-124/IL-476/IL96T orders for Volga/Polet that can also be used.

And is that the area of the world which the RuAF is foremost expected to fight? Interesting news.

Ruaf does not equal Su-34. It will be very inefficient and ineffective to bring bomb laden strike aircraft from deep airbases against experienced opponent that is likely to use decoys with full air and sam protection. Strike aircraft has to go relatively close to target to use the thermal imagers.

In EU context AWACS/MIG-31/JSTAR/satellites survellence/deterance support to ground troops will make much more difference. Russian ground forces is getting Iskander/Tornado strike weopons and has layered mobile airdefence systems. I am not sure about Brahmos class land attack system. I doubt EU can afford pgms needed for such conflict. And the war does not need to be all the way into Western EU. strike on Eastern EU will cripple Germany (see industrial linkages) and without Germany what will happen to rest.
I highly doubt any one is going to print money in trillions to support EU. tension in Middleast raises commodity prices and economic downturn in EU lowers it. so why would some one fight continent that is permanent bankrupt with aging population and completely depended on external finances, labor and markets.

Yes the winglet should make it obvious its Tu-214 , Tu-214 has been extensively used for many special projects so far, quite reliable and sturdy bird ….although Medvedev was not a great fan of Tu-214PU 😛

The placement of Radar on the lower part of forward and center fuselage plus the side radar should make it obvious its from Ground MTI type and SAR/ISAR deep inside land mass.

This bird is most certainly JSTAR-iski types

It is not Medvedev but some one commenting that it is not as luxurious and quieter as the larger IL-96.

http://themoscownews.com/politics/20101028/188161672.html
Medvedev’s new plane fails to impress high fliers

Over 100 IL-476 is going to be ordered before 2020. still no definite sign for An-70.
http://en.rian.ru/business/20120517/173508771.html

this is no longer the 1980s

Endurance are pretty close of Tu-214 special mission and E767 AWACS.
but E767 is non AESA. AESA make much heavier antenna and power requirements.

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/ic/awacs/767/767specs.html
9.25 hours on station at 1,000 nautical-mile radius; 13 hours at 300-nautical mile radius. Extended operations possible with air refueling

Safety is only just a ‘part’ that can create market perceptions. I give up to talk business sense to you. If safety is bad, then the Market will not give good perceptions for that Airplane, thus NO BANK will going to finance the procurement of the Airplane.

Market Perception can derived from Safety, from cost, from maintanance, from support, etc altogether will determine the acceptance of ANY PRODUCT in the Market. So don’t talk about Market Perceptions does not mean anything if you don’t have ANY IDEA what market perception is.

Market perception dont matter when your business is loss making. can any bank give low interest loans to business that is more likely than not make permanent losses for years on depreciating asset? banks finance it because they are forced to do it.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/15/us-usa-eximbank-idUSBRE82E01P20120315
Delta-Boeing clash threatens Obama bid to renew Eximbank
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-09/singapore-air-posts-loss-cathay-slows-growth-on-fuel.html

Even the best run airlines are making quaterly losses at this oil price. No amount of market perception will help once oil goes up above certain level. most countries dont have savings. and airline make small down payment when they order. manufacturers need strong banking system.
with unlimited bank credit so many aircrafts can be produced that there will be airlines waiting in line for delivery.

There are probably more F-35s in the world now (63 as of January 2012) than all the Su-34, Su-35 and T-50s put together.

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120105/NEWS02/701059960

It is no longer about numbers. Su-34 can in current form can carry longer range weopons to longer distance and large EW pod/fuel tank integrated.
so it is more operationally ready.
now 1200 F-16 maybe good in short range EU theatre but not so usefull in Pacific and Persian gulf. there F-15E and B-1 counts more.