By 2020, the government wants to purchase more than 1,500 military manned aircraft for the army. According to RIA Novosti, Sadofiev, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, spoke about this. “In total, by 2020, it is planned to purchase and modernize about two thousand aircraft and helicopters at a constantly increasing annual rate,” said the lieutenant general and stressed that only 400 aircraft will undergo improvements.
According to Sadofiev, according to Russian defense orders from 2011, it is planned to purchase the Mi-8AMTSh, Ka-226, Ka-52, Mi-28N Ansat-U aircrafts, as well as Yak-130, Su-27SM, Su- 35S, Su-30M2, Su-34.
It should be said that the share of high-precision weapons in the service of the army will increase by 18 times. Among the other stages of modernization, one can note the process of integration of aviation centers, which are supposed to be used in a single information zone, an increase in the number of aviation complexes by 4, 5 times, and measures to reduce the level of plane crashes from helicopters and aircraft by 10 times. Moreover, steps are envisaged to increase the number of unmanned aerial vehicles to 30% of all combat aviation.
In addition to aviation, it is planned to purchase the Pantsir-S, S-400 and S-500 complexes, which is being carried out as part of the modernization of the anti-aircraft missile forces. By 2020, the Russian Air Force will be updated by 80%, while the missile forces will replace equipment by 100%. In 5 years, the army will replenish its combat aviation fleet with 400 pieces of equipment, including both modern helicopters and aircraft.
Turning to the issue of the army's acquisition of a promising fifth-generation fighter T-50 (PAK FA), we can say that by 2020 it is planned to purchase a dozen prototypes by 2013 and 60 PAK FA fighters in 3 years. According to Rossiyskaya Gazeta, in which Vladimir Popovkin spoke with an interview, the serial purchase of the T-50 for the Russian Air Force will start in 2016. Naturally, the delivery of fighters will be accompanied by full provision of the aircraft with appropriate weapons and equipment.
The volume of government funding for the Air Force in the period 2011-2020 is estimated at 21 trillion. rubles. Within the framework of the state armaments program, the purchase of modern equipment will be made, as well as the modernization of the aviation in service.
