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Russian Air Force to Modernize Military Transport Fleet - Commander

Posted on: Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 18:00 CST

Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax-AVN website

Moscow, 17 January: The Russian air force will start obtaining new light and medium cargo aircraft in the next few years, Commander- in-Chief Vladimir Mikhaylov said on Tuesday [17 January].

"Part of the military transport fleet comprising An-12 and An-26 aircraft is reaching the end of its service and will soon become obsolete," Mikhaylov told Interfax-Military News Agency.

Development work should be carried out and the procurement of new light and medium cargo aircraft should begin in 2007 and in 2008 respectively, he said.

"The new light Il-112V is being developed to replace the An-26," he said, adding that "it boasts improved capabilities for transporting and landing light weapons and military hardware".

Work on a medium cargo aircraft to replace the An-12 is under way, he said. "India has displayed interest in this development," he noted.

The medium transport aircraft will acquire such capabilities as "transportation of cargoes, armament and military hardware between regions and theatres of operation, delivery of future weapons and military hardware on the basis of the BMP-3 IFV and BMD-3 airborne fighting vehicles, and timely cargo delivery," Mikhaylov noted.

According to him, Il-76 planes will constitute up to 70 per cent of the military transport fleet in the period until 2015-2020 as far as both the number and combat capabilities are concerned.

Source: BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union

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