Russian Air Force may enlarge Su-34 bomber fleet to 150-200
NOVOSIBIRSK. Dec 26 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Air Force will procure another 16 Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers in 2014 and the Su-34 fleet will grow to 150-200 aircraft at some point, Russian Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev told reporters on Thursday.
"At present the Air Force has 32 Su-34 jets. We expect to procure another 16 bombers in 2014. We will have approximately 150 jets or even 200 eventually," Bondarev said during his visit to the Sukhoi Novosibirsk plant, the maker of Su-34 warplanes.
Five Su-34 jets are being assembled, the commander said. "I think the deliveries can start in March," he added.
The Air Force obtained 14 Su-34 fighter bombers in 2013. They are currently stationed in the Western and Southern military districts, the commander continued.
"The plant is due to enlarge the annual output to 20 planes in 2015," he said.
Meanwhile, Sukhoi Company General Director Igor Ozar said that the holding and the Defense Ministry had concluded a Su-34 contract for the period until 2020.
Su-34 is a 4+ generation aircraft capable of destroying land, seaborne and airborne targets in any time of the day and weather across the globe with the entire range of airborne weaponry, including high-precision munitions.
