MOSCOW – The Russian Air Force and Naval Aviation, the air branch of the Russian Navy, will receive 126 new military airplanes and 88 helicopters, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.
“Under the framework of Defense Procurement and Acquisition program, the Air Force and Naval Aviation will receive 126 new military aircrafts and 88 helicopters. And long-range aviation serviceability rates will be set for 80 percent,” Shoigu said during a conference call at the Russian Defense Ministry.
According to Shoigu, one of the main priorities in 2015 is the re-equipment of Air Force. “Their [Air Force] equipment with modern weapons will increase to 33 percent, while the serviceability status up to 67 percent”, Shoigu said.
Defense Minister also noted that modernization rate of weapons and equipment in Navy, Air Force, Strategic Missile Forces and Aerospace Defense Forces exceeded 30 percent in 2014.