OREANDA-NEWS. August 17, 2012. The Russian Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (the AST-Centre) conducted market research of Russian combat aircraft. The Centre’s experts believe that the Sukhoi-type fighters, which currently account for about two thirds of the fleet of tactical aircraft of the Russian Air Force, will form the core of the national air force as a result of the implementation of the ongoing Armaments Program for the period up to 2020.

Currently, the aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, make up more than 40% of the Russian air force fighters’ park. These are the Su-27s, including 12 Su-27SM3 of the new production and Su-27SM, which underwent avionics’ upgrade and now are able to engage ground targets and have the so-called “glass” cockpit. In addition, the air force also received in recent years two-seated Su-30M2 fighters and a few advanced multifunctional Su-35 fighters.

With regard to the attack and ground assault aviation, all its fleet consists now of Su-type aircraft only. These are the Su-25s, Su-24 front-line bombers and the newest Su-34s, which began coming into service under the contract of the year 2008 for procurement of bombers. Thus, today the Su-type fighters make up about 65% of military tactical aviation in Russia.

According to the study of the AST-Center the Russian air force also focuses on procurement of mainly Su-type aircraft in the framework of the State Armaments Program-2020. This judgment can be confirmed, in particular, by the large orders signed by the Russian Air Force in recent years: 2008 — a contract to supply Su-34 frontline bombers. 2009 — a contract to supply Su-35S, Su-27SM3 and Su-30M2, 2012 — contracts for Su-34 and Su-30CM.