DTN News - RUSSIA DEFENSE NEWS: Russian Defense Ministry To Buy 92 Su-34 Fighters
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 3, 2012: The Russian Defense Ministry has signed a deal for 92 Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers from the Sukhoi aircraft maker, the ministry said on Thursday.
The deal under which the warplanes are to be delivered by 2020 was signed by Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and Sukhoi General Director Igor Ozar.
This is one of the largest warplane contracts under the government arms procurement program and it will help replace all of the Su-24 bombers currently in service with the “4+ generation” aircraft, Serdyukov said.
The Ministry will take delivery of 10 Su-34s in 2012, all of them to be deployed in the Western Military District. Last year six fighter-bombers were delivered to the Air Force. These come under an initial contract for 32 Su-34s.
At present the Air Force has 12 Su-34s.
Factoring in the new contract, the Air Force will have a total of 124 Su-34s.
The ministry previously said a total of 70 Su-34s will be delivered by 2015.
