Russian air forces expect the start of bulk deliveries of heavy military transport aircraft in 2014, ITAR-TASS reports. It was declared by the Military Airlift Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant General, Viktor Kachalkin.

"In accordance with the State program in the area of arms for the period until 2020, the deliveries of modernized heavy aircraft will be started in 2014, - he said. – We will acquire 41 Il-76MDMs, 40 Il-76МD-90Аs and 25 Аn-124s".

At that the General noted that Il-76 heavy aircraft will be manufactured by Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP. "The military operational requirement for Il-76МD-90А was approved and it is currently being considered by the Department for provision of State Defense Procurement and Acquisition, - Kachlakin noted. – The military operational requirement for Il-76МDМ aircraft has already been approved by the Ministry of Defense".

According to him, the work on modernization of heavy long-range military-transport An-124 “Ruslan” aircraft will be completed by 2015. According to the Commander, Russian air forces will acquire one An-124 by 2015 and 10 more – by 2020.

Speaking of acquisition of foreign aircraft, Kachalkin noted that Russian vehicles are meeting the requirements of military pilots that is why “we are not interested” in foreign aircraft.