Prospective Air Complex for Long Range Aviation (PAK DA) will be put into operation by the Russian air forces in 2020 (5 years earlier than planned), RIA Novosti reports. It was declared by the interim of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian air forces, Major General Alexander Chernyaev.
Commander-in-Chief of the long-range aviation, Major General Anatoly Zhikharev, said earlier that PAK DA may be delivered to the air forces of Russia in 2025.
"I think that the first serial PAK DA bombers will be delivered to the air forces in 2020", - Chernyaev said.
According to him, such optimistic forecast is connected with the fact that the concept of PAK DA has already been formed and now the request for proposals is being refined. "At present we have everything to develop the jet in time and deliver it to the air forces along with Tu-95MS, Tu-160 and Tu-22M3 aircraft, which have already proven their reliability", - the general believes.
Chernyaev underlined that besides development of the advanced bomber, the long-range aviation intends to upgrade Тu-95МS, Тu-160, Тu-22М3 aircraft and Il-78 tankers.
"The increase in combat capabilities of Tu-95MS strategic bomber and missile platform will be achieved by upgrading every component (increase of their technical excellence and intellectualization of information processes of the aircraft system’s tactical employment). Tu-22M3’s airborne systems will be upgraded and the aircraft will be equipped with additional armament (high-precision armament on the basis of guided air-to-surface munition", - the General said.
The modernization of Tu-160 bombers will include increase of its combat characteristics necessary for employment of conventional, nonnuclear ordnance, including the high-precision ones. In addition, the aircraft’s avionics will be upgraded and the nomenclature of its armament will be expanded.
Minister of Defense, Anatoly Serdukov, said earlier that Dmitry Medvedev (Chairman of the government) has taken a decision regarding construction of new advanced plant at the territory of Kazan Aircraft Production Association named after Gorbunov (KAPO) intended for production of An-70 aircraft and possibly PAK DA.
At present the strategic air assets are forming part of 37th Air Army (their fleet includes 32 Тu-95МS6s, 31 Тu-95МS16s and 13 Тu-160 bombers). They are able to carry over 850 long-range cruise missiles.
