In 2015 Rossiya special aircraft division will take delivery of two new Il-96s, two Tu-204s, three Tu-214s and two Sukhoi SuperJet 100 aircraft as well as three new helicopters, Izvestiya reports with reference to the press secretary of the Department of Presidential Affairs Viktor Khrekov.
“This year in the network of a federal target investment program the special aircraft division will take delivery of the following aircraft: two Il-96s from Voronezh, two Tu-204s from Ulyanovsk, three Tu-214s from Kazan, two SSJ 100s and three helicopters. Contracts for deliveries of the abovementioned aircraft were signed in 2012–2014 period,” Khrekov said.
Today the special aircraft division operates 59 aircraft. The Rossiya is not going to expand its fleet: new aircraft will replace the outdated ones, mostly Tu-154 and Il-62 liners, Khrekov said. These liners (the division operates only passenger aircraft) will be disposed of or handed over to interested agencies. He didn’t explain what agencies could be interested in these aircraft and the age of the vehicles.
Il-96-300PU (PU means command post) aircraft is used by the President and Prime Minister of Russia. The federal target investment program approved by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia in 2011includes purchase of Il-96-300PU М1 (М stands for “upgraded version”) seating 47 passengers and Il-96-300PU featuring a “Salon” configuration seating 160 passengers. In January 2014 Department of Presidential Affairs signed a contract with the only supplier – United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) – for delivery of Il-96-300 (Salon) worth 3,75 billion rubles and Il-96-300PU (М1) worth 5,2 billion rubles. Voronezh Aircraft Manufacturing Company (VASO, part of UAC) said that it would deliver two Il-96-300 jets in 2015.
Three Tu-214SR relay aircraft were developed for the Department of Presidential Affairs to provide communications to the leaders of the country. It’s interesting that during the President’s or Prime Minister’s visits (at least in Russia) they are circling the place of meeting just like a giant moving Wi-Fi router. Previously the Rossiya’s fleet comprised two jets of the type; the third one was delivered to the aircraft division in January 2015 (seems like it was the first one out of three jets announced by Khrekov for 2015). They are manufactured by Kazan Aviation Plant named after S.P. Gorbunov (KAPO, part of UAC). The enterprise assembled six aircraft for the special aircraft division in 2012. Today Rossiya operates 12 Tu-214 jets (different versions).
As for deliveries of helicopters, Khrekov didn’t explain anything, however, the abovementioned program of the Ministry of Economic Development includes procurement of Mi-8MT-1S with a communication center and Mi-8 transport helicopters. At present the aircraft division operates 15 Mi-8 helicopters. Its fleet also comprises four Augusta Westland AW139s manufactured by Finmeccanica S.p.A (Italy).
The last large contract was signed in 2011 – the special aircraft division purchased 10 new aircraft. At that time its fleet comprised 56 vehicles: 38 airplanes and 18 helicopters.
