Global Security Newswire

Russia has announced plans to prepare within two decades a next-generation bomber capable of delivering nuclear weapons to targets, Interfax reported on Monday (see GSN, Feb. 6).

"We are developing an advanced long-range aviation system and we have entered the stage of project tender. I think we will inform the General Staff chief and defense minister in February about the advanced aircraft which is to be developed and to join the new and upgraded air force in the 2030s," Russian air force commander Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said

"Among the main state tasks that the command of the air force's long-range aviation tackles, is that of being part of the Russian strategic nuclear deterrence forces," Zelin added. "This question is in the focus of attention and we have been dealing with this problem substantively and in detail. Everything that has to do with strategic aviation is of priority importance in the development of the air force and is not to be reviewed" (Interfax, Feb. 13).

Moscow intends by the end of this decade to switch out its Su-24 bomber aircraft for Su-34 planes, ITAR-Tass reported. Zelin described the plan in responding to a query by ARMS-Tass on a crash of an Su-24 jet.

The Russian air force now holds 124 Su-24 planes, he said; the service expects this year to receive 10 Su-34 aircraft (ITAR-Tass, Feb. 14).

Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry could move to acquire as many as 20 Borei- and Yasen-class class submarines by the end of the decade, the Xinhua News Agency quoted General Staff chief Gen. Nikolai Makarov as saying on Tuesday (see GSN, Feb. 10).

Makarov said his country's military modernization plan calls for procuring 16 of the vessels.

"If such an opportunity appears, we will order two couples of Borei 955 and Yasen 855 submarines additionally," he said (Xinhua News Agency, Feb. 14).