According to Russia's $325-billion rearmament program, fourth-generation aircraft are being replaced with new models, increasing by 2020 the amount of upgraded military equipment to 70 percent.
“From 1992 through 2012, the Air Force received practically nothing except for a few units of equipment and not very modern at that. Starting from 2012, we have received more than 300 airplanes and helicopters and by 2020, this number will be close to 1,000 completely new airplanes and helicopters, plus there will be modernized planes and helicopters,” Col.-Gen. Bondarev said during a live interview on Russia’s Rossiya-24 television channel.
Bondarev added that Russian Air and Space Forces expect to receive the first modernized Tu-160 Blackjack supersonic strategic bomber in 2021. The Tu-160 bomber has variable-sweep wings, designed to engage targets around the globe with nuclear and conventional weapons.
In 2013, the Russian Defense Ministry signed a contract with the Tupolev design bureau and Kazan Aircraft Plant worth 3.4 billion rubles ($66 million) to upgrade three Tu-160 bombers.