
https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/6434341
SOCHI, May 15./Tass. Until 2028, 76 Su-57 aircraft will be purchased, a comprehensive contract will be concluded soon. This was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, opening the next meeting on defense issues.
“The weapons program until 2028 planned to buy 16 such aircraft,” Putin recalled. According to him, after analyzing the situation, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to him that manufacturers reduced the cost of both aircraft and weapons by 20%, as a result of which it became possible to purchase more combat vehicles of this class. “We agreed that we would purchase over the same period of time without increasing the cost of 76 such aircraft,” Putin said.
The head of state stressed that the Russian defense industry had not done anything like this in the last forty years on such a scale and on a new platform. He expressed the hope that the adjusted plans will be executed. "In the near future, a contract will be signed for an integrated supply of 76 such fighters, equipped with modern means of destruction and provided with the necessary ground infrastructure," said the head of state.
The President recalled that the industry is focusing on the development of modern aircraft, which determine the combat potential of the Russian military aviation for the next decade. "At the final stage of testing are multi-role fighters Su-35S and Su-57," the Russian leader said, noting that their combat characteristics are the best in the world. He said that by 2028 it was necessary to completely re-equip the three aviation regiments of the VCS with promising fifth-generation aviation complexes.
Putin also noted that in February 2018, the updated Tu-160M bomber made its first flight. Putin also called for increasing the combat capabilities of existing military aircraft and helicopters with the help of existing capabilities and effective modernization. According to him, the power of the MiG-31 interceptor fighter significantly increased, on the basis of which the advanced Dagger aviation complex, equipped with a hypersonic ballistic missile, was created.
According to the president, it is also necessary to consistently update the strategic missile carriers Tu-95, Tu-160, and long-range Tu-22M bombers. "All of them should be able to carry the latest cruise missiles, as well as other promising means of destruction," Putin concluded ...