Russia to develop new early warning plane by 2016

Updated: 2011-08-09 21:37

(Xinhua)

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MOSCOW - Russia is expected to develop a new airborne warning and control system (AWACS) plane by 2016, Air Force chief Col. Gen Alexander Zelin said on Tuesday.

The general said the new A-100 plane will have an advanced active phase array capable of detecting and tracking airborne and land-based targets.

The Russian Air Force has 20 A-50 Mainstay AWACS planes based on the Il-76 transport aircraft.

Zelin also said the Russian Air Force will increase its bases from 8 to 14 by 2020, adding that more than 1,000 helicopters would be purchased under the state procurements program.

With regards to the deployment of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, he said the Russian Armed Forces will receive four S-400 Triumph systems in 2011.

"We have received the second S-400 air defense missile regiment this year. It has entered combat duty last week. We will receive two more S-400 regiments this year," Zelin said.

The general also confirmed that Russia's Aerospace Defense Forces will be supplied with another six Pantsir-S anti-aircraft artillery systems

"Four Pantsir-S systems have been delivered to an anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Fourth Air Force/Air Defense Command in Novorossiysk. Another six systems will be delivered to the Operative Strategic Command of the Aerospace Defense Forces," he said.

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