"We should have 24 Su-34s by 2010 to equip an air force regiment," Sergei Ivanov said, adding that the ministry would acquire two of Su-34s (NATO classification Fullback) in 2006, another seven in 2007, and a further 10 in 2008.
"All the short-term plans have been coordinated," said Ivanov, recently appointed head of a new commission to oversee the defense industry. "Since 2004, the ministry has been allowed to conclude long-term [three-year] contracts with defense industry enterprises."
A ministry official previously said the air force had 10 regiments flying Su-24s (NATO classification Fencer), which would be gradually replaced with Su-34s.
Ivanov said Russia did not need as many Su-34s as it has 24s, because the new plane is vastly superior in terms of combat characteristics.
The $36-million Su-34 fighter-bomber is a two-seat strike aircraft equipped with twin AL-31MF afterburning turbojet engines. It is designed to deliver high-precision strikes at heavily guarded targets in any weather conditions, day or night, and fields weaponry including a 30mm GSh-301 cannon, up to 12 Alamo or Archer AAMs, ASMs, and bombs.
A senior official at the Chkalov research center in Siberia, where the new plane is being tested, said the Su-34 (prototype designation Su-27IB) was undergoing final test flights.
