MOSCOW. July 30 (Interfax-AVN) - The Air Force has announced that its aircraft fleet may be halved by 2011 unless financing is disbursed to overhaul and replace it.
"Our experts estimated that by 2011, the Air Force's fleet may be slashed by more than half unless the necessary funds are allocated to modernize and repair it," a source at the force's weapons department told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
At least 40% of the aircraft fleet has been used for over 20 years. Just over 3% of the fleet has been in use for ten years. Around 1% of planes and helicopters were received less than five years ago, the source noted.
In addition to upgrading the fleet, it is necessary to perform large-scale aircraft repairs, he went on. "Less than 50 percent of transport, frontline and army aviation aircraft are operational now," he said.
According to the source, the share of fourth-generation aircraft in military units remains as low as 30 percent.