MOSOW. Dec 22 (Interfax-AVN) - The first Russian Air Force regiment, equipped with upgraded SU-27SM Flanker fighters, is expected to be tailored in 2006, Army General Vladimir Mikhailov, Russian Air Force Commander-in-Chief, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"This step is envisioned by the long-term state contract, the first one in the Russian Air Force," he said.
He also noted that the decision on signing long-term contract on SU-27SM deliveries required to tailor full-strength air regiments starting in 2004 was adopted by the Russian Defense Ministry in June 2004 with an active participation of the Sukhoi Holding Company.
The SU-27 fighter modernization, carried out by Sukhoi, is primarily based on the backlog, established within the framework of export programs, which considerably reduced the Defense Ministry's expenditures on development and tests of the aircraft, Mikhailov said.
"According to Sukhoi Director General Mikhail Pogosyan, the company is ready to start delivering upgraded SU-24M2 Fencer and SU-25SM Frogfoot aircraft in 2005, while SU-34 Flanker multi-role combat aircraft in 2006," he said.
He pointed out that deliveries of combat aircraft to the Russian Air Force were a priority for Sukhoi, despite diversification plans and export contracts.
The first seven upgraded SU-27SMs will be handed over to the Air Force in Komsomolsk-on-Amur on Thursday. They will be fielded with the Dzemgi air regiment, deployed in the Russian Far East.