Russian air forces took delivery of more than 30 new helicopters in 2013
Over 30 new attack, transport and training helicopters were delivered to the Russian Air Forces (RAF) in 2013 and a few score of such vehicles will be delivered to the RAF by the end of the year, ITAR-TASS reports with reference to the official representative of the air forces, Colonel Igor Klimov.
"Our air forces are operating one of the world’s best helicopters: Mi-24, Mi-35, Mi-26, Mi-28N "Night Hunter", Mi-8 and its advanced modifications, Ka-50 "Black Shark" and Ka-52 "Alligator", "Ansat-U". The overhaul of operated helicopters is in progress: over 70 vehicles were delivered to the military units of the air forces by the aircraft repair plants", - he said.
"Under the conditions of intensive combat training carried out by all the branches of the RAF the flying time of the pilots has increased by 15% as compared to 2012", - the representative of the air forces noted. He reminded that the air forces’ only aerobatic team called “Berkuti” operates Mi-28 helicopters. The team performs demonstration flights with aerobatic maneuvers.
The further development of the air forces assumes deliveries of new vehicles having an improved aircraft performance and combat capabilities, Klimov said. The State Arms Program for the period until 2020 assumes delivery of about 1 thousand helicopters to the Russian air forces.
Source: http://www.ruaviation.com/news/2013/10/29/2015/
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