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Russian navy's air force to have 75 new aircraft by 2020

The force will receive 21 new planes and 54 helicopters
Photo ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Klimentyev
Photo ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Klimentyev

ST. PETERSBURG, September 2 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's naval air fleet will receive 75 new aircraft by 2020, Navy Commander in Chief Viktor Chirkov told reporters on Monday, visiting the Kuznetsov Naval Academy.

The force would receive 21 new planes and 54 helicopters, he said. Construction and purchase of promising air patrol complexes was planned alongside drones of various ranges and for various purposes. There was also a project to replace Tu-142M3 anti-submarine planes.

Russia's navy needed multi-purpose fighters such as the Su-30SM, he said. "We hope to receive several tens of such aircraft," the commander added.