Klaus
New Member
The German journal "Flieger Revue" published an article on the recent development
of Ukraine's Air Force. According to it the frontline squadrons currently operate
36 Su 27, 80 MiG 29, 40 Su 24 M/MR and 36 Su 25. These are augmented by some 40 L 39 and a handful of transports (Il 76, An 26, An 72).
The helicopter units operate more than a hundred Mi 8 and about 40 Mi 24.
The MoD's plans call for the retirement of another 16 MiG 29, 4 Su 24 and 12 Su 25
until 2015. The only new aircraft on order, however, are 3 An 70 transports.
At the moment only a hundful of the service's MiG 29 and Su 25 have been upgraded with new navigation systems, night vision goggles and partially with new radars. If it goes on like this, there will be no more operational aircraft left within some years as all of the current machines are already 22-25 years old.
So what will be future of the Ukrainian Air Force be? To operate increasingly obsolete aircraft in dwindling numbers and end up completely unarmed one day due to lack of fundings? I find it quite strange that at the same time the MoD orders several new warships (3 plus 3 three more planned) while it is complaining that
there is no money left to buy new tanks and aircraft.
Is there any particular reasn why the smallest branch of the country's armed forces gets the largest share of the budget?
of Ukraine's Air Force. According to it the frontline squadrons currently operate
36 Su 27, 80 MiG 29, 40 Su 24 M/MR and 36 Su 25. These are augmented by some 40 L 39 and a handful of transports (Il 76, An 26, An 72).
The helicopter units operate more than a hundred Mi 8 and about 40 Mi 24.
The MoD's plans call for the retirement of another 16 MiG 29, 4 Su 24 and 12 Su 25
until 2015. The only new aircraft on order, however, are 3 An 70 transports.
At the moment only a hundful of the service's MiG 29 and Su 25 have been upgraded with new navigation systems, night vision goggles and partially with new radars. If it goes on like this, there will be no more operational aircraft left within some years as all of the current machines are already 22-25 years old.
So what will be future of the Ukrainian Air Force be? To operate increasingly obsolete aircraft in dwindling numbers and end up completely unarmed one day due to lack of fundings? I find it quite strange that at the same time the MoD orders several new warships (3 plus 3 three more planned) while it is complaining that
there is no money left to buy new tanks and aircraft.
Is there any particular reasn why the smallest branch of the country's armed forces gets the largest share of the budget?