Massive Russian MoD Orders Expected for MiG, Sukhoi

After more than a decade of surviving spending cuts at home, the Russian military aircraft industry is expecting orders for over 200 Sukhoi Su-35 fighters, Su-34 fighter-bombers, Su-30 multi-role fighters and MiG-29K carrier-based fighters. According to Russian News Agency reports, the Russian MOD has not purchased any new aircraft in over a decade and is keen to make up for lost time. The past decade saw the industry survive the break-up of the Soviet Union and notch up impressive export orders in India, the Middle East and Asia. Issues with servicing and spares compounded with multiple companies from the former Soviet republics offering these services have complicated matters in some of the markets. However, with the consolidation of the Russian industry into a single entity, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, a holding company of the various state owned aircraft manufacturing entities, the future looks upbeat with production on track and home and international orders keeping the cash register ticking in. UAC is well on its way to becoming a global major similar to EADS in Western Europe. With the Russian economy looking upwards and its major market, India on way to a major modernization program, the market for Russian military aircraft looks bright.