Russian Air Force Commander Vladimir Mikhailov told RIA Novosti news service that the Russian Air Force would receive by 2010 a regiment’s worth of new Su-34 fighter-bombers to replace its older Su-24 front line bomber. It has “about 10” so far, he said. In January, Mikhailov was hailing the prospective arrival of a new tactical fighter and saying replacements for older MiGs was in order.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
