Russian Air Force to receive strike aircraft from Navy

MOSCOW (BNS): Russian Navy is planning to relocate some of its naval strike aircraft to the Air Force by the end of 2011, according to a media report.

Russian Air Force will receive Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers, MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors, Su-27 Flanker fighter jets and Su-24 Fencer attack aircraft from the Navy.

According to RIA Novosti, the strike component of naval aviation will be transferred under the control of the Russian Air Force by the end of the year.

The Russian Naval aviation will be left with the Su-33 Flanker D and Su-25UTG Frogfoot carrier-based aircraft, Il-38 May and Be-12 anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

The Black Sea Fleet's Su-24 attack aircraft based in the Crimea under a treaty with Ukraine will also remain under the control of the Navy, it said.