The air army, which is planned to be created in the western direction in the interests of protecting Russia from NATO, will require new aircraft. The relevant details were revealed to Izvestia by interviewed experts.

“The only question is where they will get so many aircraft, and most importantly, trained flight personnel. It has long been necessary to open new flight schools and train more personnel, ”said Valery Gorbenko, former commander of the 4th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense.

According to military historian Dmitry Boltenkov, the reformatted 6th Army can form the basis of the new air army. “It can be assumed that after the division of the Western Military District into Leningrad and Moscow, the zone of responsibility of the 6th Army will be halved,” the specialist said.

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Boltenkov noted that the Russian military-industrial complex would have to work hard. “We are talking at least about the need to supply Su-34 and Su-35 bombers to the military in the near future to form new aviation regiments. Anti-aircraft systems will also be needed, ”the expert specified.

In June, Izvestia, citing sources in the Russian Defense Ministry, reported plans to create a new air army in the western direction.