Thursday, May 22, 2014

Report: Russia's PAK-DA Strategic Bomber Will fly in 2019

Russia's future PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft should complete its maiden flight in 2019, the head of the Russian Air Force stated on 22 May.

Lieutenant General Viktor Bondarev stated: "The maiden flight should be performed in 2019," according to comments carried by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

Lt Gen Bondarev added that "state tests and supplies will be completed in 2023," after which the aircraft will begin to enter service.

The PAK-DA programme has lumbered on since first being disclosed in 2007. United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is under contract to develop the aircraft, with the holding company's Tupolev design bureau and the KAPO production plant in Kazan (which are currently being merged together) developing the aircraft.

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