Advertisement

Russian fleet gets new ASW aircraft

MOSCOW, March 5 (UPI) -- The Russian navy's Northern Fleet is receiving new anti-submarine warfare aircraft with multiple capabilities.

"A modernized Ilyushin-38N was accepted into service at a Northern Fleet air base," said Northern Fleet press spokesman Capt. Vadim Serga.

Advertisement

"It has a wider range of combat capabilities. These aircraft can be used for mapping the magnetic and gravitational fields of the Northern Ice sea and also for conducting scientific oceanographic research and underwater and air reconnaissance."

The Ilyushin Aviation Complex, proposed builder of the new aircraft has headquarters in Moscow and is a major Russian aerospace design bureau, RIA Novosti news agency reported Monday.

The majority of the Russian navy's fleet of Il-38s will be retrofitted to meet the new standard, a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told RIA Novosti.

The Il-38N is fitted with the Novella sensor system, capable of detecting targets within about 200 miles of the aircraft as well as radar observation of underwater, surface and airborne targets.

Latest Headlines