The Ministry of Defense has decided on a candidate for a new anti-submarine aircraft

Tu-214PU-SBUS - @kazakhstanspottingclub

The Ministry of Defense has decided on a candidate for a new anti-submarine aircraft: 

Translated by google

The Russian Ministry of Defense decided to create a new anti-submarine aircraft. According to the Navy's Commander-in-Chief, the new anti-submarine aviation complex (PLC) will be created on the basis of the Tu-204 passenger airliner.

The Navy Commander-in-Chief prepared the technical requirements for the new anti-submarine aviation complex (PLC), the base of which will be the passenger Tu-204 or its version Tu-214. 

According to available information, already built aircraft will be converted to PLC, which is much cheaper and faster than building them from scratch. The exact timing of the start of production of new aircraft is unknown, but previously it was stated that the aircraft should appear before 2030. According to Izvestia, anti-submarine weapons will be part of the armament of new aircraft, robotic search and hunting equipment for submarines and related search on-board equipment.

In the Ministry of Defense, the choice of Tu-204/214 as the base for new anti-submarine aircraft is explained by the fact that the aircraft has a long range, in its characteristics it is close to the Boeing 737-800, on the basis of which the American P-8 Poseidon was created. The Tupolev company also has experience in converting Tu-204 passenger airliners into airplanes for law enforcement agencies.

To date, the Ministry of Defense has two integrated reconnaissance aircraft Tu-214R, two reconnaissance aircraft, the Tu-214ON, were built for observation flights under the Open Skies international treaty.

The special flight unit "Russia", which ensures the work of the first persons of the state, includes the Tu-214 in the variants of a command post, a repeater and a special communications center.

According to the online registry of Russian aircraft, at least 30 Tu-204/214 in passenger modifications are currently in storage.


Tu-214ON (Open Skies) Reconnaissance Aircraft: Details