MOSCOW, July 26-RIA Novosti. The need to create a "doomsday" aircraft based on the IL-96-400M is associated with the emergence of a new generation of communication and information processing equipment, including from space, Viktor Murakhovsky, a member of the expert council at the board of the Military-Industrial Complex of the Russian Federation, told RIA Novosti.
Earlier, a source in the military-industrial complex told the agency that Voronezh has started creating a new aircraft for controlling troops in the event of a nuclear war. According to him, the Russian Aerospace Forces will receive two air command posts based on the Il-96-400M. According to the interlocutor of the agency, in the future, the order of the third air control point is not excluded.
"First of all, we are talking about the development of communication and management facilities. Some new types of communication have appeared, including satellite. Space navigation systems have appeared, for example, our GLONASS. In addition, new information processing tools have appeared. That is why it was necessary to create a new air command post for this equipment, " Murakhovsky said.
The expert noted that such aircraft are equipped with everything necessary for almost round-the-clock duty in the air, including means of refueling in the air.
Murakhovsky explained that in Russia such planes are made for the president, the Minister of Defense and the chief of the General Staff. Such vehicles should provide continuous control of the state, troops and strategic nuclear forces from the air in the event of a nuclear conflict.
The flight range of the new Il-96-400M will double compared to its predecessor. They can refuel in the air, they are accompanied by fighters in flight. The radio complex of the aircraft will allow bringing orders to the troops, including strategic aviation, mobile and mine launchers, submarines-carriers of strategic nuclear weapons within a radius of six thousand kilometers.
The United States also has flying command posts based on the Boeing 747.
