But in the early 2000s, Moscow envisioned updating its airborne reconnaissance capabilities with the Tupolev Tu-214R. Today, the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) operates only three of these planes ...

Russia conceals the sources of funding for its defense industry, notes the think tank RUSI in its report. In reality, ...

Russia’s fleet of Tu-214Rs is very small—and shows no sign of increasing. But the bird’s advanced electronics and optical systems offer unique advantages to the Russian military.