Military

Aircraft Repair Plant (ARZ) n°121

Aircraft Overhaul Plant No. 121 at Kubinka, Moscow Region, [also termed the 121st Aircraft Repair Plant or Aircraft Repair Plant (ARZ) n°121 or 121st Aircraft Repair Depot] is involved in repair, modernization and servicing of airframes, engines and accessories.

Around 100 Su-25 and Su-25BM 'Frogfoot-A's, as well as some Su-25UB 'Frogfoot-B's, all with an average age of more than ten years old, will be upgraded by the aircraft repair plant (ARZ) n°121 at Kubinka, with the support of the 'Shturmoviki Sukhogo' consortium until 2008.

Upgrading the MiG-29 to 'SMT' standard is carried out by Air Force Repair Plant No 121 at Kubinka near Moscow. The overall plan provides for modernization of 150 recently manufactured MiG-29s, with the remainder of the older aircraft being withdrawn from service (presently there are 330 MiG-29 aircraft in Russian combat units and 130 in training units).

In 1998 a decision was made by the Defense Ministry to launch a quantity-modernization program of the MiG-29 fighters. A total of 150 to 180 modernized MiG-29SMTs will be introduced in service with the Russian Air Force. Extensive modernization is planned only of the aircraft produced through the previous decade. This will provide a dramatic increase in combat capabilities of the Russian Air Force. The modernization program started in September 1998 by the Kubinka military aircraft-repair plant and the MAPO MIG. The first batch of 10 to 15 MiG-29SMTs was delivered before the end of the year. In 1999, a total of 20 to 30 MiG-29 fighters were modernized into the MiG-29SMT version, approaching fifth-generation fighters in terms of characteristics. Starting from the year 2000, the program's annual modernization rate was expected to reach 40 MiG-29SMTs.

Staryy Gorodok is situated some 2 kilometers to the South East of Kubinka air base.