As several nations celebrate V-E Day, the victory of the Allied powers over Nazi Germany some 70 years ago, Russia quietly continues to develop its’ military for the 21st Century. Meet the PAK TA, Russia’s Special Purpose Heavy-Lift Aircraft, which is designed to ferry the Armata main battle tank, and its ammunition, to anywhere in the world.

According to sources, “the new design specification from the Military-Industrial Commission in Moscow, a transport aircraft, dubbed PAK TA, will fly at supersonic speeds (up to 2,000 km/h) and will boast an impressively high payload of up to 200 tons. It will also have a range of at least 7,000 kilometers.

The PAK TA program envisages 80 new cargo aircraft to be built by 2024. This means in a decade Russia’s Central Command will be able to place a battle-ready armored army anywhere, Expert Online reports, citing a source in the military who attended the closed meeting.”

Together with other new combat systems, such as the Kurganats-25 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Bumerang (Boomerang) 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carrier, and Borei class ballistic missile submarine, Russia seems to be spending vast quantities of its dwindling hard currency on advanced weapons systems, all designed to keep pace with recent platforms continually being shown by the West, China and other nations.