NOVOSIBIRSK, March 21. The Novosibirsk-based Aviation Factory is outperforming the state defense plan for the production and delivery of Sukhoi Su-34 frontline bombers, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said on Tuesday.

"The factory has been ahead of schedule for several years now for the delivery of Su-34s for the Aerospace Force," Borisov reported to Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu at a meeting held at the Siberian aviation enterprise.

Under the plan, the Novosibirsk aviation factory is scheduled to deliver 14 Su-34 bombers to the Aerospace Force annually. However, the enterprise has been over-fulfilling the plan by two bombers annually in the past three years, the deputy defense minister said.

In 2017, the Russian Aerospace Force will receive 16 new Su-34 frontline bombers, with the total delivery plan of 92 such planes, he added.

The Russian deputy defense minister also praised the Su-34’s high combat characteristics.

"It has shown its best qualities in the Syrian conflict, has huge modernization potential and is actually a new-generation plane," the deputy defense minister said.

Starting from 2018, the Novosibirsk Aviation Factory will start upgrade of Su-34 bombers, Borisov said.