Moscow, Jun 10 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered for construction of an aircraft manufacturing plant for producing tactical transport aircraft in Kazan city, said Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

The mooted plant in Tatarstan's capital will be intended, in particular, for constructing Antonov An-70 propfan tactical transport aircraft and possibly in future for the production of a new generation strategic bombers, the minister said.

"It will be the most up-to-date plant producing An-70 aircraft, and as soon as with settle the issue with new long-range aircraft, it might be produced there as well," Serdyukov said.

Two weeks ago Lt. General Viktor Kachalkin, the commander of Russia's Military Transport Aviation (VTA), announced that the service will receive 60 Antonov An-70 propfan tactical transport aircraft by 2020.

The Ukrainian-designed An-70, being built together with Russia, has had a long-running and troubled gestation. The aircraft also had a history of snags with its propfan engines.

Russia pulled out of the project in 2006, with Russian Air Force commander Vladimir Mikhailov stating it did not need the aircraft and would prefer the modernised Il-76. But it later rejoined the programme.