MOSCOW, July 30 - The Russian Defense Ministry and Voronezh Aircraft Production Association have signed a contract on the delivery of 15 Antonov An-148 airplanes to the Russian Air Force, an aircraft industry source told Interfax-AVN on Tuesday.

"The contract says that the An-148 airplanes will be provided over the period from 2013 to 2017," he said.

"The Russian Air Force will receive the first An-148 plane this year, after which four airplanes will be provided every year in 2014 and 2015, and three airplanes will be delivered every year in 2016 and 2017," he said.