15 June 2004 06:06
Russia to earmark over USD1m for AN-70 plane development in 2004
MOSCOW. June 15 (Interfax) - Russia will allocate about RUB30m (USD1m) for developing the AN-70 military transport in
2004, Leonid Terentyev, Director General of the Medium Transport Plane international consortium, told Interfax-Military
News Agency on Tuesday.
He noted that the upcoming meeting of the intergovernmental
Russian-Ukrainian commission was unlikely to achieve a radical
"The Russian side will most likely earmark about RUB30m (USD1m) for the AN-70 development in 2004. Russia is
unlikely to provide more funds in 2004," Terentyev said.
He also noted that there were all necessary decrees, decisions,
and orders for fulfilling and completing the AN-70 research and
breakthrough with regards to the AN-70 program.
According to Terentyev, the meeting will be held in the next one to two months.
"The exact date of the meeting will be defined by the two governments," he said.
development.
The AN-70 is powered by four D-27 engines developing 14,000hp
each. The aircraft with a take-off weight of 130t is capable of
airlifting up to 47t of cargo. Its maximum cruising speed is 750-
The program for the AN-70 STOL aircraft has been implemented together by Russia and Ukraine on the basis of two
intergovernmental agreements of June 24, 1993, and May 19, 1999. The state customers of the aircraft are the Russian and
Ukrainian defense ministries, and the head contractor is the Antonov Corporation.
Russia originally planned to buy 164 planes and Ukraine 65 planes, which corresponds to 72 and 28 percent of the
R&D value. The plane's mass production will be handled by the Polyot production association in Russia's
Omsk and by the Aviant aviation plant in Kyiv. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry signed the contract for the delivery of
the first five AN-70s for the Ukrainian Air Force in April 2001.
The aircraft also enjoys international attention - from China, India, and some other Asian Pacific nations.
800kmph. The plane's service life is 20,000 flights or 45,000 flight hours or 25 years in operation. [RU EUROPE
EEU EMRG UA AER] <>
[Interfax] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
