Could Be Boost To Sagging Russian Civil Aviation Designs

Two of the better-known names in Russian aviation have decided to get together to create new civil aviation aircraft in a venture they hope will bring the combined effort $3.5 billion in annual profits. It's the latest attempt by Russia's anemic civil aviation industry to consolidate, innovate and create new sources of revenue.

Pravda reports Irkut and the Yakolev Design Bureau are putting their corporate heads together and already, Irkut President Aleksey Fyodorov says, "We have conducted over 20 negotiations with spokespeople for both Russian and foreign companies. A lot of those talks can become very good contracts. Our partners evince great interest in the civil aviation, especially in the Be-200 airplane and in the Ya-130 unmanned aircraft, which is our new product."

The partnership allows Irkut to control the entire process of aviation manufacturing from design to fabrication to assembly. Pravda reports the partnership also allows Yakolev to spread its wings, with assured funding for its design projects at all phases of powered flight.

FMI: http://eng.irkut.ru