Russia's Top Military Manufacturers To Avoid Air Show

The top Russian makers of military aircraft, whose aerial demonstrations and static displays have been a staple at the Paris Air Show for decades, won't be there this year. The reason: they don't want their planes impounded.

The Times Of Moscow reports AHC Sukhoi and RSK MiG will forego the world's largest military air show next week because they're worried the planes will be commandeered by a Swiss trading company to which Russia owes millions in unpaid debts.

Long-Running Dispute

The Swiss company, Noga, says Russia owes it more than $60 million in oil-for-food deals signed during the last decade. Two years ago, Noga tried to seize a MiG and a Sukhoi at the Paris Air Show. This year, neither manufacturer is willing to take a chance on the same thing happening again.

So, MiG will send mock-ups instead of real aircraft. Sukhoi won't send anything at all. "Preparation work for sending real Sukhoi models to Le Bourget has been completely stopped," Sukhoi spokesman Yury Chervakov was quoted by Interfax as saying.

FMI: www.paris-air-show.com/index3.htm