On September 9, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin held a meeting on the aircraft industry in Ulyanovsk. Military-Technical Cooperation bulletin presents excerpts of the meeting record revealed to the media.
The domestic aircraft industry's performance will largely depend on the Russian Technologies Corporation, Vladimir Putin said at the meeting.
Currently, it largely depends on the state-owned corporation Russian Technologies, "whether the domestic industry will manufacture up-to-date and affordable aircraft," Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
The Prime Minister said it has recently decided to transfer "a significant number of the country's aircraft unit and component manufacturing enterprises to Russian Technologies Corporation."
Mr Putin suggests establishing a Council of Chief Designers.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin suggests establishing Council of Chief Designers for chief designers employed in high-technology industries.
"We find it reasonable to create a council to be affiliated with the Prime Minister," said Vladimir Putin.
"Unfortunately, we don't have a venue for continuous communication with the people who form basic concepts, not only in the aircraft industry but also in other high-technology areas. We need to implement this idea," Vladimir Putin added.
Vladimir Putin considers it necessary for the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to include enterprises which will contribute new capacities and resources.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin considers it necessary to integrate enterprises which have significant capacities and resources, and not only obsolete infrastructure and debt, into the UAC.
The Prime Minister said the UAC structure needs to be finalised, and the National Aircraft Manufacturing Centre in Zhukovsky outside Moscow needs to be built. Additionally, the possibility of the Uzbek and Ukrainian key aircraft manufacturing assets being included in the UAC need to be discussed with partners in these countries.
Mr Putin said integration should be acceptable for our foreign partners and profitable for Russia.
The Prime Minister also mentioned that UAC enterprises needs serious retooling and modernisation by introducing up-to-date production control systems, reducing expenses and engaging young engineers and workers.
Mr Putin stressed that "the transition to digital technologies alone" would reduce expenses by up to 30% in some areas." Regional governments could play a major role in this process, the Prime Minister added. "It's about improving the quality of personnel training and providing aircraft industry employees with priority access to regional housing and social programmes," Vladimir Putin explained.
The UAC is negotiating an agreement to resume production of the An-124 Ruslan aircraft.
The UAC is negotiating an agreement to resume production of the An-124 Ruslan heavy-lift transport aircraft with Volga-Dnepr company, as well as with foreign concerns, said UAC president Alexei Fyodorov.
"At least $500 million and an initial order for 40 to 50 aircraft are needed to resume production of the An-124." "Some technologies were lost during the production halt." "We used to produce a unique type of rolled aluminium," the official said.
"We are currently in talks with Volga-Dnepr, but the capacity of the latter does not allow it to carry out an order which would cover the expenses. We are also negotiating interesting business plans with foreign concerns," Fyodorov added.
At a presentation held inside the cargo compartment of an An-124-100 Ruslan at Aviastar aircraft factory, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was filled in on the necessary steps for resuming the plane's production.
As for the Ilyushin Il-476, the first prototype will be manufactured in 2010, with a production run of the "significantly modernised" aircraft starting in 2011, Fyodorov said.
The Government plans to allocate significant assistance to the aircraft industry - Ministry of Industry and Trade
Denis Manturov, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, voiced his opinion on state support for the Russian aircraft industry.
Aside from the Aircraft Industry Development Strategy through 2015, there are actual federal target programmes, including Civil Aircraft Development for 2002-2010 and through 2015, National Engineering Capabilities for 2007-2011, Defence Industry Development for 2007-2010 and through 2015, Deputy Industry and Trade Minister noted.
The federal target programme prioritises improvement of quality and reliability of serial products, developing the after-sales service system and reducing the cost of aircraft maintenance by operators.
State support for 2008-2010 will include partial reimbursement of credit interest charges to aircraft- and engine-building enterprises for modernisation, equipment leasing, yearly budget appropriations to the UAC capital stock and customs tariff regulation, Denis Manturov said.
The official added that significant support will be provided to aviation engine-building, with the first step to be made with the creation of a United Engine-Building Corporation with a total volume of investments at 84 billion roubles ($3 billion). Currently, federal executive bodies are considering the Gas Turbine Building Industry Development Strategy for 2008-2015 and through 2025, which envisages consolidation, capitalisation and concentration of the industry's research and technology potential, and a corresponding federal target programme.
The Government will render financial assistance to the avionics enterprise Utyos (Rock).
The Government will render financial assistance to a top avionics production enterprise Utyos. According to Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, the corresponding order has been issued, "while the amount of the financial aid is to be determined by the Finance Ministry."
Utyos CEO Georgy Lafazan applied for financial assistance to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in September. Demonstrating a unique inertial navigation system, capable of identifying an aircraft's location, roll and heading, to the Prime Minister, Lafazan mentioned: "I was charged with the task to build a new system, and we have done it."
According to his report, the enterprise is ready for a "fast and intensive upgrade." "I am afraid we won't manage it by ourselves, we need assistance," the CEO complained. "The task has already been charged," Sergei Ivanov reported to the Prime Minister.