VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Russia and France have consistently prioritised the aerospace sector in bilateral cooperation, as was confirmed by their joint projects on display at Le Bourget.
The main project is, in effect, a programme for launching Russian-made Soyuz rockets from the Guiana Space Centre near Kourou.
The Soyuz project at the Guiana Space Centre near Kourou is part of the European Space Agency's programme and will cost a total 344 million euros. The Russian side will contribute 121 million euros. The 15-year project stipulates 50 commercial launches. The partners are to earn $200 million annually, and the project is to recoup itself in 7-9 years.
On May 7, 2011, the Guiana Space Centre near Kourou officially commissioned a facility for launching Russian-made Soyuz space rockets. The first Soyuz launch vehicle is scheduled to lift off from Kourou in October 2011.
Russia and France also continue to implement the joint Ural programme for the creation of advanced launch vehicles and manned transport systems.
The Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) and the French Space Agency (Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES)) have been working on the programme since 2004. On March 1, 2010, Roskosmos and CNES signed a plan outlining the specific objectives of the Ural programme. The project is expected to produce a launch vehicle that may be used as a platform for heavier space systems. As far as practical aspects are concerned, the partners have decided to develop a flight demonstrator that can also function as a superlight launch vehicle.
The Sukhoi Superjet-100 regional airliner project is approaching the finish line. Apart from the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company and the Saturn Research and Production Association (NPO), the project involves eight French companies, including Safran and the Thales Group. The French side has contributed 30% of the project's statutory capital. The Sukhoi Superjet-100 will feature Russian-French SAM-146 engines. In June 2010, the engine received the international certification of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). In August 2010, it received an aviation registration certificate from the Interstate Aviation Committee. In January 2011, the Interstate Aviation Committee issued a certificate for the RRJ-95B aircraft to the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company. The company has signed contracts for the production of 170 aircraft with a number of air carriers and leasing companies in Russia, Armenia, Indonesia, Laos, Mexico, and the United States. The first plane was delivered to the Armenian company Armavia on April 19, 2011.
The French side is also interested in Russia's Beriyev Be-200-CHS amphibious aircraft and hopes to use it to replace its fire-fighting aircraft, whose service life is set to expire in 2015-2017. In September 2010, the Beriyev Be-200-CHS-E amphibious aircraft received a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) flightworthiness certificate.
Bilateral cooperation to develop a new family of Russian Irkut MS-21 medium-haul planes (the acronym stands for "Airliner of the 21st Century") is picking up momentum. France's Zodiac Aerospace and Goodrich companies will supply the plane's primary systems. The Russian side may continue the joint development of secondary systems with French manufacturers.
The MS-21 is scheduled to perform its maiden flight in 2014 and to receive a Russian flightworthiness certificate in 2015. A European flightworthiness certificate is to be received in 2016 in line with the initial deliveries. In all, 1,150-1200 MS-21 aircraft are expected to be sold.
