Boeing chief executive Harry Stonecipher signed a framework agreement with Russia's industry minister Victor Khristenko during a visit to Moscow last week. The agreement will see an expansion in the co-operation between Russian industry and the US firm.
Khristenko says the new agreements call for joint projects worth $2.5 billion over the next six years, compared with $2.3 billion worth of joint projects performed over the past 10 years. The pact calls for Russian participation in the Boeing 7E7 programme; an increase in the supply of Russian titanium to Boeing; and further co-operation on the Sea Launch, Land Launch and International Space Station space projects. Russian carrier Aeroflot has indicated its interest in ordering the new 7E7 twinjet to supplement its Boeing 767s on long-haul routes.
For the 7E7, the two sides have agreed to co-operate in airframe design using new technologies, working particularly with the Russian Academy of Science, central aerohydrodynamics institute TsAGI, national institute of aviation technologies NIAT and All-Russia Scientific Research Institute of Aviation Materials. Russia will participate in the development of the 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter that will be used to ferry 7E7 subassemblies.
Stonecipher signed a separate agreement with titanium supplier VSMPO on "a considerable increase of titanium supply", the joint development of new alloys and titanium processing technologies and development and production, by Boeing's Moscow Design Center and VSMPO, of "ready-to-use" titanium parts for Boeing aircraft.
VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW
Source: Flight International
