Alexander Velovich/MOSCOW
The Russian government is considering moves toward a merger of the nation's two fighter manufacturers, MAPO and Sukhoi. An order for the restructuring is reported to be awaiting approval at prime minister Yevgeny Primakov's office, say reports in the Russian media.
The government set up an inter-agency commission in December to plan the restructuring of the aircraft industry. Sukhoi general director and former Su-27 chief designer Mikhail Pogosyan, a commission member, admits the commission's recommendations are likely to include greater integration of design bureaux and production plants as well as financial measures such as government-backed leasing of commercial aircraft.
State guarantees for investment bank loans and the creation of a special aircraft industry investment fund are also planned to support aircraft development and production programmes.
If the government pursues the recommendations, the first step for the merger is likely to be the appointment of Nikolai Nikitin, a deputy to Pogosyan, to become MAPO general director.
Pogosyan says he is against enforced solutions to the merger problem, but he concedes the necessity of further integration work between design bureaux on next-generation fighters and upgrade programmes for those aircraft in service.
The fate of the industry will depend on exports, he says.
Source: Flight International
