Alexander Velovich/Moscow
Russia's Tupolev design bureau has signed an agreement to merge with its main production plants to create a third large integrated aerospace concern in the country.
The agreement is to bring Tupolev together with the Aviastar operation which manufactures the Tu-204 and Antonov An-124 in Ulyanosk and Aviacro, producer of the Tu-154Min Samara.
Although all three enterprises have private investors, the state still retains control through majority shareholdings.
The merger proposal has been submitted to the Russian Government, which plans to review the overall strategy of aerospace restructuring in September.
Russia's economics ministry, charged with responsibility for aerospace, is expected to support the move, having made clear that it wishes to see the industry consolidate to no more than four major integrated groupings.
The process has begun with the creation of two main groupings in the defence sector, led by the Mikoyan and Sukhoi design bureaux. Tupolev will add a third major integrated company in the civil sector. More mergers are expected (Flight International, 4-10 June).
Aviacor chairman Lev Khasis says that the merger became possible with the departure in May of Tupolev's general director Valentin Klimov, who opposed mergers.
Khasis, an experienced financier, was largely responsible for leading Aviacor out of bankruptcy three years ago and is understood to be the main mover behind the merger. He says that a detailed agreement on the move is to be worked out within the next month.
Yuliy Kashtanov, who is Klimov's acting replacement, is a supporter of integration and expects to clear the merger at a meeting of Tupolev's shareholders later this month.
Source: Flight International
