PM: Govt to allot 1.6 bln rbl subsidies for MC-21 planes in 2019

GORKI, Moscow Region, Jan 28 (PRIME) -- The Russian government will allot almost 1.6 billion rubles to subsidize production of MC-21 planes in 2019, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Monday at a meeting with his deputies.

“I’ve signed a government ruling, under which we allot subsidies for creation, production, and support of the MC-21 plane for the first time. We will allocate almost 1.6 billion rubles to these goals in 2019,” he said.

According to the ruling, the government’s subsidies for the plane will amount to 4.11 billion rubles and 4.81 billion rubles in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Medvedev also said he had no doubt that Russia will succeed in import substitution in production of the MC-21 aircraft, which is necessary because of restrictions imposed by the U.S.

Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said that localization during production of the MC-21 plane should amount to 97% by 2022, which means that the plane will be practically independent of imports.

Tests of the MC-21 plane are slated to be completed in the second half of 2020, Borisov also said.

“Completion of certification tests is scheduled for the second half of 2020. So far, 122 flights have already been carried out. Everything goes on schedule, we have no doubt that the plane will start to fly exactly within the established timeframe,” he said.

Aircraft producer Irkut is capable of producing up to 70 MC-21 planes annually and has a possibility to raise production to 100 units as well, Borisov also said.

(65.9170 rubles – U.S. $1)

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