PRESS: Govt may spend 20 bln rbl on improvement of L-610

MOSCOW, Oct 21 (PRIME) -- Investment in development and engineering works to upgrade a 40-seat aircraft L-610 developed by the Czech republic in the 1980s would cost the Russian government 20–25 billion rubles, Kommersant business daily reported on Monday with quoting a source in the aviation industry.

The aircraft, designed for local airlines by Czech company Let Kunovice, should fill the niche between the 19s-seated L-410 planes already assembled in Russia and a 64-seat Il-114-300 plane currently under development. The investment sum may be amended during development of the aircraft, but corresponding amendments to the state program for development of the industry have already been submitted to the government, Kommersant reported quoting the industry source.

The business daily also quoted Dmitry Lysogorsky, director of the Industry and Trade Ministry’s aviation department, that the government may secure financing for the project until the end of the year. Russia is working with the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan in order to launch mass production of the L-610 planes in 2023, Lysogorsky told the State Duma, the parliament’s lower house, on October 18, as quoted by Kommersant.

The industry source also told Kommersant that Ural Civil Aviation Plant, which already producer L-410 planes, and Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC) were interested in assembling the L-610 aircraft. UMMC owns 100% in Czech company Aircraft Industries, formerly known as Let Kunovice, which owns design documentation for L-410 and L-610.

(63.9542 rubles – U.S. $1)

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