KYIV. Nov 28 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukraine's Antonov research and technical corporation (ANTK) and Russia's Voronezh joint-stock aircraft association (VASO) have signed documents fixing the Russian partner's rights on the production of the new An-148 regional plane, the ANTK press service said on Monday.
In particular, the parties signed a licensing agreement on the transfer of rights to use the trademark, technical documentation and rights to produce An-148 planes to VASO, a press service official told Interfax.
The agreement is the basic document allowing VASO to launch mass production of the AN-148 in Russia, he said.
The An-148 is being developed by Ukraine and Russia in partnership with the U.S., Germany and France. Antonov's capabilities in Ukraine were used to build three experimental vehicles that have been rolled out for flight tests.
The An-148 certification tests are to be over in the first quarter of 2006. The plane is expected to get the type certificate at the same time. Ukraine's Aviant and Russia's VASO are mastering mass-production of An-148 planes.
According to the Ilyushin Finance Company, which ensures the plane's promotion on the Russian market, the volume of solid and pre-contract agreements on the sale of An-148 planes to Russian air carriers is estimated at 55 pieces. Krasnoyarsk Airlines and Pulkovo are among the major customers.
Ukrainian air carriers have expressed their intention to procure 34 An-148 planes.
Moreover, the interest in the plane has been confirmed by Kazakh air carriers, which have placed an order for the production and supply of two An-148 planes in the VIP modification. Development of cooperation on the An-148 program was discussed during the recent meeting of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and his Kazakh counterpart in Nursultan Nazarbayev in the framework of his visit to Kyiv in November.
According to experts, the An-148 is 25-30% superior to its rivals in terms of cost-effectiveness. The marketing capacity for the aircraft before 2013 is estimated at about 500 planes, with 170 of them expected to be sold in the CIS. The baseline configuration will reportedly cost $20 million.
The aircraft will meet all the airworthiness requirements of both the CIS and the EU.