MOSCOW. May 31 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukrainian aircraft manufacturers are not afraid of Russia's withdrawing from the An-70 medium military air transport development program, but the Russian Air Force may seriously be affected by the decision, President of the Zaporizhzhia-based Motor Sich Engine-Building Enterprise Vyacheslav Boguslayev says.
"If Russia withdraws from the An-70 program, it will primarily affect the Russian Air Force," he told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
As far as Ukrainian aircraft manufacturers are concerned, according to Boguslayev, if Russia decides to withdraw, they will be able to offer the An-70 to third states. "Being the flagship contractor, we will only be relieved and will turn to third parties. Foreign delegations come to us on a regular basis. For instance, the Indian Air Force commander is expected next week. They need a transport aircraft. They want to develop a transport aircraft of one type jointly with Russia, and we have the An-70 to offer as an aircraft of another type," Boguslayev said.
According to him, statements of the Russian brass result from politics rather than common sense. "The aircraft has been developed in compliance with specification requirements of the Russian Air Force. The previous commander-in-chief was satisfied with the An-70, while the current one is not. It is pure politics. The aircraft will be produced, we have no doubts about that," Boguslayev said.
He pointed out that Motor Sich did not plan to stop cooperation with Russian plants, participating in manufacturing D-27 engines for the An-70. "We do not even have a test bed for the engine, but the Moscow-based Salyut plant does. We will cooperate with both Salyut and the Ufa Plant, as well as other Russian design bureaus and plants," he said.
According to Boguslayev, the aircraft is being launched into mass production in the interests of the Ukrainian Air Force. "The aircraft will be produced any way. Our program envisions manufacturing two aircraft, and that is what we are doing. This year a total of $60 million have been allocated to the An-70 program," he said.
Boguslayev pointed out that the An-70 had almost completed its tests. "The only thing to be done is to sign the report on the final test stage. The aircraft's takeoff run amounts to only 500 m, as was required by the military," he said.
According to Boguslayev, the An-70 may become a basis for an outstanding commercial aircraft. The work with this end in view is already under way.