LUKHOVITSY (Moscow region). Nov 29 (Interfax-AVN) - The trials of the MiG-35 fighter jet will end in 2019, according to MiG Director General Ilya Tarasenko.
"We are fine-tuning this plane together with the Defense Ministry in order to customize it to their needs. All trials are scheduled to be completed in 2019," Tarasenko said.
"We're on schedule as far as production, or even ahead of schedule," he said.
The production of MiG-35s has begun, and "the trial batch will be supplied to the Defense Minister's operators in the near future," Tarasenko said.
"Our line can produce about 36 planes per year. We are ready to accommodate every need, both internal and external," he said.
Talks with potential buyers are underway; "we hope to sign contracts shortly," Tarasenko said.
A source in the aircraft industry told Interfax earlier that the state trials of the MiG-35 would be completed by the end of 2019. "The state trials of the MiG-35 will last about two years: most of them will end by late 2018, and new avionics and air-launched weapons will be tested in 2019," the source said.
The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and the Defense Ministry signed a contract for the delivery of six MiG-35 light fighters by 2023 at the Army 2018 forum on August 22. There will be two versions: the single-seat MiG-35S and the two-seat (combat training) MiG-35UB.
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