MOSCOW, February 23 (AVN) - The Russian MIG aircraft company is expected to receive FRF400,000 (USD60m) of investments from France in the near future, MIG Deputy Chief Constructor Yuri Sushkov told the Military News Agency on Friday.
The money will be directed for completion of 15 MIG-AT new-generation trainers, including for purchase of 26 French Larzac-04R20 engines and French-made avionics, Sushkov told the Military News Agency.
The MIG-AT trainer is being developed by the Mikoyan design bureau in co-operation with several French companies. Snecma and Turbomeca take care of the engines, Sextant Avionique for onboard equipment, Messier-Bugatti for hydraulic pumps, Auxilec for the electric generator and Thomson-CSF for radars and navigation equipment.
The project also involves several Russian companies - Zvezda provides the K-93 ejection seat, Avionika helps with control systems and the State R&D Institute of Aircraft with avionics integration and software.
Two flying prototypes of the plane have been made so far, Sushkov said. They are being tested at the Gromov flight research institute. The prototypes have made a total of about 600 flights, spending over 300 hours in the air. According to the deputy constructor, MIG-AT's factory flight tests may be completed this year in case of regular financing.