IRKUTSK, Southern Siberia. Dec 18 (Interfax-AVN) - The Irkutsk Aircraft Production Association (IAPO) has produced and exported more aircraft in 2001 than the year before, a competent source at the enterprise told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
The IAPO shipped eight SU-27UBK Flanker fighters to China in 2000 and 10 such fighters this year, the source said.
Even more planes are to be delivered to customers in 2002. Ten SU-27UBK will be supplied to China and ten SU-30MKI to India. Besides, the IAPO will deliver the first two BE-200 amphibians to the Russian Emergencies Ministry next year. The first amphibian is to be shipped before July and the second before January 2003.
At the same time, the IAPO is carrying out research related to several new aviation projects in order to expand the range of its products. In particular, it is considering participation in the manufacturing of a transport on the basis of the IL-214 together with India, as well as development of a new aircraft for local airlines that is designated BE-132MK. The final decision on the BE-132MK program will be made in 2002 after assessment of the market for the plane and approval of the business plan, the source said.