MOSCOW. Jan 17 (Interfax-AVN) - The Beriyev aircraft research and technical association located in the southern Russian town of Taganrog has asked the Russian Aviation and Space Agency to increase the budget financing of research and tests related to the BE-200 amphibian to RUB300m (USD9.8m) this year, Beriyev Director General and Constructor General Gennady Panatov said on Thursday.
The enterprise is planning to attract additional RUB300m from extra-budget sources, Panatov told Interfax-Military News Agency.
The 2001 state budget allocated about RUB120m (USD3.92m) for the plane's certification. It makes about 50 percent of the required funds. The budget financing volume is expected to stay on the same level this year, Panatov said.
The BE-200 development program requires a total of USD150m, the director noted.
The amphibian's development was envisaged by the civil aviation development program for 1992-2000, as well as by the new program for 2002-2010 and up to 2015. However the budget financing volume remains insufficient for the plane's design.
Foreign customers are offered the BE-200 for USD22m-24m. The aircraft's price on the domestic market is expected to be lower, Panatov said.