MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian state budget for 2002 allocates RUB65m (USD2.08m) for research and tests related to development of the BE-200 amphibian, a competent source in the aircraft production enterprise told Interfax-Military News Agency on Thursday.
The allocations are 50 percent smaller than in 2001, the source said.
According to him, a concept of financing the research and tests related to development of new aircraft that has been adopted by the Russian Aviation and Space Agency provides for the designer investing two to three times more funds in a program than the state budget does.
The BE-200 developer, the Beriyev aircraft research and technical enterprise based in Taganrog, made a proposal to the Aviation and Space Agency in early 2002 concerning allocation of RUB300m (USD9.6m) from the state budget in case another RUB300m were provided to the program from non-budget funds. The proposal was turned down. The funds that have been allocated are only enough for purchasing one of the two engines the amphibian is to be fitted with.
Nevertheless, the program of supplying two amphibians to the Emergencies Ministry will be implemented this year, the source stressed. He noted that the Urkutsk aircraft production association which mass-produces the BE-200 had invested some USD20m in the amphibian's development.