ATHENS. Oct 2 (Interfax-AVN) - Greece may become one of the first contractors of MIG-AT, a new training plane designed by Russia's MIG corporation in collaboration with a number of French firms.
"The main purpose of our participation in the Defendory International 2002 exhibition is to promote the joint Russian- French MIG-AT project on the Greek market," MIG Deputy General Director Gennady Arkhipov told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
He said Greece's defense minister and Air Force commander familiarized themselves with the corporation's exhibits at Defendory International and agreed to hold negotiations and consultations concerning Greece's possible purchase of MIG-AT jets.
"Joint promotion of the MIG-AT on the Greek market by us and our French partners can have positive results, as France has acquired huge experience of work in this country. Greece possesses a complete infrastructure for servicing French-made Mirage-F1 and Mirage-2000 planets that it is operating. That is why there is no need to establish infrastructure for repairing the MIG-AT's engines and avionics," Arkhipov said.
An operational mock-up of the jet's cabin with French avionics was exhibited at the previous Defendory International show and aroused interest among Greek military, he went on. Greek pilots made flights on the MIG-AT and praised the plane's flight and technical specifications.
According to Arkhipov, the MIG-AT program is entering a decisive stage. The Russian Air Force started certification tests of the plane on a coordinated program in summer this year. Aerodynamics, stability and controllability of the aircraft are being evaluated. After the certification tests, a small batch of MIG-AT planes will be supplied to the Russian Air Force for experimental operation.
The MIG corporation is developing the MIG-AT in collaboration with the French companies Snecma and Thales. The aircraft is intended for training pilots at the initial, basic and advanced training states with elements of combat application, as well as for refreshing skills of combat pilots in handling warplanes such as the MIG-29 Fulcrum, SU-27 Flanker, Mirage-2000-5 and F-16.
The MIG-AT is the world's only training plane fitted with a digital electric remote control system. The plane is powered by two Larzac-04R20 engines developing 1,400kg each. Composite materials amount to about 45 percent of the plane's airframe, which is a unique achievement.
Experts believe that the Russian Air Force needs at least 200 aircraft of that kind, and the total capacity of the global market is assessed at 1,000 aircraft.