PARIS. June 18 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia's Irkut Scientific and Production Corporation, the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS) and Rolls-Royce Deutschland have completed a joint marketing study of the Russian BE-200 amphibious aircraft.
"The experts who conducted the marketing study estimate that 320 fire-fighting and multi-role modifications of the aircraft may be sold in the next 20 years in 25 countries for about USD7bn. The price of a unit is approximately USD30m," Irkut First Vice President Valery Bezverkhny told Interfax-Military News Agency at Paris Air Show 2003 on Wednesday.
Irkut's President Alexei Fydorov said the first serial BE- 200, made under a contract with the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, took to the air in Irkutsk on Tuesday. The corporation will build a total of seven aircraft for the ministry.
A commercial proposal for foreign customers concerning the BE-200 is being worked out, Fyodorov said. It includes the plane's certification in accordance with Western standards and full after-sales servicing of the aircraft.
Irkut and its partners will announce tentative dates for starting the sales of the BE-200 powered by a Rolls-Royce engine at the MAKS 2003 air show in Moscow in August this year. The first BE-200 powered by Western engines will be built in 2008.
The parties are planning to promote the fire-fighting modification of the aircraft primarily on European, North American and Australian markets, Fyodorov said.
Bezverkhny noted that the BE-200 is a unique multi-role aircraft that can accomplish a range of missions in the sphere of search and rescue operations, cargo and passenger transportation, sea patrolling, etc.
According to him, the fire-fighting modification has the best chances on the global market. This modification is capable of carrying up to 12t of water.
Irkut is among leading Russian aircraft producers. Its stock of contracts exceeded USD4bn in early 2003 and it is expected to reach USD5bn by the end of the year.
Alongside with implementing a series of large projects, including international ones, Irkut is being transformed into an integrated multi-profile corporation that performs projecting, production and after-sale servicing of military and civilian planes, as well as their components and systems.
Irkut is the only company in the Russian defense industry that has been checked by auditors in compliance with international standards.