MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax-AVN) - The Tupolev company and the Kazan-based Gorbunov Aviation Production Association will upgrade the TU-214 medium-range airliner during its serial production, Tupolev's designer general Igor Kabatov told Interfax-Military News Agency Monday.
"The TU-214 is consistently being upgraded but the improvements will come into production gradually. For example, the sixth and on aircraft will be equipped with Ulyanovsk-made IM- 8 LCDs," he said.
He also said that some improvements would be optional, for example, aircraft/ground proximity warning systems will be fitted to the planes ordered by Rossiya state carrier.
Also optional will be derivatives on the base of the TU-214, for example, special planes for the Defense Ministry and the TU- 214F cargo version for Aviast carrier.
"The TU-214s for the Defense Ministry and the TU-214F cargo version for Aviast without windows and with a large loading hatch will be supplied in 2006," Kabatov said.