MOSCOW. Nov 6 (Interfax-AVN) - A new general director of the MIG aircraft building corporation will be appointed shortly, Russian Aviation and Space Agency Director Yuri Koptev told Interfax on Thursday.
He said the choice between several nominees will be made shortly.
Because the corporation "is engaged in numerous important projects, in particular in arms exports, the choice is a vital matter," Koptev said.
The final choice will be made by the prime minister or somebody above him, he said.
Interfax's sources in the defense industry have said that MIG will probably be headed by Rosoboronexport's CEO Andrei Belyaminov, who will then be replaced by his deputy Sergei Chemezov.
Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov has signed a directive removing MIG's director general and designer general.
Kasyanov made this decision at the suggestion of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, the government information department reports.
Nikitin had to be dismissed to remedy the abnormal situation at MIG, Koptev said. "They face major problems in implementing contracts already signed and they have cases in litigation with several countries," he said.
Furthermore, MIG lost RUB400m (USD13.42m) over three years and owes back wages to its workers, Koptev said. It has also failed to start serial manufacture of TU-334 aircraft, he said.