ZARYA, Moscow Region. June 18 (Interfax-AVN) - Army General Vladimir Mikhailov, Russian Air Force Commander-in-Chief, said that in 2004 Russia has earmarked all necessary funds for developing the AN-70 military transport.
"In 2003 Russia fulfilled all its financial commitments, pertaining to the AN-70 development. In 2004 it has also earmarked all necessary funds," Mikhailov told reporters on Friday. He did not specify the exact sum.
At the same time, he noted that the development of the joint Russian-Ukrainian AN-70 aircraft would take longer than planned.
He noted that the agreement on continuing the AN-70 development, signed by the Russian and Ukrainian sides in Kyiv several days before, was aimed at specifying new issues, pertaining to this project, in more detail.
"There is a certain backlog, and there are new issues, emerging in the course of the development. We have acknowledged them and are moving forward," Mikhailov said.
He also stressed that many drawbacks, uncovered earlier, including those inherent in the D-27 engine, had not been rectified yet.