PARIS. Dec 10 (Interfax-AVN) - The Sukhoi aircraft holding company and its partners will complete development of the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) and launch its production before the end of 2005, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said at a meeting with French businessmen.
"The things that are told by the prime minister to such an audience is nearly a guarantee," Fradkov stressed.
The government considers the project, which involves France's Snecma company, to be very important. Funds are assigned in the state budget for 2005 to support the project, the prime minister said.
Head of the Federal Industry Agency Boris Alyoshin told Interfax that budget allocations for the project will amount to 2.7 billion Russian rubles ($95.96 million) next year. There will be three RRJ varieties - for 60, 75 and 90 passengers. The price of a baseline variety is expected to reach $25 million.