MOSCOW. Dec 23 (Interfax-AVN) - The Sukhoi Aviation Holding Company has met its export plans of 2004 by supplying warplanes abroad via state-owned arms trader Rosoboronexport.
"More than 40 SU jets were supplied abroad and to the Russian Defense Ministry," an official of the Sukhoi press service told Interfax-Military News Agency on Thursday.
SU/27/SU-30 Flanker fighters remain the main component of Russian arms exports. In particular, the aviation component exceeded 50 percent of Russia's record arms export volume in 2003, which amounted to $5,568 billion. SU family fighters are currently supplied to India, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.
"The Sukhoi Holding Company (minus Irkut and Taganrog-based Beriyev companies) expects over 45 billion rubles ($1.62 billion) in consolidated revenues this year. The Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant (KnAAPO) and the Sukhoi Design Bureau make the largest contribution to the holding production," the official said.
Contracts for the supply of up to 150 SU jets to a total sum of about $8 billion may be signed within the next five years. Thus, the holding company has decided to continue the production of SU-27/SU-30 jets at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant.
In the next decade, Sukhoi is planning to keep annual warplane sales at $1.2-1.5 billion, the official noted. Upgraded fighters of the SU-27/SU-30 family will form the core of the company's military exports.
In addition, Sukhoi expects revenues from independent spare parts supplies and servicing to grow. According to press service, the volume of services provided in this sector will amount to $100 million in 2004 and to over $150 million in 2005.