MOSCOW. Jan 14 (Interfax-AVN) - The Sukhoi Aviation Holding Company will expedite its work on modernization of combat aircraft for the Russian Air Force, an official of the company's press service told Interfax-Military News Agency Friday.
"In December 2004, we signed a three-year contract on delivery of modernized aircraft to the Russian Air Force, within the framework of which the company will hand over the first regiment of modernized SU-27SM Flankers to the customer before end of 2006," he said.
According to him, the company completed the first stage of the SU-27SM official tests in 2004 and the initial stage of tests of the modernized SU-24M2 Fencer bombers and SU-25SM Frogfoot attack aircraft.
"We also started finalizing aircraft at serial plants in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Novosibirsk, and at a number of aircraft repair plant," he added.
He also said that the first stage of the tests of the tactical SU-34 multi-role attack aircraft is also over, and the customer commission approved of the sketch project of the fifth-generation fighter.
"In the coming decade Sukhoi is going to retain the export of combat aircraft at $1.2-1.5 billion annually. As of the commercial aircraft exports, including the RRJ project, we expect to earn another $1 billion a year in future," he added.
The press service also recalled that the Sibir Airline Company signed a $1 billion worth agreement at the 2004 Farnborough air show ordering 50 new RRJs. The assembly of the first batch of these will commence early in 2005 for them to be delivered to the customer already in 2007. Also, Utair voiced an intention to acquire up to 20 RRJs, and a memorandum was signed with the Russian Post Agency on strategic partnership that provides for the development and production of a specialized cargo aircraft for the agency.
According to the press service, negotiation are underway with potential buyers, including foreign ones, of BE-103, AN-38 and SU-80 aircraft to be manufactured by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Novosibirsk plants that are elements of the Sukhoi Holding Company.