MOSCOW. Feb 7 (Interfax-AVN) - The Perm-based Aviadvigatel company and the Moscow Salyut enterprise will join efforts in a bid to develop an engine to propel the MS-21 short-haul airliner.
"A contest will be organized in 2005 for the best project of an aircraft engine for the MS-21. Aviagdvigatel and Salyut will participate with their joint project, the PS-12 engine," a source in the Russian defense industry told Interfax-Military News Agency Monday.
He recalled that under the federal program of commercial aviation development a tender for a new short-haul airliner was organized in July 2003, with the MS-21 of the Yakovlev design bureau and Ilyushin Aviation Company winning.
"No tender for a new 12-tonne engine to propel the MS-21 have been organized yet," the source added.
According to him, there is an agreement between Aviadvigatel and Salyut to jointly exercise research and development of the engine if the PS-12 project wins.
"It is most likely that the research and development will involve three enterprises, the Perm motor plant including," he said.
The Salyut serial plant will also take an active part in serial production of air engines and some of their parts and elements, the source said.
According to him, Salyut has all capabilities required to manufacture parts and elements of the future engine with the help of the most advanced technologies.