Irkut Corporation intends to obtain credit to the amount of $1 billion intended for implementation of MS-21 project

The officials have found the way to support the development of advanced MS-21 passenger aircraft. Irkut Corporation intends to obtain a credit from Sberbank to the amount of $1 billion (as non-budgetary financing).

The proposal on reassignment of federal funds in favor of Irkut Corporation (for implementation of MS-21 project) is stipulated in a letter of Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Oleg Savelyev, to Vnesheconombank.

It was assumed that the cost of MS-21 project will be about 190 billion rubles. At that 70 billion rubles (around 40%) should have been provided by the government. The adjusted project budget is $3,9 billion, Ministry of Industry and Trade reported. At that the total share of state support in the project may increase to 69% (55% – funds allocated in the network of Federal Target Program “Development of civil aircraft in Russia for 2002-2010 and the period until 2015″), said in the Savelyev’s letter. 15% will be allocated by Irkut Corporation from its own funds, the rest 26% will be obtained from non-budgetary sources.

The upgrading of Il-38 aircraft was started in Russia

The first antisubmarine Il-38 aircraft of Russian navy was delivered to Myasishchev Design Bureau, Voenno-Promishlenny Courier reports.

The upgrading of the aircraft will be carried out in accordance with the work design documentation elaborated by Ilyushin Company. It will take at least one year. Ilyushin Company and Myasishchev Design Bureau have signed the corresponding contract. In accordance with the contract the enterprises will be upgrading the Il-38 aircraft on parity basis. As reported by mass media, the upgrading of Il-38 carried out by two enterprises simultaneously will help speed up the process. Each enterprise is capable of upgrading Il-38 turboprops. The flight testing of upgraded Il-38N aircraft will be carried out by Ilyushin Company.

The upgrading of antisubmarine Il-38 aircraft is being carried out in accordance with the State Arms Program for the period until 2020. Among other things, the aircraft are fitted with advanced navigation and weapon-aiming system. Il-38 aircraft is equipped with “Novella” navigation and weapon-aiming system.

The upgraded aircraft is designated as Il-38N.

Russia to Start State Tests of New Ballistic Missile in 2014

The state tests of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) will begin in 2014, a former Russian military commander said.

Russia announced the development of a new ICBM to replace the existing Topol-M and Yars missiles in 2012. If the tests are successful, it could be commissioned as early as in 2015.

“The state tests of the missile have been scheduled for 2014,” Col. Gen. Viktor Yesin (Ret.), who served as chief of staff of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) in 1991-93.

The general added that the preliminary tests of the missile were underway, but refused to provide details on its performance characteristics.

According to open sources, the SMF currently operates at least 58 silo-based SS-18 Satan ballistic missiles, 160 road-mobile Topol (SS-25 Sickle) missile systems, 50 silo-based and 18 road-mobile Topol-M (SS-27 Sickle B) systems, and 18 RS-24 Yars systems.

Russia to Show Advanced Warplanes in Paris

Russia will unveil its most advanced aircraft, the Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker fighter jet and the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter gunship, at the Paris Air Show in June, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said on Friday.

It will also display the Yak-130 Mitten combat jet trainer, UAC spokesman Boris Krylov said.

The Su-35 multirole fighter, powered by two 117S engines with thrust vectoring, combines high maneuverability and the capability to engage several air targets simultaneously using both guided and unguided missiles and weapon systems.

The aircraft has been touted as “4++ generation using fifth-generation technology.”

The Russian Air Force is due to receive 50 Su-35s by 2015, according to various reports.

The Ka-52 is a modification of the basic Ka-50 Hokum model. It is armed with a 30-mm cannon, Vikhr (Whirlwind) laser guided missiles, rockets and bombs. The helicopter is also equipped with two radars, one for ground targets and another for aerial targets, as well as a Samshite nighttime-daytime thermal sighting system.

Russia Eyes Nuclear Power Project in Finland

Russia is planning to take part in a future tender to build a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Finland. The issue will be on the agenda of the talks between Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his Finnish counterpart Jyrki Katainen on the sidelines of the Baltic Sea Forum in St. Petersburg on Friday.

The Finnish power consortium Fennovoima, which holds a government permit for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Pyhäjoki, northwest Finland, has previously named the French company Areva and Japan’s Toshiba as possible contractors for the plant.

However, Fennovoima reportedly approached the Russian nuclear power corporation Rosatom in February about the possibility of building its Pyhäjoki plant.

Finland currently operates four nuclear reactors in two power plants, all located on the shores of the Baltic Sea.