Airbus looks to further Russian participation

Airbus looks to further Russian participation    Toulouse, France-based aircraft manufacturer Airbus and Irkut Corp., the Russian scientific production company, Wednesday signed a preliminary agreement on Russian participation in development of the A350 aircraft and future Airbus aircraft programs.
   The letter of intent confirms Airbus’ proposal for Russian aviation industry participation in the design and manufacture of the A350 on a risk-sharing basis. In addition, the Unified Aviation Consortium, a new umbrella organization being formed as a result of the restructuring of the Russian aviation industry, and specialists from Airbus will form a working group to explore opportunities in research and technology that could increase Russia’s contribution to future Airbus projects.
   Irkut Corp. is a holding company, comprising Irkutsk Aviation Plant, Beriev Design Bureau and Yakovlev Design Bureau. It provides development, manufacture, sales and after-sale support of military and civil aviation products. Irkut’s main products are the Su-27 and Su-30MK fighters, the Be-200 amphibian and the Yak-130 training and light strike aircraft.
   Last December Irkut won Airbus work packages worth $200 million over 10 years, and is launching production of A320 Family components at its facility in Irkutsk.
   “Airbus has been progressively implementing a wide industrial cooperation program in Russia, and the new initiative will bring the continuing partnership between Airbus and the Russian aviation industry to a completely new level”, said Christian Scherer, Airbus’ senior vice president and deputy head of commercial.
   By the end of 2004, Airbus had offered Russian companies contracts worth $80 million per year, a figure it intends to increase to $110 million per year in 2007. Airbus’ Russian program covers numerous research and technology projects, design work, material procurement and manufacturing subcontracts, as well as co-operation in the certification field.
   Airbus also has a regional office in Moscow and ECAR, its joint-venture engineering center with the Kaskol Group, has operated in Moscow since 2003, and currently employs 120 Russian engineers.