Russia’s Interior Ministry Plans to Buy Superjet for $25M

MOSCOW, November 6 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s Interior Ministry on Wednesday revealed plans to buy a used Superjet for up to 800 million rubles ($25 million) to transport special forces around the country.

The aircraft, versions of which can seat nearly 100 passengers, is needed because the ministry’s old Yak-40 airliner is getting “worn out,” a ministry spokesman told RIA Novosti.

Superjets, made by Russian firm Sukhoi, have been mainly used by the country’s flagship airline, Aeroflot.

The ministry is seeking a used Superjet, preferably made after 2011, because new versions cost about 1.5 billion rubles ($47 million), the spokesman said.