MOSCOW, November 26 (RIA Novosti) – A Russian deputy premier who oversees the defense and aerospace sectors has called for state companies that require air transport services to be obliged to use domestically-built planes.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin made the proposal to a government working group discussing measures to support manufacturing and sale of civil aircraft.
“We are obliging private companies to buy domestic aircraft, but state companies do not do that,” Rogozin said.
He cited Russian President Vladimir Putin as saying state companies should use Russian-made jets, adding Russian-made aircraft should also be bought for state companies' CEOs.
Media reports in April said Russian aircraft leasing company Ilyushin Finance Co. would supply a locally-made VIP-configured Ilyushin Il-96 jet to state oil company Rosneft.
Putin said earlier in November that domestic aircraft manufacturers should build their planes using parts made in Russia. Developing domestic manufacturing capability will allow Russian aircraft producers to secure independence from foreign engine manufacturers and reduce their reliance on imported components, he said.
Russia’s civil aviation manufacturing base has all but collapsed in the past 20 years and its United Aircraft Corporation is only building one airliner type, the Sukhoi Superjet, in meaningful numbers.
A new medium-haul airliner, the MC-14 (Yak-242) is due to enter production in the next few years, UAC says.
