GORKI (Moscow Region), January 26 (Sputnik) – Russia plans to sell up to 1,000 MC-21 mid-range passenger jets within the next 20 years, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Monday.
“The Irkut company plans to sell up to 1,000 of these planes over the next 20 years and we already have 175 solid orders,” Rogozin said during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev outside Moscow.
Rogozin said that foreign buyers, including Lufthansa, were interested in buying the civil aircraft designed to carry up to 212 passengers.
“By 2018 or 2019, we will begin seriously squeezing out foreign-produced aircraft from our domestic market,” Rogozin added.
In November 2014, Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said that the first MC-21 aircraft would be constructed by the end of 2015. The parts for the aircraft will be mostly produced in Russia. Manturov also added that the aircraft would be more price competitive due to the depreciation of ruble.
In November 2014, India expressed interest in purchasing the aircraft.
