MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian Security Council has presented a project for transport and logistic corridors to connect Siberia, the Far East and the Arctic that is estimated to cost $220-240 billion to the government for consideration, which envisages building a fleet of hybrid airships dubbed Atlant, a Russian newspaper reported.
Advanced airships will enable passengers and cargo traffic between the Northern Sea Route and the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Russian Kommersant newspaper said Thursday, citing a copy of a letter written by the team behind the project and addressed to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich.
A single airship, which can cost about $30 million, will be able to replace five Mi-8 helicopters, currently used in the Far North, the daily added.
The main goal of the project, which also envisions the creation of ship networks and aviation hubs, is to create conditions "for the country to move to a new social and economic level through the deep exploration of Siberia, the Far East and the Arctic," according to the letter.
The Augur-RosAeroSystems Holding is set to build the futuristic airship Atlant by the end of 2018.
