Ukrainian aircraft maker Antonov may surrender intellectual property rights to one of its aircraft in a bid to secure access to the Russian market.
The plane builder, which is owned by the Ukrainian government, is on the verge of signing a deal with Aviakor, part of Oleg Deripaska’s Russian Machines group, to create a joint venture that will take over intellectual property rights to the An-140, Vedomosti reported Thursday.
Aviakor began serial production of the An-140 at its Samara factory in 2005, but Antonov has hitherto retained the rights to the aircraft.
Passing the rights to a joint venture will allow the companies to develop the An-140-100, the basic model of the twin-engined turbo-prop, without Ukrainian consent.
It was a condition set by the Russian Defense Ministry, which is considering purchasing the 140-T transport variant of the aircraft.
Antonov vice president Alexander Kiva told Vedomosti that the question of intellectual property rights was “politically motivated,” adding that failure to reach an agreement on the project would have seen Antonov miss out on a market where foreign competitors including SAAB are already operating.
The Defense Ministry is said to be in talks about buying up to 50 modifications of the 140-T for roles including transporting paratroopers and serving as airborne hospitals, but has argued that the $18 million price tag is unfairly inflated by intellectual property royalties paid to Antonov.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
