Hellenic Aerospace Industry, a state-owned Greek defense company, was to sign an agreement Wednesday with Russian aircraft manufacturer Irkut to design the MS-21, which Russia will start producing in 2014, Greek Development Minister Christos Folias and Industry Minister Viktor Khristenko told reporters in Athens.
The MS-21 is a line of passenger aircraft with 150, 180 and 220 seats, which the government hopes will compete with the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320.
"You can only undertake such a project when you know that you'll sell more than 1,000 units," Khristenko said, Prime-Tass reported. "And the real niche for this airplane is several times larger."
Hellenic Aerospace may increase its role in the MS-21 project after the design phase, the ministers said.
The two ministers also expressed interest in the delivery of a multipurpose amphibious vehicle, the Beriyev-200, to the Greek market.
The two countries also plan to cooperate in other industries such as drug making.
(Bloomberg, MT)
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.