Dmitry Krutoi
MINSK, 12 February (BelTA) - Russia offers Belarus to actively participate in the ongoing aircraft industry programs in terms of aerospace component manufacturing, Belarus’ Ambassador to Russia Dmitry Krutoi said in an interview with the ONT TV channel, BelTA has learned.
“Aircraft construction is a segment that we had virtually at zero [regarding the level of cooperation in the area a few years ago]. Our industry ministers reported to the leaders of the two countries on the issue at the recent meeting of the Supreme State Council [in St. Petersburg, 29 January 2024]. Russian President Vladimir Putin supported this block of issues and once again invited Belarusians to actively and even aggressively join the programs to ensure components for the aircraft building enterprises in Russia,” the ambassador said.
“Belarus should take part in the production of all aircraft models that will be put into civil circulation in 2024-2025 (MS-21, Sukhoi Superjet New, Tu-214, Il-76),” Dmitry Krutoi said.
According to him, there are a number of such new areas for joint work with Russia. “These are machine tool building, microelectronics, and shipbuilding. At the recent Supreme State Council summit Russian partners invited us to work with the United Shipbuilding Corporation [Russia's largest shipbuilding company],” he added.
Earlier, plans and concrete practical steps on import substitution of a large number of components for various Russian airplanes at Belarusian enterprises were reported at various levels. There are also plans to launch the production of a light aircraft in Belarus. “We are moving quite fast in aircraft construction. Today we are developing this airplane together, conducting research and development work. Plans are in place to produce the first two airplanes by 2026. We already have an order of the minimum number of airplanes that we are to produce by 2030. These are 85-100 airplanes. If we successfully fulfill the set tasks, this number can be higher,” Deputy Prime Minister Pyotr Parkhomchik told the media in January 2024.
