International Air Show Opens in Zhukovsky near Moscow

[mastodon]

International Air Show Opens in Zhukovsky near Moscow

Interfax - The fifth international air show MAKS-2001 opens in Moscow suburb town of Zhukovsky on August 14 and will run until August 19. Organizers of the show expect Vladimir Putin to attend.

On August 13, the chief of the Russian aerospace agency (RAKA) Yuri Koptev told the press he expected 2001 MAKS show to be a major exhibition event in the sphere of world’s newest aerospace technologies.

The draft Russian state budget for 2002 provides for the priority development of the aviation and space industry, Yuri Koptev, said.

He said that the Moscow air show is rapidly developing and has actually reached the level of the international aviation and space exhibitions in Le Bourget, France and Farnborough, England.

New aviation and rocket technologies, equipment, navigation gear and avionics will be on display in Zhukovskiy for the next seven days, he said. "The two years that have passed since the previous air show have been marked by certain accomplishments. Despite serious economic problems, the Russian aviation and space industry has made progress and is expected to develop further," Koptev said.

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Russian Companies Close 4 Deals at Air Show

RIA-Novosti - The Rosoboronexport federal arms exporting enterprise is increaing efforts to increase cooperation between enterprises and corporations of the Russian the military-industrial complex and to promote their products on world markets.

In the first three days of the 5th international air space show MAKS-2001, in Zhukovsky near Moscow, Rosoboronexport, the sole state intermediary for military technological cooperation between Russia and foreign states, has already concluded four important agreements. On Thursday, it signed two general agreements - with the Mil Helicopter Plant, based in Moscow, and the State Investment Corporation /Rosinkor/.

According to Rosoboronexport executives, its strategy "is directed on the one hand, at improving the mechanism of cooperation between the state intermediary and enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex on foreign markets, and on the other, at finding possibilities for trade and project financing of Russia's defence industry".

Thus, the subject of the agreement with the Mil plant is promoting the export of military helicopters of the Mi brand, other helicopters and accessories, as well as provision of a range of related services, including upgrading, repairs and rehabilitation, modernisation, etc.

The sides also intend to conduct a joint search for foreign clients.

In an agreement on strategic partnership with Rosinkor, the emphasis is on helping to increase the efficiency of market mechanisms to attract foreign investment and stimulate Russian investment in domestic defence enterprises. Cooperation between the sides also involves attracting money from financial markets to implement joint investment projects and subsidise foreign trade deals in the interests of additional financing of the military-industrial complex.

According to representatives of both enterprises, they intend to take part in joint development and implementation of large financial and economic programmes at the federal level in the military industrial complex, and to draw tied-in loans for defence enterprises to purchase process equipment and state-of-the-art technologies. An equally important element of the cooperation will be joint establishment by Rosoboronexport and Rosinkor of holding companies.

On Wednesday at MAKS-2001 Rosoboronexport signed two general agreements - on cooperation in foreign economic activity, covering products of a military and dual nature with the company R.E.T Kronstadt and with the Air Start Aerospace Corporation, engaged in the launching of foreign payloads using the Air Start aviation & rocket space complex.

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Bomb Threat Reported at Moscow International Air Show

RIA-Novosti - On Friday, an unidentified person reported to a duty police officer about an explosive device in one of the exhibition pavilions at the international air show MAKS-2001, currently running in the town of Zukovsky, near Moscow.

Policemen with sniffer dogs searched the site but found no explosive devices. The telephone terrorist is now being sought.

Some 500 policemen are patrolling the MAKS-2001 international air show. Between August 14 and 16 during the inspection of visitors at the entrance to the air show, the police confiscated 93 knives, 14 gas pistols, 8 firearms, l air-gun, 46 gas sprays and 195 units of ammunition.

The MAKS air show has a daily attendance of 90,000 to 120,000 people, and at the weekend the number of visitors is expected to rise to 300,000.