Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Russia's UAC to finalize long-haul airliner design in 2 years

RIA Novosti

17:56 20/06/2011 LE BOURGET (France), June 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's United Aircraft Corporation will complete the design of a long-haul passenger airplane within the next two years, UAC President Mikhail Pogosyan said on Monday.

"We will start building a new plane," he said, adding that its range and carrying capacity were yet to be specified.

Russia currently does not manufacture long-haul passenger airliners.

Its last long-range airplane was the Il-96-300 which made its maiden flight in 1988.

The UAC will ensure its presence in all three segments of the civilian aviation industry: short-, medium- and long-haul, Pogosyan said.