The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has expressed hope that the military and transport short takeoff and landing aircraft An-70 would be soon used in Ukraine and Russia.
Acting defense minister, Valeriy Ivaschenko, told the press, commenting the results of a visit of the Ukrainian military delegation to Russia, where it took part in the International Aviation and Space Show MAKS 2009.
“I with Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov signed a protocol, which amended most articles of an agreement signed in 2004 regarding the An-70 project. The international legal document has denounced Russia’s position on the withdrawal from the project announced earlier,” Ivaschenko said.
He said that signing the protocol on behalf of the Russian government, Serdyukov put an end to a difficult situation, which doubted the realization of the project.
Ivaschenko said that Russia’s share of contribution in the project is over 60%.
He also expressed hope that after joint tests, the An-70 would be used in Ukrainian and Russian army, which would create a favorable ground for the aircraft promotion to the global market, in particular, European one.
