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12-18-2001, 04:28 PM
there we go!
The only aircraft maker in ex-Soviet Central Asia has won a $150m contract from India, giving one of the country's main industries a big boost.
The Chkalov aviation plant in the Uzbek capital Tashkent is to resume production of the Il-78 refuelling plane for the first time in nearly a decade, the plant said on Monday.
Output from the communist-era plant severely wound down when the Soviet Union and its massive defence industry collapsed in 1991.
The company also started production of the Il-114-100 in conjunction with US engine maker Pratt & Whitney this year, signing a contract to supply three to Singapore, India and China.
Chkalov employs a workforce of 30,000 and is one of the largest businesses in Uzbekistan.
Indian order
The Indian Defence Ministry ordered six of the Il-78s in October and paid an advance of $23m.
This allowed work on the first plane to begin last week, company officials told reporters.
Each plane will take about 18 months to build.
The plant said it could fulfil the Indian contract, even though its machinery has sat idle for years and many employees have long since found new jobs.
The Il-78 was first released in 1984 and designed as either a refueller for long-range fighter jets or for fire fighting.
The Chkalov plant produced 45 of them before production stopped in 1991, all of which now serve the Russian or Ukrainian militaries - except for one sold to Libya in 1986.
On show
The plane maker exhibited its aircraft at this year's Paris international air show at Le Bourget, including many made years ago like the Il-78.
It is also still producing the Il-76 cargo plane, wings for Antanovs and is developing a cargo version of the Il-114 which is currently undergoing airworthiness tests.
The government of President Islam Karimov, who is extremely supportive of aviation, is the majority shareholder in the Chkalov aviation plant with 25.6% in private hands.
The only aircraft maker in ex-Soviet Central Asia has won a $150m contract from India, giving one of the country's main industries a big boost.
The Chkalov aviation plant in the Uzbek capital Tashkent is to resume production of the Il-78 refuelling plane for the first time in nearly a decade, the plant said on Monday.
Output from the communist-era plant severely wound down when the Soviet Union and its massive defence industry collapsed in 1991.
The company also started production of the Il-114-100 in conjunction with US engine maker Pratt & Whitney this year, signing a contract to supply three to Singapore, India and China.
Chkalov employs a workforce of 30,000 and is one of the largest businesses in Uzbekistan.
Indian order
The Indian Defence Ministry ordered six of the Il-78s in October and paid an advance of $23m.
This allowed work on the first plane to begin last week, company officials told reporters.
Each plane will take about 18 months to build.
The plant said it could fulfil the Indian contract, even though its machinery has sat idle for years and many employees have long since found new jobs.
The Il-78 was first released in 1984 and designed as either a refueller for long-range fighter jets or for fire fighting.
The Chkalov plant produced 45 of them before production stopped in 1991, all of which now serve the Russian or Ukrainian militaries - except for one sold to Libya in 1986.
On show
The plane maker exhibited its aircraft at this year's Paris international air show at Le Bourget, including many made years ago like the Il-78.
It is also still producing the Il-76 cargo plane, wings for Antanovs and is developing a cargo version of the Il-114 which is currently undergoing airworthiness tests.
The government of President Islam Karimov, who is extremely supportive of aviation, is the majority shareholder in the Chkalov aviation plant with 25.6% in private hands.