Mishustin promises state support to boost Tu-214 production to 20 aircraft per year

MOSCOW. May 5 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin at a meeting with Rostec chief Sergey Chemezov has promised provision of state support for expansion of production of civilian Tu-214 aircraft.

Chemezov himself spoke of the need for additional funding.

"[As for the] Tu-214 - we are building new hangars at the Kazan aircraft plant, there will be a very large plant, and we will produce 10 aircraft [per year] for now. As early as 2025, we should produce 10 aircraft. As for ramping up to 20, we need more money to expand production," said the chief of the state corporation, which unites Russian aviation industry enterprises.

The necessary state support will be provided, Mishustin replied.

"Here we will have to look at all possible options - from subsidies and lending to the partial use of NWF funds. We will support this work," the prime minister said.

The Tu-214 is a medium-range passenger aircraft. It seats up to 210 passengers and has a maximum range of 6,500 kilometers. It has seen limited series production since 1996 at the S. P. Gorbunov Kazan aircraft plant (a branch of PJSC Tupolev.

Serial production of the Tu-214 is being envisaged amid Western sanctions against Russia, which limited the delivery of Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The program approved by the government for the development of the aviation industry envisages the production of 70 Tu-214 airplanes in 2023-2030: 3 in 2023, 7 in 2024 and 10 annually thereafter.