Russia showcases aviation ambitions

President Vladimir Putin vowed to revive Russia's once mighty aviation industry yesterday as he opened an air show aimed at showcasing the country's industrial and military ambitions.

"Russia... faces the task of maintaining supremacy in producing military aircraft," Mr Putin said at the MAKS-2007 air show at Zhukovsky airbase east of Moscow as two dozen military jets, passenger planes and helicopters roared past him in aerobatic formation.

"The show presents the unique potential of our country," said Mr Putin.

The Russian president said last week Russia's long-range bomber aircraft would revive their Soviet-era practice of flying continuous patrols, some near Nato airspace.

Vladimir Putin's announcement was the latest in a series of moves apparently designed to show off Russia's new-found assertiveness. As part of that trend the military is receiving a major injection of cash to modernise ageing equipment - including new planes - after years of under-funding and neglect since the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

Russia is also seeking to revive production of civilian aircraft as part of its strategy to promote high-tech industry and reduce dependence on oil and gas exports.

Manufacturers like Tupolev and Ilyushin used to turn out hundreds of jets a year but that has been reduced to a handful as Russian carriers switch to more comfortable and economical Boeing and Airbus airliners.

In a bid to reverse that decline, Mr Putin ordered Russian aviation firms to merge into the United Aviation Corporation (UAC), which is intended to compete with foreign rivals.

Interfax news agency quoted UAC President Alexei Fyodorov as saying the company would offer up to $1 billion in shares in a private placement next year and planned an IPO by 2010.