Moscow, Aug 20: Sukhoi Su-32 bomber-fighter, Su-27M and MiG-29SMT fighters were President Vladimir Putin's 'special interest' during his visit to the 6th Moscow Air and Space Show (MAKS-2003), which opened here yesterday at the Zhukovsky airfield. Mr Putin also inspected the new helicopter models - Mi-28M warplane, Ka-52 reconnaissance warplane, Ka-60 multi-role aircraft and the Be-200CHS amphibian designed for extinguishing fire.
The new Su-32 bomber-fighter and the Su-27SM fighter will raise the combat efficiency of the Russian armed forces, said Mikhail Pogosyan, director-general of the Aviation Military-Industrial Complex (AVPK) Sukhoi. And the important thing is that this will be done with the smallest outlays, he noted and added that Su-27SM, a modernised version of Su-27 fighter, may be inducted into the Russian Air Force this year while Su-32, presently under tests will be ready to enter service by 2005.
US fighters F-15, F-16 and F-18 as well as the strategic bomber B-52 are part of the week-long show, for the first time. Also participating in the show for the first time in the ten-year history of the air show, are the Russian space troops. Bureau Report