Sukhoi and NAPO join forces to market aircraft

Published: 2/1/2000

Alexander Usachev, Deputy General Director responsible for sales and marketing at AVPK Sukhoi, has reported that the company has drafted an agreement with NAPO to support and finance sales of the 27-seat An-38 in Russia. Sukhoi will also be involved in the promotion of the aircraft abroad, particularly sales in South-Eastern Asia. According to Usachev, the An-38 has sparked some interest in the Indian market, after its tour there in 1999 and several flights have been undertaken to test equipment to meet Indian specifications. It seems, however, that the reports of substantial sales to the Indian government were somewhat premature. In 2000, NAPO plans to deliver three An-38s to Alrosa-Avia in Mirny, controlled by the region"s rich diamond producer, which is to pay cash for the aircraft under a contract for five in all. Alrosa-Avia received the first aircraft at the end of 1999. A NAPO representative said that the price of the aircraft under the contract is $4m.

Article ID: 1379