Pakistan in talks with Russia to purchase passenger jets
10:28 PM | December 11, 2019
Expanding its economic co-operation with Islamabad, Russia is studying the possibility of exporting its SSJ100 passenger jets, made by Russia's Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company, to Pakistan. The talk about delivering 6-16 civilian planes will continue next year as well.
"We are communicating directly with Pakistan Air, we are conducting negotiations with this company, and we have agreed that work will continue in January, given that we should make calculations regarding the destination network with our colleagues. This is about the possible delivery of from six to 16 SSJ100s," Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said on Wednesday.
"We have all the necessary capabilities for this from the point of view of financial support, and the question arises of service - we will have to find a solution with our colleagues on what basis and at what number of aircraft it will be most effective," he added.
The announcement was made during the sixth session of the Pak-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, and Scientific Technical Cooperation in Islamabad. The Minister for Economic Affairs, Hammad Azhar is leading the Pakistani delegation while the 64-member Russian side is led by its trade minister Denis Valentinovich. The two sides are discussing ways and means to bolster cooperation in the areas of energy, railways and communications.
The SSJ100 is a twin-engine plane made by Russia's Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company. It can carry up to 98 passengers and fly at a distance of up to 2,470 miles. The jet made its maiden flight in May 2008. The plane is being marketed by Sukhoi in Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.
Islamabad also expressed an interest in purchasing heavy and medium fighter jets, medium and short-range air defence systems, as well as tanks, combat helicopters, and warships.
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