Russian aviation exports soar by nearly 50% (PHOTOS)

Exports of Russian-produced aviation equipment surged by 46 percent in 2017 against the previous year, according to the latest report from the trade ministry.

At the same time, production level in the sector grew by 12 percent to $7.538 billion.

In 2017, Russian producers built and sold 133 planes and 213 helicopters, including SSJ-100 passenger planes, the twin-engine, two-seat fighter jet Su-30SM, the multirole fighter M2 and other military and civilian aircraft.

The ministry expects manufacturers to produce 135 planes and 234 helicopters in 2018.

State financial backing in the current year will be increased by 10 percent with the government to invest over 59 billion rubles.

The ministry also reported successful flight testing of domestically-made MC-21 jets, carried out last May.

The airliner is able to carry a maximum of 211 passengers and it’s hoped it will compete with medium-haul jetliners such as the Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo and Chinese Comac C919.

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