The Industry and Energy Ministry expects to appeal to the Cabinet, March 2006, for asset evaluation of companies that may come together on the new holding.
"As we see it, domestic competition is undermining [aircraft-building] industry, so to offer it worthy representation in the world market is top priority," said Mr. Alyoshin.
The prospective holding will come to grips with four mammoths in that market, he warned. "In fact, we shall compete the four leaders of the world's aviation R&D and aircraft manufacture. There is only one such company in the United States for today. Same in Europe. Latin America has two-the Bombardier and the Embriar."
Russia's aircraft industry put out a mere 17 planes last year. Latter-generation craft-the TU 204 and IL 96-made only six of these, the industrial boss pointed out.
"We must make up our mind on what Russia wants to be-a country of a military-industrial economy or a competitive state with a strong civil aviation," he said, and added that Russia retains a decent position in the world market as military aviation technological exporter.
"We roughly account for 25 per cent world warplane sales, and 30 per cent military helicopter. Russia is the world's biggest exporter of aviation titanium for Airbus manufacture."
Only plane manufacturers will go to make the prospective holding, pointed out Mr. Alyoshin. "A helicopter-manufacturing holding, helicopter avionics and spare parts all belong to another level, and quite a different business," he explained.
Alyoshin expects helicopter and spare part manufacturers eventually to drift toward plane manufacturers.
The MIG aircraft-building corporation and the Gorbunov Works in Tatarstan will fairly soon shift to a shareholding arrangement as part of efforts to establish the holding. The federal center will hold 75 per cent of Gorbunov shares, the other 25 per cent to go to Tatarstan.
The holding will comprise military and civil aviation, service and maintenance.
