Motor Sich is working on civilian An-70, may gain state design bureau

Обзоры по компаниям и отраслям 06.08.2013 The CIS-leading, aerospace engine producer Motor Sich (MSICH) will design a D-727 engine to power a civilian version of the Antonov An-70 cargo military plane under development, the company’s president Viacheslav Boguslayev announced at a press conference on August 5, as reported by the Kapital newspaper. The work on the new engine, which will be a modernized D-27 power unit, will take about one year, according to Boguslayev. Kapital also reported that Ukraine’s state military production concern, Ukroboronprom, is considering a merger of Ivchenko Progress design bureau (the designer of most Motor Sich engines, including the D-27 and bestseller TV3-117 series for most Russian helicopters) with Motor Sich. Boguslayev, in turn, declined to comment on a possible merger, Kapital reported. Alexander Paraschiy: The key hopes related to the military An-70, a more efficient and cheaper alternative to Airbus’ A400M plane, were grounded in a big potential order from the Russian Defense Ministry, which hasn’t been fulfilled for several years. The current attempt to reposition the An-70 for the civilian market looks like Antonov’s recognition of the fact that the future of the military version, designed and promoted in tight cooperation with Russia, is growing dimmer. At the moment, we do not believe the plane’s civilian version must have a bright future, but some of our optimism is grounded in Antonov’s well-recognized trademark on the cargo plane market and possible support of the project from the Ukrainian government. The merger of the Ivchenko-Progress bureau with Motor Sich, if happens, will be a clear benefit to the latter, which will enable the engine producer to create a vertically integrated scientific and production base with clear synergies. Both companies are already working in close cooperation right now, located just over the fence from each other.