EADS is still interested in a stake in Russian aviation holding UAC

EADS is still interested in a stake in Russian aviation holding UAC. Louis Gallois reaffirmed yesterday that EADS was more than ever willing to participate in the reconstruction of the Russian aerospace industry. Marwan Lahoud, the group’s COO in charge of marketing and strategy, explained EADS would use the money raised from the sale of its 10% stake in aircraft manufacturer Irkut “to buy UAC shares as soon as it is possible”. So far, EADS has signed several cooperation agreements with Russian industrials, recalls Le Figaro Economie. The local industry will notably participate at 5% to the A350 programme. Irkut and EADS also envisage developing a transport aircraft, an observation drone as well as a new anti-fire plane. But Russia also takes advantage of the ambitions of EADS’s rivals, reports the newspaper. Boeing, for instance, advised Sukhoi for its Superjet regional aircraft project. Russia is one of its priorities and the US group has invested $ 1Bn since 1998, established a design centre, and set up a titanium joint venture with VSMPOAvisma in the country. In parallel, Sukhoi signed a strategic agreement with Alenia, which is also a close partner to the Superjet project. Le Figaro Economie, Suddeutsche Zeitung