Compiled by Christina Sickler, BISNIS

Rosoboronexport buys stake in Vsmpo- Avisma. Rosoboronexport, Russian state arms exporter, acquired 41% stake in Vsmpo- Avisma, the world’s largest producer in titanium products, from a consortium led by Renaissance Capital Group. This transaction comes as part of a long- term investment project with Boeing, one of the main partners of Vsmpo- Export. Source: Ria Novosti (September 19)

A new aviation project reaches Alaska. Long- range aircraft, in part of a large- scale Russian governmental aircraft project, flew over the Arctic pole and reached both Alaska and the west coast of Japan. The project includes over 50 strategic and long- range bombers, namely Tu-160 Blackjacks, Tu-95MS Bears and Tu-22M3 Backfires that will fly above the Arctic and Pacific Oceans in addition to the Black and Caspian Seas. Source: Ria Novosti (September 29)

WIGs join the national shipbuilding strategy. High- speed hovercraft and wing-in-ground (WIG) craft will be developed and produced under the Russian national shipbuilding strategy for the 2008- 2015 period. The WIG craft, originally developed in the Soviet Era, can fly as low as 12 meters above water level resulting in low radar visibility. They will potentially also be used in the civilian sector. Source: Ria Novosti (September 29)

The Russian government announces its plan to raise its stake in EADS. Vneshtorgbank recently acquired a 5% stake in EADS- the European aerospace giant who controls Airbus and produces the Eurofighter combat jet. On September 12, the Kremlin announced its intentions to increase its role in EADS, through an increase in Vneshtorgbank’s stake of 7% or more. Source: The Moscow Times (September 13)

Aeroflot asks for Airbus and Boeing jets. After much deliberation, Aeroflot has decided to buy planes from both Airbus and Boeing. According to Valery Okulov, Aeroflot’s chief executive, Aeroflot will purchase 22 Boeing jetliners in 2010- 2012 and 22 Airbuses in 2012-2016. Source: Ria Novosti (September 20)

Russia's civil aviation authority is planning to increase tariffs. For air navigation services provided to foreign airlines from 2007, the civil aviation authority hopes to establish fair tariffs. They are also trying to introduce a 90% increase on air navigation services for domestic carriers. Only a small rise in ticket prices, as a result of these changes, is expected. Source: Ria Novosti (October 4)

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