The Hindu : Russia displays revived air power

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 20, 2003

International

International

Russia displays revived air power

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW AUG. 19. Russia's biggest air show opened near Moscow today amid stronger signs of revival in the Russian aircraft building industry.

In recognition of Russia's resurgence as an aviation power, the U.S. has sent in an array of military and civilian aircraft to the Moscow air show for the first time. American F-15 and F-16 fighter jets made history on Monday touching down at a once top-secret Soviet military airfield at Zhukovsky, which is now the site of the biannual Moscow Aviation and Space Show, or MAKS. With more than 200 aircraft, including 47 foreign jets, on display this year, MAKS-2003 has outshined the Le Bourget air show in France in June, which was cold-shouldered by the U.S. because of their spat over Iraq. Notwithstanding the fact that Russia, like France, strongly opposed the Iraq war, several U.S. Air Force F-15 jets will demostrate their prowness in the air side by side with Russian MiG-29s and Su-30s.

Military aerobatic squadrons from France and Italy are also participating in demonstration flights at MAKS.

For the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union the air show is showcasing a range of upgraded military aircraft that are slated for induction in the Russian Air Force.

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