MiG Troubled by Debt and MiG-29 Grounding
By Chris Pocock
February 18, 2009
The Russian government has bailed out the MiG Corporation after it lost more than $300 million last year and reported total debts of $1.25 billion. Twenty-four MiG-29 SMTs that were built for Algeria will be bought instead by the Russian Air Force for $690 million.
Another $417 million will be provided through an issue of additional shares, so that MiG can be integrated debt-free into Russias United Aircraft Corp. (UAC).
The government also promised to buy some carrier-based MiG-29 KUB versions. MiG head Mikhail Pogosian noted that the companys order book is worth $2.8 billion.
According to reports in the Russian press, more than 200 of the Russian Air Forces fleet of 281 MiG-29s remained grounded in January after inspections prompted by two crashes in October and December. A defense ministry spokesman said that corrosion had been found in the tail units of some aircraft.
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