Russia has been developing a new-generation middle-haul passenger jet MS-21 that is expected to replace the old TU-154 planes (they now carry out around 80% of cargo and passenger flights in Russia) and to excel Sukhoi Superjet in technical characteristics. The financial means allotted for the programme are to reach 9.5 billion RUBS in 2008.
      Russian authorities want the new aircraft to be competitive at not only the Russian but the global market also. It is preliminarily planned to launch mass production of MS-21 in 2015 and manufacture 100 jets within one year. According to the Russian authorities, the aviation construction plant in the Russian city of Irkutsk suits for production of the new aircraft best of all, although the final decision on where MS-21 will be produced has not been taken yet.
      
      Source: www.vesti.ru