Russia buys into EADS and Eurofighter

EVEN if it were just a punt on a share, it would be deliciously well-timed. Vneshtorgbank, one of Russia’s large, state-owned financial institutions, has bought 5 per cent of EADS, the European aerospace and defence group that runs Airbus.

The bank insists that it is a portfolio investment — EADS looks cheap, having lost a third of its value since the spring. Last summer’s news of delays on the A380 superjumbo programme pummelled the stock and the farcical shenanigans over the resignation of Noël Forgeard, the co-chief executive.

Into this eurobodge strides the Kremlin, and with purpose. It is almost inconceivable that a state-owned Russian bank would invest the best part of €1 billion (£677 million) in EADS without a nod from President Putin. EADS is politics with wings. It is prime contractor in the Eurofighter Typhoon project. It makes Ariane rockets and is controlling shareholder in Airbus Industrie.

Impatient with the warring Soviet design bureaus, Mr Putin has ordered a consolidation — the UAC, which will be led by the canny Mr Fedorov, whose local support for United Russia, the President’s party, is helpful. It is clear that aerospace is one of a number of key global industries in which the President sees Russia securing, in time, a strategic position.

Russia has advantages: highly skilled and very cheap labour. Cheap power and ample supplies of aerospace metals, such as aluminium and titanium. Boeing is already employing more than 1,000 Russian designers in a Moscow office.




Article in full

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13130-2355041,00.html

 

Probably look for some intel on the cheap.... it'll end up on the next chinese fighter no doubt... and i've no doubt their civilian aircraft market...

Call me cycnical

 

Considering the US were amazed at just how advanced the Sukhoi SU27 (?)
fighter is.It was the first OPERATIONAL jet fighter with thrust vectoring on all four axis (not the 2 dimensional ones on the F22) and it's still being updated.
It was,& still is a credible threat to the F-15!

 

maybe so... but you don't stay ahead of the game by reliving past glories....