"I would especially mention the backbone exhibit of Russia's United Aircraft Building Corporation," Putin said at the opening of the Maks 2007 airshow at the once-secret Zhukovsky military airfield, outside Moscow.
"It has plans to actively emerge on the world market with competitive passenger and transport planes. Besides that, Russia faces the task of retaining the leadership in the manufacture of combat military aircraft."
William Hobbins, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, who also attended the airshow, praised Russia's military aircraft production and said cooperation between the two countries was strong.
(AFP, AP)
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