The series of mergers and amalgamations in Russian industry has now also affected the defense sector. The President of Russia’s state-owned United Aircraft Corporation (UAC – itself part of the ROSTEC group headed by Putin confidant Chemezov), Yuri Slyusar, announced a few days ago that a complete merger of the two traditional Russian brands Sukhoi and MiGwas “a done deal” from the end of 2019. Both companies will then form UAC’s fighter aircraftstructuraldivision. According to Slyusar, work has begun on the so-called ‘roadmap’, which was approved by the Board of Directors at the end of 2016. However, when asked, he also emphasized that the MiG and Sukhoi ‘brands’ would remain despite the merger, especially with regard to export markets: “No,it would be a shot in the foot to change or abolish these famous trademarks!”
Text & picture: Georg Mader
