The Arbitration Court of the Samara Region has scheduled preliminary hearing of a lawsuit that the Antonov state aircraft manufacturing concern (Ukraine) filed against the Aviacor aircraft plant in a bid to recover USD 5.35 million for 28 October, according to materials on the website of the court, the Interfax Ukraine news agency reports.
The lawsuit was filed on 20 August, and the court agreed on 27 August to consider it. The essence of the lawsuit was not specified.
According to the case materials, the plaintiff is requested to submit "proof of actual sale of the goods specified in the contract, including aircraft of the types AN-140 and AN-140-100 and their modifications" no later than 10 days before the date of the court hearing.
The respondent is requested to provide payment documents and other counter-settlement documents to back its objections to the lawsuit.
As reported earlier, Aviacor’s General Director Alexei Gusev said in June 2014 that the situation in Ukraine had put the project for production of AN-140 aircraft "on the brink of shutdown." In connection with this, the Russian company stopped making prepayments to suppliers in Ukraine for security reasons. In July 2015, Gusev announced the suspension of the program for production of AN-140 aircraft because of the position of the Ukrainian authorities.
"Given that the 34 plants that supply us and the main design bureau (Antonov) are located in Ukraine, import substitution of components in such a short period is impossible. Therefore, this program is being stopped temporarily," Gusev explained.
It was also reported that Aviacor failed to fulfill its obligations under a government contract with the Defense Ministry for production of AN-140 aircraft because suppliers failed to meet deadlines.
Aviacor is the only aircraft-manufacturing asset of the Russian Machines holding company (part of Basic Element). It specializes in manufacture, repair, and maintenance of Tu-154 and An-140 aircraft.
The Antonov aircraft manufacturing enterprise is part of the Ukroboronprom state defense concern. It has a complete aircraft manufacturing cycle - from design to production and after-sales service.
