Kazakhstan to produce aircraft with jet engines

On his working trip to Karaganda oblast, Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev inaugurated KazAviaSpektr, a facility to manufacture aircraft for agriculture purposes. "Karaganda is launching a facility unusual for Kazakhstan: the aircraft manufacturing plant. Starting from next year aircaft for agricultural purposes will be produced. Output of small passenger airfcaft would be the next stage followed by production of aircraft with jet engines. It is here that Kazakhstan's aircraft manufacturing starts. This industry is very innovative," Nazarbayev said. According to the Regional Governor’s Office, the project is estimated at $11.1 million. The facility will be manufacturing Farmer-2 and Farmer-500 aircraft intended for chemical treatment of agricultural lands. The 960-kg-heavy vehicles fly at 200 km per hour, being capable of treating 30-180 hectares at a time. At the next stage in 2012 the facility can be further used to produce Sunkar four- seater aircraft with a range of 1500 km to be employed for aerial photography and patrolling of oil pipelines. In 2015 the plant will start making 10-seater Expedition aricraft.