Russia Displays the Latest in its Aerospace Technology at Farnborough

Prototype of the Sukhoi Superjet-100 short-haul airliner

More than 60 aerospace companies from Russia are displaying their latest flying achievements at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Flying Display near London. The Farnborough Display, held since 1932, has rightfully earned the reputation of being the most prestigious air show, and it is a major highlight of the year in the aerospace industry. According to tradition, the design and technology innovations seen at Farnborough set the image for the new-generation in the aerospace industry. As usual, the Russian display presents a whole gamut of modern aircraft, air defence, space, civilian, and dual-use products and services. Constituting the bulk of Russia’s aviation exports are Sukhoi aircraft, which occupy a central place at Farnborough-2008.

Ruslan Pukhov is the Director of the Strategy and Technology Centre, and he said, “Yesterday saw a presentation of the Sukhoi Su-35 multi-purpose jet, and the Sukhoi manufacturers are pushing ahead with the Superjet-100 model, a small-capacity plane, about 100 seats, which is to replace the Tupolev Tu-134. Superjet-100 is expected to compete with the most famous brands of the type on the world market. What is particularly intriguing is that it is a fifth-generation aircraft. Until recently, all information about it was classified. Meanwhile, the maiden flight [of the production version] is to take place at the end of next year. The new model, designed in close cooperation with India, will hopefully capture 35 to 40 percent of the market”. International cooperation is crucial in development in the aerospace industry. More than 30 major aircraft producers are involved in the Sukhoi Superjet-100 project.

14 July 2008

Vyacheslav Solovyov

Voice of Russia World Service

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29656&cid=61&p=14.07.2008

Russian Programmers Conquer Paris

Two Russian programmers, the Grebnev brothers Sergei and Ilya, won the prestigious International Imagine Cup in Paris. This is a major technological student competition held with support of Microsoft and other high-tech companies. Students compete in various categories, including algorithms, photography, and design. This year, over 200,000 students participated in the event from 60 countries. 370 of them got into the finals.

The Russian victory at the Imagine Cup competitions did not come as something unexpected for experts. Russian programmers have a very high reputation on the international market. Yet, what was quite unexpected for many is the category in which the Grebnev brothers won. It is called “Hoshimi”, or the programming of robots’ behaviour. A team of two persons is expected to save the life of Japanese Professor Hoshimi by programming the behaviour of robots implanted in his body. The competition makes use of literature, graphic arts, and tasks to check the skill of programming. Several teams take part in the “rescue operation”. The competition is not only very fun for the programmers taking part, but, also for viewers watching the competition in a virtual three-dimensional environment.

One of the winners, Ilya Grebnev, said that the task of creating something interesting and original was not easy. “It wasn’t the first time that I took part in the Imagine Cup competitions, but, this is my first big success. I am proud that I represented Russia at the competition. We are happy to have won, and the jury appreciated our original thinking”.

Rogerio Panigassi, one of the organisers of the competition said that the Imagine Cup competitions are being held for the sixth time, and Russians are always competitors. Russian students demonstrated a brilliant performance in resolving the tasks facing them. In addition to the brilliant victory of the Grebnev brothers, a team from the St Petersburg University of Information Technologies placed amongst the 12 best teams at this year’s competitions. Anton Nikitin, a member of the St Petersburg team, said they are glad with their success. “This is not a competition of programme products, but, of programme projects. Therefore, it is important to create an image of the system you are working out and that will be used in future”.

The Russian victory at the Imagine Cup Competition in Paris shows once again that Russian programmers are highly qualified. In short, they often dictate fashion in the world in this field.

14 July 2008

Voice of Russia World Service

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29650&cid=61&p=14.07.2008

Aleksandr Avdeyev says that Russia has a Long History of Cultural Ties with Europe

Aleksandr Avdeyev, Minister of Culture

“Russia has a long history of cultural ties with Europe”, said Cultural Minister Aleksandr Avdeyev, who was, until recently, the Russian ambassador to France. A journalist from the Moscow-based newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda (Komsomol Truth) asked him how the Year of Russia will be held in France in 2010. He replied, “The ministry plans to display the country’s achievements in economics, science, education, and culture. We will show Russia as it truly is today, showcasing its achievements, wealth, and multinational culture. The ministry plans to show French audiences some little-known facts. The French are unaware of the results of Russia’s development over the past 15 years. Another aim of the event is to show to the French people how Russia has built a democratic state and civil society. In fact, Russia started this process not so long ago. The French people did this in the past two centuries, whilst Russia has only done so for 15-16 years. Another aim of the Year of Russia in France is to show Russia’s capabilities and the state of our Russian cultural life today. Russia has interesting things, and it’s worth talking about them and showing them. There are problems that could be compared with those in French culture. In this case, it is quite interesting to get acquainted with the French experience”.

In response to a question by Peter Freedman from Germany concerning what must be done to end the tragedy in Kosovo, as monasteries, churches, and cultural monuments have beeen destroyed [by the Albanian separatists], Mr Avdeyev said, “There is a need for us to raise this issue relentlessly at international organisations such as the Council of Europe, UNESCO, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the UN Security Council. Russia believes that what was destroyed must be reconstructed, with guarantees of security, at the earliest possible moment. We need this because none of the restorers from Serbia, Russia, or Germany will go there to do the job if their lives are in danger”. According to Mr Avdeyev, Russia is not only ready to start restoration of monuments in Kosovo, but, Russian society demands that the government in Kosovo and the world community must do so as well. He once again insisted that this must be done under conditions of security and in cooperation with international organisations.

Vyacheslav Solovyov

Voice of Russia World Service

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29617&cid=62&p=13.07.2008

The USA and Russia Need to Agree on Missile Defence and Iran

US Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) (1934- ), Chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee

The missile defence shield the Pentagon is now setting up in Europe is not meant to fight off Iranian missiles and the Bush Administration should stop provoking Russia. This, in a nutshell, is what Senator Carl Levin, the influential chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, told CBS on Sunday. This honest and fair judgment is all the more significant as it comes from someone who is very well informed and has never been suspected of any pro-Russian bias. It’s really hard to disagree with Senator Levin that Washington keeps alienating Russia with all the means at its disposal, including the Iranian nuclear programme and proposals to expel Russia from the G8. The latter proposal has just been reiterated by the Republican presidential candidate John McCain. It’s also worth mentioning that Senator Levin’s opinion is fully shared by his Republican colleague, Senator Richard Lugar, the vice-chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, one of America’s longest serving and most respected lawmakers.

Unfortunately, the list of those who wish to erect a barrier between the US and Russia appears to be much longer than one would expect, and, in a recent interview with the C-Span television network, New York University Professor Stephen Cohen said the US was pursuing an imperial policy of double standards when dealing with Russia, including NATO enlargement, attempts to draw the Ukraine and Georgia into the Western bloc, and the use of the so-called “energy” weapon… Professor Cohen believes that, under the circumstances, Washington should change its tone and engage in an equitable and mutually respectful dialogue with Moscow. The US President should not lecture Russia on democracy and human rights, Professor Cohen said. During his two months in office, President Dmitri Medvedev has already made repeated calls for an honest, open, equitable, and mutually-respectful dialogue with the US. Thus far, however, we’ve been getting no signs of Washington being ready to bear in mind Russian concerns and adequately respond to these concerns…

14 July 2008

Viktor Yenikeyev

Voice of Russia World Service

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29637&cid=58&p=14.07.2008