The Cabinet of Ministers suggests the Verkhovna Rada should allocate UAH 200 million for purchasing An-148 planes in 2009.

This is stated in a draft bill on state budget of Ukraine for 2009 registered at the Verkhovna Rada September 15 with No 3000.

The aircraft will be purchased within the framework of the budget program for acquiring An-148 planes through a state-run leasing enterprise. Under the bill, the planes will be purchased to support a domestic manufacturer of advanced technology products, make up airlines' fleet and improve safety of air transportation.

As Ukrainian News reported, the Ministry of Industrial Policy instructed Kyiv-based Aviant state-run aviation plant to launch serial production of An-148 planes by late 2008.

In November 2007, the Antonov Aeronautical Scientific and Technical Complex allowed Aviant to use a traditional design of An-148-100 aircraft having signed the related agreement.

Conclusion of such contracts is a required condition to start serial production of a civil plane.

The Antonov Aeronautical Scientific and Technical Complex, a single developer of planes in Ukraine, consists of a design bureau, a wide complex of laboratories, an experimental plant and a test base.