Putin Encourages Russia's Aerospace Industry To Develop Rocket Machines

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin has encouraged aerospace industry leaders to continue developing booster rocket engines for space launch vehicles and building Russian reputations that have long been tested as leaders in space technology.

Putin, who has spent the past week in China and the port of Vladivostok, flew to the southern Russian city of Samara, where he met with industry experts and visited the aircraft engine manufacturing plant owned by the design bureau Kuznetsov.

As quoted by the Russian news agency, Putin said Russia remains the leading force in the development of the aerospace industry.

"It is important to consistently update the production capacity of booster rocket engines," Putin said.

"And thus, we must not only meet our own needs at this time and in the future, but also actively move in the world market and become successful competitors," he continued.

Putin noted Russia's success in developing innovations in terms of engine production, particularly in the energy sector, despite sanctions from Western countries regarding Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

"In the midst of restrictions due to sanctions, we managed to develop a series of innovative machines for energy in a short time," Putin said.

"These machines are being actively used, including in terms of gas transportation infrastructure," he said.

Putin called it a very important theme, especially for the development of Russian gas exports, including plans for the construction of the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline which is being discussed in China this week to flow Russian gas to China.

Putin praised the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline as something that benefits both sides.

Russia has proposed the route years ago, but the plan is increasingly pressing as Russia views Beijing as a customer to replace Europe, which is trying to reduce Russia's energy supply since Russia's invasion of its smaller neighboring country.

Putin also highlighted the development of PD-26 aircraft engines, saying it would allow the development of military transport aircraft and wide-body passenger aircraft.

"The development of this project will not only allow the modernization of military transport aircraft, but also open the prospect of building a new generation of wide-body civilian aircraft," he said.