Ilyushin Finance Co. (IFC) says it is going to complete negotiations with Red Wings on 44 Tu-204SM aircraft in February so as to sign a firm order in March 2011.

The decision to continue with the Tupolev Tu-204SM project was made by Sergei Ivanov as he chaired a special meeting with the Russian aircraft manufacturing industry leaders earlier this week.

The Russian government is going to invest Rouble 100 billion into research and development (R&D) of the MS-21 next generation narrow body jet.

In the past year of 2010 Tupolev won five complimentary certificates to three baseline aircraft models and two noise level certificates. All of these were awarded by the Russian and CIS civil aviation authorities.