At the Paris Air Show, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the prominent Russian section of the exposition, where prototypes of the IL-76, Sukhoi Superjet 100, and other medium-range planes like the MS-21 were on display.

The prime minister also visited the RosKosmos area, which featured prototypes of rockets, space satellites, and remote-controlled weapons.

Prime Minister Putin then watched from the observation deck as the Russian Be-200 and Sukhoi Superjet 100 performed flight demonstrations. Both planes jetted across the airfield, while the Be-200 dumped water on the landing strip.

After the demonstration, Vladimir Putin talked with Alexander Ternovov, the Be-200 commander, and inquired as to the loading speed and cargo capacity of the aircraft. The pilot reported that the Be-200 is capable of loading its full, 12-tonne cargo of water in 15 seconds while flying at speeds of 180km/h.

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At the International Paris Air Show in the suburb of Le Bourget, the following documents were signed in the presence of the prime minister:

- A memorandum on a joint venture to create space systems for remote Earth probing and on cooperation between the Energia and Astrium space corporations;

- An agreement on a joint venture between the Helicopters of Russia and AgustaWestland companies.

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Vladimir Putin presents awards to French astronauts for their contribution to space exploration

At the International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin presented the Space Exploration Service Medal to Michel Tognini, head of the European Astronaut Centre of the European Space Agency (ESA), ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts, and Jean-Pierre Haigneré, head of the project to build the launch pad for the Soyuz carrier rocket at the Guiana Space Centre spaceport, for their great contribution to international cooperation in manned space exploration.

Vladimir Putin’s speech at the presentation ceremony:

I would like to congratulate our French friends and colleagues, in every sense of the word, on earning these awards. We are proud of you and of our partnership, and we wish you success in all your various endeavors. Today, I extensively discussed one of these endeavors with the French prime minister, namely launching rockets from the Guiana Space Centre. All preparatory work has been completed. I hope the launches are successful and that we continue our partnership in space exploration, a sphere that is tremendously important for both France and Russia.

I would like to inform you that Russia has just successfully launched another transport spacecraft from the Baikonur space centre. The launch and the separation went as planned, and all necessary equipment will be delivered to the International Space Station crew soon.