Russia's premier aerospace fair opens outside Moscow.

Russia Prime Minister Vladimir Putin opens an aerospace fair just outside of Moscow.

SHOWS:

ZHUKOVSKY, RUSSIA (AUGUST 18, 2009) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. PLANE BEING TOWED TO A SPOT

2. PEOPLE WATCHING

3. SUKHOI SUPERJET

4. RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN GETTING OUT OF CAR

5. PUTIN WALKING TOWARDS PODIUM

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER, SAYING:

"At MAKS [Moscow Aerospace Salon] 2009, there a large variety of perspective civilian and military aircraft, examples of space and other equipment such as Sukhoi SuperJet, transport IL 96-400, multi-purpose fighter jet 4+ and new systems for exploring the low orbit space."

7. GUESTS

8. PUTIN LOOKING AT DEMONSTRATION FLIGHTS

9. PUTIN AND OFFICIALS LOOKING AT DEMONSTRATION FLIGHTS

10. RUSSIAN SU-35 FIGHTER JET FLYING

11. PEOPLE WATCHING

12. SUKHOI SUPERJET FLYING

13. PEOPLE WATCHING

14. FOUR MIG 29 FIGHTER JETS FLYING IN FORMATION

15. RUSSIAN SPACE AGENCY PAVILION

16. MODEL OF INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

17. PUTIN LOOKING AT EXHIBITS

18. PLANE MODEL ON DISPLAY

19. PEOPLE INSIDE PAVILION

STORY: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin opened Russia's premier aerospace fair on Tuesday (August 8).

"At MAKS [Moscow Aerospace Salon] 2009, there a large variety of perspective civilian and military aircraft, examples of space and other equipment such as Sukhoi SuperJet, transport IL 96-400, multi-purpose fighter jet 4+ and new systems for exploring the low orbit space," he said during the opening ceremony.

But Putin has also warned company bosses that his government will not support loss-making companies or defend bad management.

Russia is seeking to turn MAKS, which attracts tens of thousands of spectators, into a leading international aviation and space show and a venue at which major deals can be struck.

The Russian prime minister watched demonstration flights by SU-35, Sukhoi SuperJet, group of MIG-29 and visited the pavilion of the Russian Space Agency "Roskosmos".

Putin said Russia's Defence Ministry had signed a contract worth 80 billion roubles ($2.5 billion U.S. dollars), a record for the Russian military, to buy fighter jets from state-controlled firm Sukhoi between now and 2015.

Russia's armed forces will take delivery of 48 Su-35 jets, 12 Su-27 jets and four Su-30 jets through the contract, he said.

Around 700 companies, including over 400 Russian firms, are taking part in the air show, which runs till Sunday (August 13).

MAKS poses itself as "a demonstration of the advantages and development trends of Russian science and industry in such high-tech areas as aviation, space and missile engineering".

During the air show Russia will showcase a variety of military and civilian aircraft, including its famous Sukhoi fighters, the new MiG-35 fighter, the IL-96-400 cargo plane, and the new Superjet 100 mid-haul passenger airliner.

The organisers say more than 500,000 people are expected to visit the event.