The largest air show in Russia's post-Soviet history opened Tuesday. «The task stands before us of supporting our leadership in the production of military aviation technology,» President Vladimir Putin said at the International Aviation and Space Show at the once-secret Zhukovsky military airfield in Moscow's outskirts. He said Russian manufacturers «must more actively enter the world market for passenger and transport aircraft with competitive production.» The six-day exhibition will showcase the enhanced MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets and the new S-400 missile defense system, part of massive spending bolstered by Russia's oil and gas revenues, the Associated Press reported. «The Russian air forces have some of the nicest aircraft I have ever seen,» Gen. William T. Hobbins, commander of U.S. air forces in Europe, said at the show. «With a Sukhoi and MiG today, we have seen lots of new technology.»
