Putin plugged the Russian-Ukrainian An-70 Antonov military transport jet
BERLIN, June 16 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin plugged the Russian-Ukrainian An-70 Antonov military transport jet on Friday as an example of a good commercial prospect for Germany.
"The work on the An-70 is an example of this. Experts say it is better, more effective, cheaper, and can be rolled out right now," Putin told a news conference in Berlin. "Other proposed options are five years away."
Germany is weighing up whether to buy the An-70 or the A400M proposed by the European consortium, Airbus Industrie [ARBU.UL].
Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping said last month he favoured a European solution in buying the 75 planes, which could cost up to 13 billion marks ($6.3 billion).
The new aircraft will replace Germany's 83 Transall aircraft which have been in service since 1967.
Putin was speaking at the end of a three-day visit to Germany.
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