The Defense Ministries of Ukraine and Russia will begin to coordinate terms of the joint Antonov An-70 military cargo aircraft project by the end of October, 2009 a high-ranking military representative told to press in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"Tactical and technical parameters of the prospective air plane, testing flights and prices will be discussed in October of this year. The Antonov Aeronautical Design and Producing Center, the designer of the An-70, will participate in the conference," he noted.

As for Ukrainian state funding of the project in 2011, the source reported the price would be announced once the draft budget for next year was complete. "This year's allocations from the stabilization fund were formed at UAH 248 million. The funding has not yet started," the source added.

This August Moscow and Kyiv concluded the intergovernmental contract on the An-70 and An-70 T with D-27 engines of June 25, 1993.

According to the contract, the parties will together design and test the An-70 aircraft with short take off and landing and its modifications, including the civil jet with D-27 engines.

The parties also pledged the joint financing of the project from national budgets.

Russia and Ukraine will invest about 1.5 billion USD in common project, while about 100 million USD are necessary for study and development. Russia's acknowledged debt to Antonov is 48 million USD. The debt has not been paid.