Cuba to buy $650M in planes from Russia

HAVANA, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Russian Trade Minister Denis Manturov said Friday Cuba signed agreements to purchase $650 million worth of aircraft from Russia.

The deal includes purchase of three Antonov An-158 regional aircraft and three Ilyushin Il-96-400s, each with a 350-passenger capacity, RIA Novosti reported.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, heading home from a trip to Brazil, was in Cuba with Raul Castro as the sales agreements were signed by representatives of Ilyushin Finance and the Cuban Aviation Corp., the report said.

"Overall, aircraft deliveries will be worth $650 million," Manturov said.