General Designer Igor Shevchuk passed away, Tupolev company informed on 6 January. His death was caused by a heart failure.

Igor Shevchuk was borne on 30 January 1953 in the town of Slutsk. The whole of his career was with Tupolev. Igor Shevchuk joined the design house upon graduating from Moscow Aviation Institute with a degree in aero engines. He came a long way from engineer to General Designer. He accepted the position of director general at Tupolev in 1997, when the company was in a very poor state caused by the transition from the command to market-driven economy and a system crisis in the Russian aviation industry. The following year Shevhuk was elected chairman of the executive board. In 2001 he became General Designer and President.

Igor Shevchuk voiced an idea to form a civilian product line of highly unified aircraft models. It would include Tupolev Tu-204 and Tu-334 jets and their derivatives. Under his leadership and active participation in practical work (which was possible thanks to his education as an aviation engineer) a few of the aircraft models in this new civilian product line won certification.

He devoted much time and energy to restoration of Russian strategic nuclear deterrent forces. In 2006 the Tu-160 swing-wing supersonic strategic bomber was officially accepted into service with the Russian air force. Under insistence of the General Designer, the Russian government has substantially increased the volume of state order for Tupolev design house and manufacturing plants working in cooperation.

For his immense personal contribution into development of Russian aviation, Igor Shevchuk was awarded with various state orders, titles and decorations.

For many of the Tupolev employees he was not merely their leader, but also a close friend, the person who shared their common views and their will to fight for the interests of the Russian aviation. Also, he was a good husband, father and grandfather.