The program faces tough competition with many other medium-range passenger airliners, including Russia's Tupolev Tu-334, the Russian-Ukrainian Antonov An-148, Brazil's Embraer, Bombardier of Canada and even China's ERJ. But, Sukhoi head Mikhail Pogosyan remains optimistic, saying the CIS market will absorb 300 RRJ aircraft starting in 2007. Europe, the Americas and Asia will require more than 400 of these planes.
The RRJ program is really one of international efforts. Thales of France will also manufacture RRJ avionics. Snecma and Russia's Saturn science and production association (NPO) will deliver the plane's power plants and engine nacelles. Liebherr of Germany is expected to make remote-control systems, with France's Messier Dowty developing the plane's landing gear. Intertechnique will contribute the plane's fuel system. Hamilton Sundstrand is responsible for RRJ electrical networks. B/E Aerospace will act as interior decorator, with Ipeco furnishing armchairs for the RRJ crew. Boeing is coordinating the project.
RRJ planes will be assembled at the Novosibirsk aircraft-production association (NAPO) and in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Both enterprises belong to Sukhoi.
NAPO Head Engineer Vladimir Manokhin said the factory is ready to assemble 40 percent of all aircraft components. Sukhoi experts predict that the first RRJ will take off in the fourth quarter of 2006. Batch production will end in 2007.
Sukhoi and Siberia Airlines had signed a contract for the delivery of 50 RRJ airliners during the 2004 Farnborough international aerospace show. UTAir and Pulkovo Airlines have also received commercial proposals. Air France and Iberia have agreed to buy the planes and India's HAL aerospace corporation would like to help produce and promote it on Southeast Asian markets.
