Sukhoi's RRJ Emerges As Superjet 100

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Sukhoi's RRJ Emerges As Superjet 100

By Artem Fetisov

07/17/2006 11:49:22 AM

 

Sukhoi has renamed its Russian Regional Jet the Superjet 100 in an effort to focus could-be customers' attention on international cooperation schemes employed in the 75- to 95-seat regional jet program while also veiling the aircraftýýýs Russian roots.

 

The new name defines the former RRJ as "the brainchild of elite aerospace companies of Europe and America" and avoids any reference to its Russian parentage. At the same time, Sukhoi has officially downsized its product range to two models ýýý- 75- and 95-seaters -- and has shelved the proposed 60-seat model.

 

This move aims to cement the company's credibility in the West that it won in late June, when Finmeccanica unit Alenia Aeronautica signed an agreement to acquire a 25%-plus-one-share part of Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co., a 100% subsidiary of combat jet maker Sukhoi. The deal was backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and new Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi -- both of whom attended an official Kremlin ceremony, thus dispelling rumors that the new Italian government might revise Russian and Italian aerospace cooperation efforts. High-powered government support shown by the Kremlin event enabled Alenia to become the first company to break through the 25% ceiling set by Russian legislation for foreign investors' holdings in the country's aircraft industry.

 

Obtaining the 25%-plus-one-share part in the program was Alenia's major condition for joining the Russian Regional Jet's development. Sukhoi representatives confirmed that a special Russian-Italian intergovernmental agreement is soon to be signed, giving Alenia permission to obtain the desired share package. Now the parties must determine a price. The contract will be concluded by year-end, as soon as the agreement comes into force. According to Sukhoi company head Mikhail Pogosyan, Alenia will spend more than $100 million to buy the package. Finmeccanica CEO Giorgio Zappa stated that the total investment will amount to $200 millionýýý$250 million.

 

The Italian participation should give a serious boost to the RRJ program, raising its status to a true international level. Sukhoi and Alenia plan to set up a joint venture in Europe for aircraft sales and after-sales support in the European and American markets. To promote the Russian aircraft, the Italians are keen to use their experience with the ATR-42/72 turboprop regional airliners, including their maintenance network throughout Europe. Alenia will share with Sukhoi the technical expertise and supply of composites material for the aircraft.

 

On the eve of Farnborough, Sukhoi reported 30 firm orders for 95-seat Superjet 100s from the biggest Russian carrier, Aeroflot, plus 10 firm orders placed by local leasing company Financial Leasing Co. In London two more deals may be inked, both with Russian carriers, adding about 30 more firm orders.

 

Meanwhile, production of the first long-lead items is underway at Komsomolsk-on-Amur in far eastern Russia and at the Novosibirsk facility in Siberia. Reportedly, the first prototype will be manufactured and the static test program will be launched this autumn. Full-scale mock-ups of the passenger cabin, galley and flight deck are exhibited at Sukhoi's booth (E9, Hall 1) at the show.

 

http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/chan.../SUKHO07176.xml

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Meus prezados:

The Italian participation should give a serious boost to the RRJ program, raising its status to a true international level. Sukhoi and Alenia plan to set up a joint venture in Europe for aircraft sales and after-sales support in the European and American markets. To promote the Russian aircraft, the Italians are keen to use their experience with the ATR-42/72 turboprop regional airliners, including their maintenance network throughout Europe. Alenia will share with Sukhoi the technical expertise and supply of composites material for the aircraft.

A então URSS representava um mercado cativo para os produtos da Sukhoi e Antonov. Com a desintegração da mesma as Repúblicas, então independentes, passaram a adquirir suas aeronaves no mercado internacional e esses fabricantes tiveram que fazer frente a isso. Não há dúvida que esta associação Sukhoi/Alenia representa um obstáculo para a EMBRAER que, felizmente, já está com a série 170/190 no ar, enquanto êles ainda estão começando a fase de projeto. Esta vantagem também se aplica a Bombardier que, parece, voltou a pensar no seu projeto para 100 assentos. Enquanto ela pensa, a EMBRAER vôa!