While Sukhoi officials unveil cockpit and cabin mockups of the 60- to 95-seat Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) here at Le Bourget, the company’s subsidiary in the Russian Far East has produced the first components for the aircraft.
This spring the first digitized models of long-cycle components were handed over to Sukhoi’s Komsomolsk-on-Amur-based KnAAPO plant, and in April the first metal was cut. These long-lead items are for the wings and fuselage of the initial batch of six RRJ prototypes — four flight-test vehicles and a pair of ground test articles. The RRJ project is fully on schedule, with the first RRJ prototype scheduled to fly in November 2006 and first production rollout expected at the end of 2007, Sukhoi’s general director Mikhail Pogosyan told ShowNews.
The first firm order for 50 RRJs, in the 95-seat version, came last year from Russia’s No.2 carrier, Sibir. Sukhoi officials say deposits are paid, but they will not elaborate on the exact sum.
So far the company has invested about $70 million of its own money. The full program cost is estimated at $700 million — excluding development of the RRJ’s SaM146 engines, which is to be carried out by France’s Safran (formerly Snecma) and Russia’s NPO Saturn. This spring a group of major Russian banks joined in financing the project, opening a line of credit of $200 million for 2005, part of which ($100 million) is government-backed. This is enough, says Pogosyan, to complete the aircraft’s design and prepare for full-scale production. Further loans are expected next year.
Reportedly Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) could join the RRJ program. The Indian company has expressed its intention to invest up to $100 million. Sukhoi officials confirmed that negotiations are underway, but the form of HAL’s participation has not yet been worked out. The two companies have signed a MoU, and Sukhoi wants HAL to become a risk-sharing partner. Also under discussion is the option for HAL to acquire a 10% stake in the RRJ project.
Whilst overcoming financial hurdles and beginning RRJ production, Sukhoi is developing an after-sales program for its first commercial airliner, aimed at achieving Western standards of customer support. In March Sukhoi inked an agreement with Sogitec of France for joint development of specifications and manuals for the RRJ family. Later Sukhoi plans to buy Sogitec software for developing electronic manuals for RRJ operators. —Artem Fetisov
