The best aircraft

Russia is increasingly adding to world fleets of military and civil aircraft

The importance of both military and civil aircraft is growing every year. There is a steady growth in demand for aircraft. Besides, the criteria of importance are increasingly reliability and prices. In this regard the supply of Russian aircraft to international markets is inceasing. These aircraft feature reliability, up-to-date systems and well-balanced prices both for planes themselves and their maintenance. According to experts, Russian aircraft are more attractive in world markets thanks to life cycle cost.

UAC-branded
Russian ‘United Aircraft Corporation’ (UAC), which under one company represents the most well-known Russian aviation brands ‘Sukhoi’, ‘MiG’, ‘Tupolev’, ‘Yakovlev’ and others, is today among the world’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of aircraft, both military and civil.

Thanks to Corporation’s success in international business activity among other things UAC is in the ‘Forbes’-rated list of the world's biggest public companies. UAC’s revenues have grown over 20% on annual basis. Superjet 100 civil airliner, Su-30 and MiG-29 fighters, Yak-130 operational trainer are among the most popular aircraft exported by UAC.

Undersigning of a contract by Russia and China to supply 24 multifunctional Su-35 fighters has become one of the latest events this year. China turned out to be the first country to have a contract with Russia with regard to state-of-the-art Su-35 fighter. According to experts about 300 Su fighters will be exported by Russia in 2011-2018. Thus, the family of these multifunctional fighters has been steadily heading the list in the world leaving behind other brands including Boeing-made aircraft. Thus, in 2011-2014 Su aircraft were the first in terms of quantity. Within four years customers received 139 planes. Lockheed Martin delivered 89 fighters and Boeing – 60 only.

UAC places its stake on supplying military aircraft. Besides, many countries are discussing the necessity of renewal of their aircraft fleets . Unique Yak-130 combat trainer already supplied and being supplied to many states is also among the most popular in world markets. This plane is second to none in its class.

The contracts to deliver fighters to some Asia-Pacific states which include among others the biggest ones like India, China and Malaysia are successfully underway.

Civil aircraft
Not only military aircraft are exported by Russia. There has been quite a success with civil aircraft in which regard UAC is making extended plans. Among Russian civil aircraft Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jet of the new generation is the most popular in foreign markets. The aircraft combines new aircraft engineering technologies, passenger and crew comfort, significant economic advantages for airlines, proper environmental specifications.

The key advantage of Sukhoi Superjet 100 is the lower operational cost compared to its 100-seat competitors. Operational costs are also minimized due to higher fuel efficiency and lower take-off weight. According to the aircraft operation study, its ownership cost is averagely 15-20% lower than of other similar class aircraft. The highly competitive leasing rate supported by a state guarantee of residual value is also worth taking into account.

SSJ100 is capable of carrying 98 passengers. It is the first aircraft in its class featuring five-seat row with big 32-inch distance between seats. Thanks to a combination of wider seats and higher cabin (over 2 meters) SSJ100 passenger comfort, including the overhead compartments capacity is bigger than of competitors. The aircraft has been designed and manufactured using latest design methods and technologies of leading manufacturers such as French Snecma (engines) and Thales (avionics), US Goodrich (wheels) and Honeywell (auxiliary power unit). The interior has been created by Italian Pininfarina design house. In February 2012 the aircraft was certified by European Aeronautical Safety Agency (EASA).

According to ‘United Aircraft Corporation’ President Yuri Slyusar, the company has established a steady rate of Sukhoi Superjet 100 production. There are plans to deliver to customers about 30 aircraft each in 2016 and 2017. Today around sixty SSJ100’s are being operated in a number of regions, from South America to Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile the international success of Sukhoi Superjet 100 program is evidently increasing., A framework agreement on establishing a leasing company to support Sukhoi Superjet 100 sales in China and Southeast Asian countries has been signed in Moscow. The parties to the quadripartite agreement were Russian-Chinese investment fund, Russian ‘Sukhoi Civil Aircraft’ company (UAC member), Administration Committee of New Region Xi xian (China), and Chinese New Century International Leasing company. The agreement has been signed under auspices of Russian-Chinese intergovernmental panel.

According to the agreements within three years the Russian-Chinese leasing company should purchase up to one hundred Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft valued at about $3 billion. The new leasing company will be headquartered in Russian-Chinese technology park in Xi xian (the province of Shanxi, the capital of Chinese aviation cluster). The town administration will also assist in providing sites for necessary infrastructure to accept and maintain Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft.

“This agreement is one of solutions for the task to reconsider our approach to promoting Sukhoi Superjet 100 to international markets. It has been developed in a very short timeframe, for which we are thankful to the Chinese part”, said UAC President Yuri Slyusar. “The agreement to establish a Russian-Chinese lease company is a historical event in terms of both scale and challenges offered for national civil aircraft industry. Together with our Chinese partners we will formulate a highly competitive leasing proposal to ensure that SSJ100 aircraft take the significant share in fast-growing aircraft markets of China and Southeast Asian countries”.

The new approach by ‘Sukhoi Civil Aircraft’ to promote Sukhoi Superjet 100 to markets of China and Southeast Asian countries is made up of five components, they are cost efficiency superior to competitors, creation of a big maintenance center with spare parts warehouse and flight crew training center in Xixian, possibility of creating customer-tailored individual interiors and on-site painting.

Towards the East
Russian UAC considers Middle East as one of the most important regions for promotion of its products, including civil aircraft. According to UAC experts the average annual growth of passenger traffic within 2015-2034 will amount 6%. By early 2030’s passenger traffic of the airlines will have reached 12% of global figure and total 1,845 billion passenger-kilometers. Estimated volume of 60-200-seat civil aircraft sales within the mentioned period will exceed 700 aircraft in the Middle East market. UAC has intention to take a good share in the renewal of the regional fleet.

Another evidence of growing interest towards Russian civil aircraft has become UAC’s presentation of Sukhoi Superjet 100 at the recent Dubai Air Show. The aircraft introduced at the show had been made for Interjet, a leading Mexican air carrier. This Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft features focus on comfort. Its cabin has been designed by Italian Pininfarina design house.

Let us note that today VIP-class cabin-fitted SSJ100 is being offered too. After some procedures including installation of additional fuel tanks, wingtips and other technological solutions SSJ100 business version will have increased flight range to ensure nonstop flight over 8,000km distance.

Billion-related interest
This October at the General Assembly of European Regional Airlines Association (ERA) Irish CityJet airline announced it had chosen 98-seat Sukhoi Superjet 100 to renew its fleet and develop route network. The contract signed in this regard involves 15 firm orders to deliver aircraft plus an option to deliver 10 more aircraft. The airplanes will be supplied to CityJet in 2016 and 2017. Under the contractual price the cost of the agreement exceeds 1 billion US dollars including options and services. The first deliveries are to commence during the first quarter of 2016. CityJet airline has plans to use SSJ100 instead of Avro RJ85, which fly over Europe including London City airport. SSJ100 aircraft will be properly certified to fly to London City by the end of 2016.

In addition to this document another “SuperCare” agreement has been signed with CityJet to perform after-sale maintenance of a new fleet consisting of Sukhoi Superjet 100 airplanes for the period of 20 years. CityJet-owned SSJ100 aircraft are to be maintained by SuperJet International under the after-sale program developed for the customer beginning from the date the aircraft become operational. Besides, CityJet crews are to commence SSJ100 training at the full flight simulator in Venice by the end of the year.

Further technological development
Today UAC production capacities allow producing up to 60 Sukhoi Superjet 100 annually. The Russian aircraft sparkles profound interest in Southeast Asia, Latin America and so on. Experts confirm that in the context of 70-100-seaters this aircraft is becoming the most attractive for many airlines. According to Yuri Slyusar, UAC is intended to focus on further development of Sukhoi Superjet 100 family and soon offer customers a wide range of 75-130-seat regional aircraft.

The project is developing. Thus this autumn Russia commenced endurance tests of the long range Sukhoi Superjet 100 airframe to confirm design service life of up to 70,000 flight hours and 54,000 flights. In 2013 increased- take-off weight Sukhoi Superjet 100 was certified by Aviation Register of Interstate Aviation Committee (AR IAC) which confirmed the aircraft to be corresponding to IAC working regulations and allowed it to be commercially used by Russian air carriers. Currently there is intense work to gain the certificate for Sukhoi Superjet 100 LR version to be issued by European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA).

This version features 4,578 km range, increased 49.45 ton take-off weight and reinforced wing. The aircraft is equipped with standard SaM146-1S18 engine with 5% increased takeoff power.

Meanwhile UAC keeps working on creating 150-210-seater MC-21 narrow-bodied aircraft family. Estimated volume of production is up to 72 aircraft per year. Currently the aircraft’s order book is close to 200 vehicles. There is also interest towards this advanced aircraft in foreign markets. “We should sell internationally hundreds of aircraft. This is our goal as to civil segment is concerned”, emphasized Yuri Slyusar.

A growing role of Russian aircraft industry in the region has been confirmed by the fact of undersigning of a new contract at the ‘Dubai Air Show-2015’. Egyptian KATO Investment holding company shall cooperate with UAC as concerned to MC-21 advanced aircraft family. In particular, the provision is made for 4 MC-21 aircraft as an option and creating an MC-21 regional maintenance center in Egypt.

In conclusion we should note that UAC is ready to consider establishing maintenance centers at partners’ locations as well as creating localized production of separate units and components. As Yuri Slyusar emphasized speaking in Bangalore, “from among 272 aircraft which Russia should deliver for Indian Air Force, 222 aircraft are assembled and to be assembled in India featuring high degree of localization. This is a project implemented under Maкe in India format”. This example shows Russian aircraft manufacturers are in a high state of readiness to create customer-advantageous formats and delivery patterns.