UAC, Russia

High prospects in the civil and military segments

The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) participates in the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2017 as the major Russian aircraft manufacturers. This Corporation unites more than 80 per cent of design and production assets of Russian aircraft industry. She also manages all key and most promising programs of development of the industry. UAC, which under one company represents the most well-known Russian aviation brands such as Sukhoi, MiG, Tupolev, Yakovlev and others, is today one of the world’s biggest manufacturers and suppliers of aircraft.

International Aviation and Space Salon
At the MAKS-2017 UAC shows a joint exposition of the Corporation's divisions in the pavilion F1 with a total area of 1550 sq.m. Almost all models of civil, military, transport and special purpose aircraft produced by UAC, including T-50, SSJ100, Be-200, Yak-130, IL-76MD-90A, MC-21-300 and other are represented in the exposition. Visitors of the Airshow also be able to see the concept of the M-60 aircraft in the pavilion. The MC-21-300 full-flight simulator and a training complex for the Su-35 are demonstrating during the business and public days of the Airshow.

There are over 80 Russian aircraft to be seen on display and in the air of Zhukovsky. Among them MiG-29SMT, Su-30SM, Su-35S fighters, Yak-130 training aircraft, Su-34 front bomber, Tu-160, Tu-95MS, A-50U and many others. Guests of the show also can see the SSJ100 aircraft in the version for the Ministry of Emergency Situations on display. The flight program includes aerobatic teams of the Russian Air Force, such as Swifts, Falcons of Russia and the Russian Knights on their newest Su-30SM fighters. Pilots of the Su-35S, Su-34 and T-50 aircraft will demonstrate their perfect skills in front of thousands of watchers. Within the business days at MAKS-2017, the Corporation plans to hold a number of meetings and contract signings. UAC representatives are take part in a number of lectures and conferences dedicated, in particular, to the development of digital technologies and HR.

Main success this year
The first flight of the MC-21-300 at the airfield of Irkutsk Aviation Plant, the affiliate of Irkut Corporation (a UAC member) is certainly the main success of the UAC this year. This project will be one of the main centers of attention at the air show in Zhukovsky. Yury Slyusar, the President of UAC, stressed, 'MC-21 is created in a wide cooperation, where together with Irkut, other enterprises of the United Aircraft Corporation are actively participating, namely Aerocomposite company, Ulyanovsk and Voronezh aircraft plants, UAC Integration. Center in Moscow. This is an important stage in the formation of the new UAC industrial model. According to our estimates, the global demand in the MC-21 segment will be about 15,000 new aircraft in the next 20 years. I'm sure the airlines will appreciate our new aircraft.’

Oleg Demchenko, the President of Irkut Corporation, stated, 'today is the historic day for our personnel and the whole big team, which works on creation of MC-21 aircraft. We put the most advanced technical solutions in our aircraft, to provide enhanced comfort for passengers and attractive economic characteristics for air carriers. I am happy to declare the maiden flight of the MC-21 aircraft has been successfully accomplished. I congratulate all project participants on our common holiday!’

MC-21-300 new generation aircraft with capacity of 163 to 211 passengers targets the most massive segment of aviation market. MC-21 aircraft provides passengers with the qualitatively new level of comfort, due to the biggest fuselage diameter in the category of narrow-body aircraft. This design decision significantly widens private space of each passenger, ensures free passage of passenger and service trolley over the aisle, and shortens airport turnover time. Natural lighting of the passenger cabin is enhanced due to big windows. Comfortable air pressure and advanced microclimate will be maintained in the aircraft. High demands for comfort and economic effectiveness of the aircraft pushed forward introduction of advanced technical solutions in aerodynamics, engine-building, and avionics.The major contributor to the enhancement of flight-technical characteristics of the aircraft is the wing made of polymer composite materials, the first-in-the-word one developed for narrow-body aircraft with the capacity of over 130 passengers.

The share of composites in MC-21 design exceeding 30% is the unique for this category of aircraft. For the first time in the history of Russian aircraft manufacturing, the airliner is offered to the customers with two options of power plant — PW1400G of Pratt & Whitney Company (USA) or PD-14 of United Engine Corporation (Russia). New-generation engines feature reduced fuel consumption, low noise and hazardous emissions. MC-21 aircraft meets prospective environmental requirements. Calculated reduction of direct operational costs for MC-21 is 12-15% lower than for counterparts. The initial portfolio of firm orders for 175 MC-21 aircraft provides utilization of production capacity in the coming years. We should sell internationally hundreds of aircraft. This is our goal in the civil segment’, emphasized Yuri Slyusar.

Export upswing
Thanks to the success of its products UAC is one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers. UAC’s revenues have been lately growing on average more than 30% per year. Sukhoi Superjet 100 civil airliners, Su-30 and MiG-29 fighters, Yak-130 operational trainers are among the most popular aircraft exported by UAC. The document received by UAC is to much more simplify foreign market procedures, which is good news for present-day and future UAC’s partners worldwide.

Moreover, in December 2016 as part of an effort to expand foreign presence UAC was given a military-dedicated foreign trade license to be implemented on a direct basis. The military-dedicated foreign trade license has been issued by Federal Service for Military and Technical cooperation. This will help UAC improve maintenance and repairs of equipment previously delivered abroad, which includes every Su, MiG, Il, Yak and Tu airplanes.

Alongside with the right for direct maintenance and repairs of the equipment previously delivered abroad, the document also specifies UAC’s capabilities to update such equipment and train foreign personnel to maintain and repair UAC products. Besides, the license authorizes UAC to establish joint ventures abroad which can maintain and repair aircraft.

The license enables UAC to proceed to coordinated efforts in this area, develop a single enterprise after-sale service system based on current experience and ensure the most efficient activities at markets with several brands available.

The new capabilities confirm there is a steadily growing demand for UAC aircraft. Moreover, operational reliability and relatively low prices become increasingly significant. In this regard there is a reasonable increase of export of Russian aircraft having better reliability, up-to-dateness and well-balanced prices both for airplanes and further maintenance.

According to experts, it is Russian aircraft which in terms of life-cycle cost appear today as the most attractive in international markets.

International bestsellers
UAC products include many aircraft which are proven international bestsellers. Thus, Su fighters exported by Russia number in the hundreds making these fighters come second and first worldwide. In 2011-2014s Su planes were the first in amount: in four years customers have received 139 aircraft, while Lockheed Martin delivered only 89 and Boeing delivered 60 planes.

UAC places big stakes on supplying fighter planes given that many countries plan to have their aircraft fleets upgraded. Among the most world popular planes is Yak-130 operational trainer which has been already delivered and being delivered to many countries. This is a top-class aircraft. It can be upgraded as a light fighter or close support plane which is highly demanded by Indian Air Force.

However, Russian aviation export is notable not only for military aircraft. In recent years rather good results have been shown by civil segment for which UAC has been making big plans. Among Russian civil aircraft the Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional aircraft of a new generation is the most popular at foreign markets. The aircraft combines new aircraft engineering technologies, passenger convenience, significant economic advantages for airlines, proper environmental specifications.

The key advantage of Sukhoi Superjet 100 is lower operational costs as compared to its 100-seat competitors. Operational costs are 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 the other similar class aircraft. The highly competitive lease rate supported by a state guarantee of depreciation value is also worth being taken into account.

SSJ100 capable of carrying 98 passengers is the first in its class aircraft featuring five-across seating, with big 32 inch distance between seats. Thanks to a combination of wider seats and higher cabin (over 2 meters) SSJ100 has more cabin space and bigger stowage bin capacity than such of competitors. The airplane has been built with the use of the latest design procedures and technologies by leading manufacturers such as French Snecma (engines) and Thales (avionics), US Goodrich (wheels) and Honeywell (APU). The interior has been designed by Italian office Pininfarina. In February 2012 the aircraft was certified by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Increasing volume of SSJ100
According to UAC President Yuri Slyusar the Corporation has stable rate of mass production of Sukhoi Superjet 100. There are plans that every year more than 30 such aircraft shall be delivered to customers. Today about one hundred SSJ100s are being operated including those in other world regions, from South America to Southeast Asia.

Currently with available manufacturing capacities UAC enterprises are capable of producing up to sixty Sukhoi Superjet 100 per year. The Russian aircraft sparkles profound interest in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Experts confirm that in the context of 70-100-seaters this aircraft is becoming the most attractive for many international airlines. When interviewed Yuri Slyusar says UAC is intended to focus on further development of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft family to offer customers a range of regional planes.

It is worth noting that today a business jet version of the SSJ100s is also available. Following the results a number of measures, including auxiliary fuel tanks installation and other engineering solutions the range of the business version of the SSJ100 is increased to about 8,000km-long nonstop flight.