UAC, Russia

High prospects in the civil and military segments

The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is the major Russian aircraft manufacturers and one of the biggest in the world. 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.

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, one year ago 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 helps 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.

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).

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 8,000 km-long nonstop flight.

At the Dubai Airshow 2017, which was held from November 12 to 16 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, The United Aircraft Corporation became one of the major exhibitor. UAC had a strong presence at the show with an extensive product lineup at the show’s static and aerial displays.

The Corporation demonstrated its Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft with a VIP interior, a premiere for the Middle East is the participation in the show’s flying programme of the Su-35C supermaneuverable 4++ generation fighter. The static display was also host a Be-200ES multipurpose amphibian and an Il-76 heavy transport aircraft.

The region’s airlines have established very high comfort standards. The Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft as well as the new Russian MC-21 aircraft family that was showed at the UAC’s stand both demonstrate an optimal combination of commercial effectiveness and maximum passenger comfort. The Sukhoi Superjet 100 in its VIP configuration enjoys high demand – 8 aircraft have been delivered to customers to date. After a number of enhancements such as installation of additional fuel tanks and other system improvements the flight range of the VIP-version of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 was increased to 7,000 km that should satisfy the needs of most demanding customers.

Middle East customers also show interest in the Be-200ES multipurpose amphibian that, considering the region’s geographic and climatic features, can be used in a number of unique configurations. The Be-200ES capabilities allow using the aircraft with maximum effectiveness and flexibility.

The show’s flying programme was also brightened up by the "Russian Knights" aerobatics group on their new supermaneuverable multifunctional Su-30SM fighters that were supplied to the group in late 2016. Before that the group that was created in 1991 was using Su-27 and Su27UB fighters.

The Middle East is one of the most important regions for promotion of UAC’s civil product lineup. According to the UAC’s Market Outlook the region’s average annual growth rates of passenger air transportation in 2017-2036 will be around 6%. In the long term the demand for new aircraft will be largely made up of narrow-body aircraft with more than 120 seats and wide-body aircraft. The total demand for aircraft by the airlines of the Middle East is forecast at 2,975 units for the next 20 years.

The demand for UAC’s military product lineup is stable, however, lately, the interest in the world and in the Middle East in particular has risen considerably after successful performance of such aircraft as the Su-35С, Su-34, Su-30SМ and MiG family fighters in real combat missions. Russian-made aircraft have once again proven their high combat effectiveness and flight and technical characteristics.