UAC Commercial Production Extended

Recently, India’s national civil aviation is seeing rapid development. The country has been extensively improving its airport infrastructure, renovating existing building up to 50 new airports. With an annual turnover of 250+ million passengers India is an attractive market for regional aircraft.

The Russian United Aircraft Corporation new strategy includes a competitive product portfolio in commercial aviation. The Corporation considers India, Asia Pacific and China as key international markets.

Next 20 years the region will acquire over 400 new aircraft in the 60-120 seat segment. The Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jet could be an ideal option to meet such requirements. The production line in Komsomolsk-on-Amur is now ready to produce up to 5 aircraft per month, with more than 100 planes produced. Apart of the national flag carrier Aeroflot and several domestic airlines, SSJ100 has been successfully operating with Mexican Interjet and a couple of airlines in Asia Pacific. Recently UAC signed a substantial agreement to set up a leasing company in PRC to promote the aircraft in China and South-East Asia. The company disclosed its plans to buy up to one hundred SSJ100 within the next three years worth up to USD 3 bln.

According to UAC President Yuri Slyusar, “India, taking into consideration the vast experience in the military field, is one of key platforms for industrial cooperation”.

Last December, the VIP version of the SSJ 100 performed a non stop flight from Moscow to New Delhi to open a new page in the history of Russian commercial aviation. This February the aircraft was also presented to the participants of the Aero India–2015 airshow. UAC is fully aware about a large role in managing India’s aviation industry by the national MoD. During the show UAC held a number of meetings with MoD representatives presenting the SSJ VIP aircraft to discuss future cooperation prospects. It is interesting to mention that SSJ100 extended range business version has already won a tender of the Thai Air Force. The delivery of two aircraft for the Thai military is to be completed next year.

Yuri Slyusar is sure that the talks with Indian partners will result in developing some partnerships in the industrial sphere. “This is a mutually beneficial process – for the Russian side its broadening of production cooperation, for Indian – access to most up to date technologies and expanding the fleet with an innovative product”, said he.

The UAC has already formed a subgroup on cooperation in civil aviation within the framework of the Russian-Indian Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission.

The Corporation plans to sell about 50 aircraft in India in the next decade. “Understanding that India’s industry is interested in industrial cooperation, we are ready to look at localization of certain components, create customization centers (delivery centers) and after sales support centers in the region”, concluded UAC President.