Russo-Chinese wide-body to be assembled in China

The aircraft will have the seating capacity of up to 280 passengers and a range o 12,000 km (Photo by UAC)

The perspective wide-body long-haul aircraft designed jointly by Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation and Chinese COMAC, will be assembled in Shanghai, China, UAC’s president Yuriy Slyusar announced at the ongoing Farnborough Air Show. He explained, that the decision was made based on the “necessity to be closer to potential markets,” which are assumed to be in the region of South-Eastern Asia.

Yuriy Slyusar also announced that consultations with potential partners resulted in the basic performance characteristics set for the program. The aircraft will be capable of taking up to 280 passengers on routes of up to 12,000 km. It is expected to enter service in the period between 2025 and 2027, depending on the volume of innovative technology solutions enrolled in the project.

The intergovernmental agreement, which launches the project and defines its terms was signed in June. China and Russia participate in the project on parity basis. The program will be managed by a joint venture based in a free-trade zone in Pudong, Shangai, home to COMAC. An engineering center for the aircraft design will be set in Russia, Slyusar said.

UAC’s 2015 annual report reads that last year the corporation was elaborating technical proposal and other documentation necessary for passing the program’s Gate 2, which usually means critical design review. UAC’s and COMAC’s engineering teams have formed their concepts of the families of aircraft, which now have to be compared and narrowed.

UAC has addressed Rolls-Royce and GE to suggest their engine options for the new aircraft, as only those manufacturers have powerplants with over 35 ton thrust in their product range. A Russian engine of such thrust output is only being developed.

The first flight of the Russo-Chinese wide-body is scheduled for 2021.