MOSCOW. Oct 19 (Interfax-AVN) - In addition to boosting combat aircraft production, the Sukhoi Aircraft Holding Company plans to considerably strengthen its positions in the international civil aircraft market, the company's press-service told Interfax-AVN.
"The holding company does it best to become one of the world's flagship regional civil aircraft manufacturers by 2015. The company expects to produce up to 20% of such aircraft in the world, and become of the world's leaders in the civil aircraft market in 2016-2025," a press-service official said.
He noted that a number of largest Russian banks had recently signed agreements with Sukhoi on funding the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (RRJ) project. The Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO), which operates as part of the Sukhoi Aircraft Holding Company, has launched Superjet long-service life components into production, while the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association (NAPO) has embarked on assembling units for the first Superjets.
The Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company has signed a contract with the Dubai-based Concord Aviation leasing company on delivering 20 Superjects, with 20 more such aircraft being an option. The cost of the contract is assessed at about $1 billion.
The Aeroflot air carrier has signed a contract with the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft on delivering $820 million's worth of 30 Superjets. The deliveries are to start in 2008.
The international demand for the Superjet is assessed at 800 items. The company expects to reach a production ratio of 60-70 Superjets a year starting in 2010.