MOSCOW. April 9 (Interfax-AVN) - The Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO) and the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association (NAPO) are getting ready to launch the Superjet 100 into mass production.
"A total of $300 million of $1.4 billion, allocated for the Superjet 100 development, will be earmarked for re-equipping KnAAPO and NAPO and launching the Superjet 100 into mass production," Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Senior Vice President for Economy and Finances Maxim Grishanin said.
According to him, two batches of new equipment have already been launched into production. Production facilities are expected to be ready for manufacturing the Superjet 100 by the turn of 2008.
Grishanin noted that when the 180th Superjet 100 was manufactured and sold the circulating capital would stabilize at $400 million. The research and development expenditures are expected to be covered when 350 aircraft are sold.
According to Grishanin, under the schedule, the first Superjet 100 is to make its maiden flight in October. The Superjet 100 is expected to get the Russian airworthiness certificate and the first deliveries to the customer are expected to start by late 2008.
The Superjet 100 is one of Russia's largest civil aircraft-building projects. It is included in the federal program "Civil Aircraft Development in Russia in 2002-2010, and until 2015."
The Sukhoi Aircraft Holding Company expects to sell 800 75- and 95-seat Superjet 100s in the international and the domestic markets in 2008-2024, with the 95-seat modification accounting for 75% of such deliveries. Russian and CIS air carriers are expected to procure in excess of 250 aircraft by 2024.
The cost of the 95-seat version of the Superjet 100 totals about $28 million.