MOSCOW. Nov 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Projects of short- and medium-range passenger planes submitted for a national competition will be reviewed by Russia's leading aircraft research and development institutes before the end of the month.
"The reviews written by R&D institutes are to be forwarded to aircraft developers for working out additions to submitted projects on the basis of criticism voiced by experts of R&D institutes," a source in the Russian aircraft industry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Thursday.
The developers have one month to do this work, he said.
"All materials of the competition commission are submitted to the directorate of the small- and medium-range passenger plane program. After competitors submit updated projects or provide rationalization for initial proposals, the commission has one month to make a decision," the source stressed.
Announcement of the winner may be postponed to early 2003, he said.
According to tentative data, only two companies are competing. "The Yakovlev design bureau and Ilyushin aircraft production association have submitted a joint project for the competition," the source said.
The Russian Aviation and Space Agency is holding the competition in the framework of the federal purpose-oriented program of Russian civil aircraft development for 2002-2010 and up to 2015.
The small- and medium-range passenger plane is to be created at the second stage of the program. Under the program, the plane is to embody research and technical solutions worked out at the first stage. The planes will have substantial advantages in the sphere of flight security and environment protection. Moreover, their operation is to have economic advantages over current planes.
As much as RUB14.82bn (USD465.68m) is to be invested in the plane's creation. The funds are to be provided by both the state budget and extra-budget sources. The plane is intended for airlifting 140 to 170 people over a distance up 5,000 to 6,500 kilometers.
"New technologies and materials will be used it its development. In particular, composite materials will account for a fair share of the airframe's mass," the source said.
"As to the power plant, developers of the new small- and medium-range plane have proposed several aircraft engines, including PS-90A-12 and PS-12," he said.
The potential market for the plane is estimated by experts at 1,000 items.