MOSCOW. June 26 (Interfax-AVN) - KnAAPO, the Russian Komsomolsk-on-Amur-based major aircraft producer, is preparing for participation in the Russian Regional Jet Program.
"In accordance with preliminary RRJ production procedures, KnAAPO will produce the wing to deliver the makes to a head producer in Novosibirsk," a competent source in the aircraft industry told Interfax-Military News Agency Thursday.
KnAAPO was selected because it had duly fulfilled the Chinese order on the production of the SU-30MKK Flanker and arranged licensed production of the SU-27SK of the same family in China, the source said.
"KnAAPO has modern equipment and technology, sufficient production facilities, and it can participate in the RRJ program investing into it on equal terms," the source also said.
"The head producer of the RRJ aircraft will be NAPO, Novosibirsk aircraft producer. Here the aircraft will be assembled, tested, and prepared for sales," he added.
Mikhail Pogosyan, AVPK Sukhoi CEO, had previously told reporters that first serial RRJs were scheduled for 2007.
The RRJ family includes six versions (basic and longer-range with passenger capacities of 60, 75, and 95) based on the same wing. The rated output of assembly will be about 60 aircraft per year.
The RRJ program includes AVPK Sukhoi, Ilyushin Aviation Complex, Yakovlev Design Bureau, NPO Saturn, as well as Boeing (U.S.) and Snecma (France).