Sukhoi: First nine SuperJet 100s to roll out in 2008

Komsomolsk-On-Amur, Rus: Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, a subsidiary of the state-owned Sukhoi holding, said Monday that the first nine SuperJet 100 regional aircraft would roll out in 2008.

"We are planning to build nine aircraft in 2008, 30 planes in 2009, 60 planes in 2010, and starting in 2011 to roll out 70 jets annually," said Sergei Shkryabun, the company's regional director.

The SuperJet 100 being developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in cooperation with major American and European aviation corporations, including Boeing, Snecma, Thales, Messier Dowty, Liebherr Aerospace, and Honeywell, is slated to evolve into a family of medium-range passenger aircraft.

So far, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft has secured over 60 orders for the SuperJet, with Aeroflot, Russia's national air carrier, as one of its largest clients with orders for at least 45 planes.

In a recent Le Bourget deal, Sukhoi signed a $283-million contract to supply 10 Superjet-100 aircraft to Italian carrier ItAli Airlines.

Sukhoi has said that it plans to produce at least 700 RRJs, and intends to sell 35% of them in North America, 25% in Europe, 10% in Latin America, and 7% in Russia and China.

The overall market for the SuperJet100 is estimated at about 5,500 aircraft, or $100 billion, through 2023.

Italy's Finmeccanica and Alenia-Aeronautica are other partners in the enterprise, having jointly acquired a blocking stake (25% plus one share) in Sukhoi. The deal is subject to approval by the Russian and Italian governments. Under the agreement, the Italian companies will provide at least 25% of the investment for the SuperJet 100 project.