UAC to stay in "Russian-Chinese" airliner project as general contractor, retain JV in China - CEO

MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax) - Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) plans to continue to participate in the project to develop the so-called Russian-Chinese wide-body airliner formerly known as CR929 as a general contractor, UAC chief executive Yury Slyusar told reporters on Thursday.

"In the status of general contractor, because foreigners have prohibited working with us. Well, and basically it become impossible to continue to remain in this project in the previous status," Slyusar said at a plenary session on the priorities of the engine industry in the current circumstances.

Asked if UAC's new status in the project poses any risks for the Chinese side, he said: "Well, this is, after all, not our joint product and not a Russian airplane. This is just the choice of the Chinese side - western or Russian contractors."

Slyusar did not specify what exactly UAC plans to supply for the plane. However, he said that the joint venture formed with Chinese partners for the project will be preserved.

"We're keeping the JV, so that it works as a kind of office in China that will help our enterprises that will work with Chinese 'finalists' as suppliers. Beginning with organization and ending with overcoming cultural and language barriers. But a JV that works directly on the development of the wide-body, long-range airliner, that certainly won't exist," Slyusar said.

UAC had been developing the CR929 with Chinese aircraft manufacturer Comac for several years. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the first trial flight of the airliner was planned for 2023 and deliveries to customers were supposed to begin after 2025.

But in July 2020, the then head of UAC's civilian division, Ravil Khakimov said that the start of deliveries would be pushed back to 2028-2029. He said the project was going through the Gate-3 stage, meaning collecting and studying proposals from suppliers of systems and components to determine the final configuration of the aircraft.

Slyusar said in August 2022 that work on the CR929 was continuing but, given the impact of the pandemic and the imposition of sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine conflict, the project would be updated. Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said later that Russia might change the status of its participation in the project and become a supplier of systems and components instead of a partner.