Photo: tupolev .ru
The current situation is forcing Russian airlines to look for import-substituting solutions for aviation projects already underway: the Sukhoi SSJ-100 and its new narrow-body competitor MS-21.
Meanwhile, to to meet the demand for new aircraft, which is estimated at 1 000 copies by 2030, the aviation authorities have decided to intensify the production of another aircraft — Tu-214, previously produced only by special order.
This week Moscow hosted the 10th National Civil Aviation Infrastructure Exhibition. Speaking to reporters, the head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Yuri Slyusar, said that Russia would increase the production of Tu-214s to 20 units per year. “We are working on it. We make a cargo and a shortened version for flights to the Far East. We will gradually increase production».
In addition, the head of the UAC said that commercial serial deliveries of the Tu-214, MS-21-310 and SSJ-NEW are planned to begin in 2024. CEO of Aeroflot Sergey Aleksandrovsky said that he expects that he expects deliveries of the first batch of Superjet for domestic flights in December 2023.
Tu-214 — This is a version of the Soviet Tu-204 aircraft. Both of these medium haul twin-engine narrow-body aircraft have a maximum capacity of 210 passengers. Aircraft Tu-214 — model with increased gross weight, additional fuel tanks are installed on it. Both versions of the aircraft, which made their first flight in 1989, are equipped with PS-90 engines.
Production will increase gradually, starting with ten aircraft per year. By 2026, according to the plan, 20 units will be built annually.
Another type of Russian aircraft — “Baikal”. This is not a commercial passenger liner, but a service one. The single-engine utility aircraft made its first flight a little over a year ago, on January 30, 2022. It is intended to replace the obsolete Soviet-made An-2, which made its first flight in 1947. By the way, its production in the USSR ended in 1971. “Baikal” can carry a payload of two tons and has a flight range of up to 1,500 kilometers.
Aeroflot's Far Eastern subsidiary; airline “Aurora” plans to purchase eight Sukhoi Superjet aircraft by 2026; SSJ-NEW and ten Baikals. Four SSJs will enter the park in 2024 and four more — in 2025
