Aircraft
Sukhoi leads Boeing, Ilyushin in Russian Regional Jet effort
A day before the opening of last month’s Moscow airshow, Sukhoi, Ilyushin and Boeing signed a series of agreements on the regional jet program proposed in

A day before the opening of last month’s Moscow airshow, Sukhoi, Ilyushin and Boeing signed a series of agreements on the regional jet program proposed in mid-April during Boeing CEO Phil Condit’s visit to Moscow. Dubbed the “Russian Regional Jet” (RRJ), the program is aimed at building a prototype in 2004, certification in 2005 and service entry in 2006 or 2007. First deliveries are likely to go to Aeroflot, which on August 13 signed a memo of understanding with the three manufacturers for 30 aircraft.

The most important facet of the agreement between the airframers is that Boeing stepped aside to allow Sukhoi to become the project leader. Commenting on this, Boeing’s vice president for cooperation with CIS and Russia, Sergei Kravchenko, said, “The RRJ will be a Russian airplane designed by Russians and built in Russia for Russians.”

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