Gentleman the topic please.
Let me help
AV week has a headline. But story is paywalled
Similar stories are floating with the gust of it being that CRIAC is looking to domestic configurations using Chinese and Russian parts due to sanctions…
[sarcasm] which I am sure wouldn’t delay delivery by another good chunk of a decade [/sarcasm]
The source seems to be the Russian side, Denis Manturov ministry of Trade from the Kremlin.
Makes sense they are the ones currently under the most sanctions and getting hit with the most restrictions. But market wise are the significantly smaller market position. So if this is actually a reflection of the reality or a push by the Russians to try and bring China into Russian coordination? An Oped from the SCMP from March 15 ( guessing already read) probably more closely reflects the Chinese side pushing more of a C929R with more Chinese systems.
Given the age of Russian indigenous airliners other than the Superjet and MC21 they are all relics from the late Cold War. The bulk of Russian Airliners in modern service were leased from Western firms based off Boeing or Airbus planes. With current sanctions and Cold War era flight restrictions back most are grounded with limited parts other than cannibalising them. This short term can keep them flying but longer term is a disaster in the making. I have heard claims that China is supposed to be assisting in this but that would likely cause similar problems for them.
Russia has industry but a lot of the modern systems are international.
Comac I suspect had hoped to get wide access to the international market before launch a Sino centric product as Even its claimed ambitions of breaking the Duopoly would have been as a smaller member even in the Chinese market due to limitations on production capacity vs Market demand and the deeply established support system in airlines.
Just as The Western governments can’t flip a switch and disconnect from a deeply rooted Chinese production system. Neither can the CCP flip a switch and disconnect the service and systems support integrated into Chinese aviation from Boeing, Airbus, GE, Sanfan, RR, Rockwell Collins and the like.
My personal opinion has been that long run Comac would end up with the 919 and 929 with two packages for aircraft engines and avionics offered to potential buyers.
One the initial 929 with Western sets offered to serve Indigenous airlines with a deep seated logistical and support network of foreign aircraft. As well as export to nations with similar western support. This reporting may indicate that this potential is for the moment a dead end.
Two a C929 Chinese centric series with Chinese engines and avionics for more state centric airlines as well as potentially longer term to take national defense related missions. like VVIP flights and National defense missions.
Three UAC CR929 with a Russo centric model with Russian engines and systems would be created to serve Russian and states of the CIS who have a strong Kremlin centric system. For both commercial and defense missions. The Russians seem to be pushing hard for this possibly hoping that this and only this configuration is built.
