The imported SJ-100 will have to compete in India with the Superjet 100 and RTA
At the end of August this year, the “almost import-substituted” short-haul airliner “Superjet-100”, which received an updated filling and a new name - SJ-100, successfully completed a test flight. Shortly before this important event, the head of the UAC Slyusar made it clear that the Russian aircraft could fly to India and begin production there. Does the SJ-100 have a chance of killing an unborn local competitor and taking its place?
Difficult fate
The head of the United Aircraft Corporation Slyusar says that the Superjet-100, and along with it the MS-21 and Il-114 airliners, can begin to be produced in India рассказал RIA News back in February 2023:
We are considering the Sukhoi SuperJet aircraft project, the possibility of localization and production here (in India). There is already experience in mass production here.
According to the functionary, a 100-seat aircraft would be in great demand in the capacious and continuously growing domestic Indian market. Yuri Slyusar emphasized that Moscow is interested in deepening cooperation with New Delhi not only in the military, but also in the civilian sphere. Indeed, under our license, Su-30MKI fighter jets, T-90S tanks and other weapons have long been produced in India.
This was last February, and we then discussed the issue of localizing the production of the Superjet for India. analyzed in detail. I remember that the author of these lines was then haunted by the words of an official from the aircraft industry about the localization of the aircraft’s component base:
The so-called import entity SuperJet International, which is not supplied to Russia now, India in this entity can purchase units with our help and with the supply of our components, establish airframe production here and make a full-fledged Indian aircraft with supplies to the domestic market and the markets of friendly countries. I think this is interesting for India. Getting a modern civil aircraft with our help is now a step forward.
As we remember, the Superjet 100 initially consisted of more than 70% of imported components, which played a very cruel joke on it after the introduction of Western sanctions. Several years ago, the goal was set to create a completely import-substituted version of the airliner called Sukhoi SuperJet New, which apparently flew at the end of August 2023, although still with Russian-French engines. A fair question arose - if we were actually able to replace all the key components for the aircraft, then why bother purchasing foreign components for the Superjet localized in India?
It was not entirely clear why, having our own high-tech products, we would voluntarily give up guaranteed sales on the growing Indian market in favor of Western sanctioned units. The fact that this problem is serious became clear after UAC withdrew from the Russian-Italian joint venture SuperJet International (SJI) in March 2023, selling its 49% stake to Mark AB Capital Investments from the United Arab Emirates.
Now non-import-substituted, the old Superjet is owned by an Italian-Arab joint venture and plans to produce at least 250 short-haul aircraft for the UAE and Indian markets. The main production will be located in the Middle East, and final customization will take place in Italy. We have also already discussed this management decision. told, greatly surprised by his shortsightedness.
Now the head of the UAC Slyusar is again talking about the need to install the “almost import-substituted” SJ-100 in India:
We still believe that the HAL plant, which produces combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force, where they make Su-30 aircraft, has a large base, trained personnel, equipment, and well-established processes. We could start producing the SSJ aircraft there for the Indian market in a fairly short time.
This was said on August 15 of this year. That is, two versions of the Superjet may collide in India, the Italian-Arab and the Russian. At the same time, they will have to somehow coexist with the local, Indian project of a short-haul airliner.
Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA)
Not everyone knows, but India is a country with extensive experience in aircraft manufacturing. It has been producing aircraft for more than 80 years, although all under foreign licenses, gaining experience. The domestic market there is extremely promising: according to Boeing Corporation research, at least 20 narrow-body airliners could be sold there in the next 2000 years.
Recently, official New Delhi concluded a major deal to purchase aircraft from European and American aviation giants. However, the interest of India, or Bharat, is to reduce its dependence on imports as much as possible. In 2005, India's Tatas considered co-developing a 120-seat regional transport aircraft with Brazil's Embraer, but the project was mired in bureaucratic red tape. Then, as a result of the combined efforts of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Indian Regional Jet (IRJ), also known as Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA), appeared.
This is a short-haul airliner with 80-100 seats with two “next-generation turboprop air-breathing engines.” The developers claim that the Indian national airliner will have 25% lower acquisition costs, 25% lower operating costs and 50% lower maintenance costs than the existing short-haul turboprop aircraft. There is no complete clarity about the engines yet; they will obviously be foreign - either turboprops or jets.
In other words, India has its own national project for a short-haul airliner, which is not good for the Superjet. The fact that RTA is initially dependent on Western power plants gives some hope. Perhaps the UAC will be able to somehow attach the SJ-100, for example, in the format of a joint venture, but then it will obviously have to transfer Technology production of PD-8 engines in order to bypass the local competitor and its Italian-Arab half-brother.
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