Sukhoi Superjet 100

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is a modern, fly-by-wire regional jet in the 75- to 95-seat category.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 will be produced by Russian aerospace firm Sukhoi's civil division, of which Finmeccanica of Italy owns 25%.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is being developed in collaboration with Finmeccanica subsidiary Alenia Aeronautica.

The Italian design group Pininfarina will design optional interiors, and in 2007 Alenia Aeronautica and Sukhoi Holding formed SuperJet International, a joint venture (51% - Alenia Aeronautica, and 49% - Sukhoi Holding) based in Venice, responsible for marketing, sales and aircraft delivery in Europe, North and South America, Africa, Japan and Oceania as well as for worldwide logistic support for the Sukhoi Superjet 100.

Design

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is designed to compete against the Embraer E-Jets and the Bombardier CRJ programs.

Sukhoi claims the SSJ will have 10-15% lower operation costs than its Embraer or Bombardier counterparts for the price of $27.8 million.

The three variants were originally called the RRJ-60, RRJ-75 and RRJ-95, with the numbers designating the average passenger capacity of each type.

However, with the renaming of the project to Sukhoi Superjet 100, the RRJ-75 was relabelled the Sukhoi Superjet 100-75 (or SSJ 100-75 for short), while the RRJ-95 became known as the SSJ 100-95.

The smallest variant, called the SSJ 100-60, was temporarily postponed, and efforts are currently concentrating on the largest variant, with the smaller SSJ 100-75 to follow later.

Longer variants, called the SSJ 100-110 and the SSJ 100-125, are also planned as well as business, VIP and cargo variants.

The PowerJet SaM146 engines are developed by PowerJet.

The noise and emissions levels surpass the existing ICAO requirements.

•   Strategic partner: Alenia Aeronautica

•   Risk-sharing partner: Snecma

•   Consultant: Boeing

•   Aircraft Main System Suppliers: Thales, Liebherr, Messier Dowty, Intertechnique (Zodiac), B/E Aerospace, Autronics, Honeywell, IPECO, Parker, Hamilton Sundstrand, Vibro-Meter, Sully, BF Goodrich.

•   Engines: PowerJet (Snecma and NPO Saturn)

The design meets the specific requirements of airlines in Russia, the CIS, the USA, and EU countries, and conforms to the Aviation Rules AP-25, FAR-25, JAR-25 requirements, and to the ground noise level requirements under ICAO Chapter 4 and FAR 36 Section 4 standards entering into force during 2006.

Industry participation

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 has been described as the most important and successful civil aircraft program of the Russian aerospace industry.

It enjoys considerable support from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, which regards it as a top priority project.

Over 30 foreign partnership companies are involved in the project.

Development, manufacturing and marketing of the plane's SaM146 jet engine is being done by the PowerJet company, a joint-venture between the French Snecma and Russia's NPO Saturn.

SuperJet International, a joint venture between Alenia Aeronautica and Sukhoi is responsible for marketing in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Japan and Oceania.

The assembly line for all versions of the plane is located in the facilities of Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO) in the Russian Far East, while Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association (NAPO) focuses on component production.

The two companies have been heavily investing in upgrading of their facilities, and are expected to produce 70 airframes by 2012.

Development history and schedule

The deliveries were first scheduled to begin in late 2008, and Sukhoi predicted that 163 units of all variations of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 would be delivered by the end of 2016.

 On July 7, 2008, Sukhoi officially confirmed that the original schedule was too optimistic, and first deliveries would begin in December, 2009.

On 28 January 2007, the first SSJ was transported by an Antonov 124 from Komsomolsk-on-Amur to the city of Zhukovsky near Moscow for ground tests at Zhukovsky Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute.

A representative of Sukhoi Civil Aircraft announced on 13 November 2007, the completion of static tests necessary for conducting the first flight.

In the middle of February 2008, the SaM146 initial engine runs went successfully, gearing up for the maiden flight, which was conducted at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association on 19 May 2008.

The engine test followed a test on an Ilyushin Il-76, a testbed aircraft for the Gromov Flight Research Institute.

It is expected to be certified and flying by November.

The jet was unveiled at its official rollout at Komsomolsk-on-Amur Dzemgi Airport on 26 September 2007.

The first test flight took place on 19 May 2008 also at the Dzemgi airport.

The first Superjet spent 1 hour 5 minutes in the air, and reached altitude of 1,200 meters.

July 2008, testing continued successfully.

October 2008, the first stage of Sukhoi Superjet 100’s factory-based flight testing program is successfully completed.

The second SSJ100 prototype has been powered on.

Certification process started.

In December 2008, the second of four SSJ100 prototypes SN95003 took to the skies.

The airplane performed traditional stability and handling quality as well as systems’ checks in accordance with the first flight assignment.

Flight test engineers and pilots were pleased with the overall performance of the second prototype.

As of January 2009 first two aircraft have completed over 90 flights, totaling 300 hours, engines have accumulated around 2300 hours in flight and ground tests.

On April 1, 2009 two Superjet-100 airplanes, 95001 and 95003, successfully completed the first long-distance flight for this aircraft, covering distance of 3,000 kilometers from Novosibirsk to Moscow.

On April 17, 2009 EASA pilots have performed the first familiarization flights on two Sukhoi Superjet 100 airplanes, S/N 95001 and 95003.

According to EASA pilot feedback, the aircraft was easy to fly and comfortable to the pilot.

Malev Hungarian Airlines said at Paris Air Show 2009 that it would purchase 30 Superjets worth $1 billion, providing a welcome boost to the aircraft as it made its international debut at the Paris Air Show 2009.

Armenian Armavia will receive the first two planes, followed by Aeroflot, which has ordered a total of 30 planes with an option for 15 more.

Other buyers of the plane include Russia's Avialeasing company, Swiss Ama Asset Management Advisor and Indonesian Kartika Airlines.

As of June 2009, thirteen planes are under construction, and the first four will be handed over to clients by the end of 2009.

After 2012, the company will build 70 Superjets per year.

On July the 26th, the third of four SSJ100 prototypes SN95004 took to the skies.

On December 29 2009, United Aircraft Corporation head Alexei Fyodorov said that deliveries of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 have indefinitely been delayed because the engines are not ready.

Operational history

Timeline

•   August 2005 at MAKS-2005 - Finance Leasing Company and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft sign a sales contract for 10 aircraft of the new RRJ family for $262 million.

•   December 2005 - Aeroflot signs the contract for the delivery of 30 Sukhoi Superjet 100s, thus becoming the program's launch customer. The total deal is valued at approximately $820 million.

•   December 2006 - Sukhoi Civil Aircraft wins a $170 million order from Dalavia Far East Airways.

•   May 2007 - Aeroflot and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company announces the signature of the  Letter of Intent to purchase 15 aircraft of Sukhoi Superjet 100 family. Earlier, Aeroflot had already signed the contract for delivery of 30 SSJ-100s. According to the letter, the airline will purchase fifteen SSJ100/95s in basic configuration with deliveries to start in May 2011. The airline also holds an option for another 5 aircraft of the family. The deal amounts at over $400 million.

•   September 2007 - Armavia signs a multimillion-dollar agreement to buy four SSJ-100 planes for regional flights.

•   July 2008 - Avia Leasing acquires 24 Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft in basic configuration with an option for 16 additional aircraft on the second day of the 2008 Farnborough Airshow. The order has a total value of over $630 million. Order firmed at Paris Airshow 16 June 2009

•   July 2008 - SuperJet International and AMA Asset Management Advisors (Suisse) sign an agreement for the acquisition of 5 new Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft for a total value of approximately $150 million.

•   July 2008 - SuperJet International announces an order by an undisclosed renowned European customer for a fleet of 20 new Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft valued at approximately $600 million. The order appears to be placed by SuperJet International and not with Icelandair as reported earlier.

•   December 5, 2008, Jakarta – Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company and Kartika Airlines sign the Heads of Agreement for 15 Sukhoi Superjet 100s and another 15 optional aircraft. The order is valued at $448 million. Kartika Airlines is the first SSJ100 customer in Southeast Asia.

•   June 15, 2009, Paris Airshow - Malev Hungarian Airlines places an order for 15 Sukhoi Superjet 100-95 aircraft and 15 options.

•   June 16, 2009, Paris Airshow - Gadair European Airlines places a firm order on 2 SSJs plus 2 options.

•   June 17, 2009, Paris Airshow - Gazprom orders 10 Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft.

•   August 21, 2009 - Yakutia Airlines orders 2 Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft.

•   February 2010 - Deputy Transportation Minister Valery Okulov indicates that first deliveries will not start until the end of 2010.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is undergoing certificate Orders and options

Specifications

 sources: Wikipedia - Sukhoi Superjet 100