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ZHUHAI, China (Reuters) – General Electric (GE.N) and Rolls Royce (RR.L) are the two finalists to supply the engines of a new long-haul aircraft developed by a Russian-Chinese joint venture that aims to eventually move to a Sino-Russian engine, said one of the leading designers of the aircraft.
FILE PHOTO – A full-size model of the CR929 wide-body twin-engine jet developed by the Russian-Chinese Commercial Aircraft International Corporation (CRAIC), a joint venture between COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) and United Aircraft Corp (UAC) of Russia at the International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition of China, or Zhuhai Airshow, in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China, November 7, 2018. The Chinese Daily via REUTERS
Last year, United Aircraft Corporation and Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. of Russia launched the large-scale development of the CR929 wide-bodied aircraft program to build an aircraft capable of penetrating a lucrative market now dominated by Boeing Co (PROHIBIT) 787 and Airbus SE (AIR.PA) A350 jets.
"We are now choosing one of two vendors, GEnX from General Electric and Trent 7000 from Rolls Royce," Reuters quoted Maxim Litvinov as saying on Wednesday that he was one of the two chief designers. company was planning to make a decision by the first half of next year. year.
"But at present, the Russian company United Engine Corporation and the Chinese company Aero Engine Corporation (AECC) are also cooperating to create a new engine," he said on the sidelines of the show. Airshow China, where he unveiled a life-size model of the CR929 cabin.
The priority in the selection of suppliers will be given to Russian and Chinese companies, then to Western companies with joint ventures with Russian or Chinese partners, he said, adding that the basic principle should be that companies offer proposals competitive.
In addition, current trade tensions between China and the United States and US sanctions against Russia could be taken into account in the selection process, said Litvinov.
"Of course, it's a big risk, and it forces us to take that into consideration and do it," he said.
"Nevertheless, potential suppliers are looking for solutions to avoid the situation and find a way to cooperate with us in our interest and in their interest."
He expects to receive the Sino-Russian engine by the end of the next decade and wants the engine to have a 35-tonne thrust range, he added.
The company, CRAIC, announced in May that it has received proposals from seven foreign and local companies for the supply of the aircraft engine.
Litvinov said that the joint venture has until now agreed on technical requirements and aspects such as after-sales support, with a total of 50 applications for proposals to be sent to potential suppliers.
"All these packages will be delivered by the end of the year," he said, adding that the joint venture's goal was for the aircraft to make its first flight between 2023 and 2025.
Brenda Goh report; Edited by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Clarence Fernandez
