United Aircraft has affirmed that it intends to begin work on a joint long-haul aircraft with China, following the opening of a new design centre.

The Rb500 million ($7 million) centre at the Tupolev facility in Moscow is intended to focus on “paperless” operations, says the airframer, with access to super-computer processing and network links with other United Aircraft facilities.

New United Aircraft chief Yuri Slyusar says that the facility, which opens early this year, will accelerate implementation of major aviation programmes, with the aid of three-dimensional design technology.

He says that work is due to start on a joint Russian-Chinese widebody passenger aircraft, one of several projects in progress at the company.

Slyusar highlights the planned first flight of the Irkut MC-21 in 2016 and the development of the Ilyushin Il-112 transport.

Source: Cirium Dashboard