Russia has approved initial funding for its future narrowbody airliner after failing to reach agreement with Airbus about participation in the development of a next-generation A320 family.
The Kremlin has approved an initial five billion roubles ($202 million) in funding for MS-21 project leader NPK Irkut, and agreed to provide 98 billion roubles for the programme through to 2015. The MS-21 project central to the revival of Russia's civil aircraft manufacturing, which is being consolidated under the United Aircraft (OAK) umbrella.
The government's decision to agree funding follows unfruitful talks with Airbus and its parent EADS about working on the baseline design for the follow-on A320 development. "We spent nearly two years negotiating, but failed to come up with a decision," says Oleg Demchenko, president of NPK Irkut. "It seems our intended European partners are not ready yet to launch another new project due to the ongoing success of the A320 family and the need to complete already launched A380, A400M and A350."
Irkut's IAZ plant in Irkutsk was selected earlier this year by OAK for final assembly of the MS-21, which comprises the baseline 180-seat MS-21-300 and stretched 200-seat MS-21-400. IAZ got the nod over Aviastar and VASO as they demanded more investment to fund the refurbishment required to build a new-generation airliner.
The next major milestone in the programme is the selection of the powerplant, says Demchenko: "We are going to open a tender for engine supplier in January."
Perm Motors is proposing its PS-12 engine, which it estimates will cost 44 billion roubles to develop. "I am not sure Russian companies can manage it alone. We need to find a strategic partner in the West," says Demchenko.
Pratt & Whitney has been is urged to tie up with Perm to jointly develop the PS-12 and failing this OAK is likely to ask Rolls-Royce to develop suitable engine. "The engine is the key to success of the whole programme. Should we fail to manage the issue, the MS-21 will not go forward," says Demchenko. The MS-21 prototype is scheduled to roll out in 2013-2014, with delivery beginning in 2015.
Source: Flight International
