September 26, 2007

Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company, and Sukhoi Company today introduced the first prototype of the new generation regional jet Superjet 100, at the Russian plant at Komsomolsk-on-Amur. This is the most modern and ecological regional 95-seat jet available today on the market.
The Superjet 100 represents the largest collaborative programme between Russia and Europe in the field of high technology, with a leading role played by Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company which holds 25% plus 1 share in SCAC (Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company), the company responsible for the aircraft’s design, production, marketing and certification.

Alenia Aeronautica and Sukhoi Company have also recently set up Superjet International, the new joint venture responsible for marketing and sales of the Superjet 100 regional jets family on western markets and for worldwide after sales support for the aircraft. Controlled 51% by Alenia Aeronautica and 49% by Sukhoi Company, Superjet International is also responsible for the design and development of the aircraft’s VIP and cargo versions.

Static tests are presently underway on the aircraft at TsAGI, the Russian Central Institute of Aero-Hydrodynamics. In the next two months the aircraft presented today shall be ready for test flights: the Superjet 100 shall take off for the first time by the end of 2007 and the first delivery to Aeroflot, the programme’s launch customer, will take place in November 2008. Today Superjet 100 has a total of 73 orders and they are expected to reach 100 by the end of the year.