Italian company Leonardo will continue to be involved in the Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ 100) program according to news this week. With profitability in question, the Italian company decided to remain involved in one of Sukhoi’s most ambitious airframe designs.
Leonardo will continues to participate in the joint development of the SSJ 100 with the lean enterprise SuperJet International (SJI), in which the Italians hold 51% of shares. SJI is engaged in the SSJ 100 customization for Western customers, as well as support and training of customers. Today the parties are working to improve coordination between SCAC and SJI. Leonardo has sold it shares in the venture, but still remains involved in the further development of the project.
According to the document published by SCAC on January 9, 100% of its shares is now owned by Sukhoi Aviation Holding. The latter has acquired 5.53% stake from World’s Wings SA, Leonardo’s subsidiary, that is no longer affiliated with SCAC. No official figures are forthcoming from SCAC on the number of aircraft produced in 2016, but outside reports indicate delivery of 19 airframes for 2016, or two units more than in 2015. SSJ100 production started in 2011, the highest number of aircraft, 35, was produced in 2014.
Sputnik International Aeroflot canceling some flights to Kazan, Samara, Volgograd and Arkhangelsk on account of problems with stabilizers on some Superjet 100 aircraft. In the meantime, Aeroflot and Sukhoi announced that the four planes with defects would be returned to service this month. Back in December Avaition Week reported Sukhoi Civil Aircraft having received EASA approval of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 Long Range (SSJ100LR) regional jet, which would pave the way for foreign customer deliveries.