The Russian Civil aviation sector has been struggling with spares and supply chain issues for a while since the Western countries-imposed sanctions on the country post the Ukraine invasion. To meet the demand for new aircraft the authorities are planning to revive the production of Tupolev Tu-214, TASS reports.
Yury Slyusar, Head, United Aircraft Corporation said: “The plan is to increase the output of the Tu-214 to 20 units per year. We are working on it. We are making a cargo and shortened version for flights in the Far East. We will increase production gradually."
He was speaking at the National Civil Aviation Infrastructure Exhibition in Moscow. The Tupolev Tu-214 previously is only available on special order.
“The commercial serial deliveries of the Tu-214, the MC-21-310, and the SSJ-NEW are scheduled to begin in 2024,” Slyusar added.
Sergei Aleksandrovsky, CEO, Aeroflot said: “We are expecting the commercial delivery of the first all-domestic Superjet version in December this year.”
The plans to revamp the TU-214 program have been in motion for a while now. Initially, production will ramp up gradually to ten yearly to reach the intended 20 units by 2026.
Meanwhile, Boeing and Airbus make the bulk of nearly every airline in Russia. Now, since both manufacturers have stopped supplying new aircraft and parts for existing ones to Russian operators, the country is looking for home-grown alternatives.
The Tu-214 is a version of the Soviet design Tu-204, both medium-range twin-engine narrowbodies with a capacity of 210 passengers. The Tu-214 is a higher gross-weight version that has extra fuel tanks installed. Both versions of the aircraft, which took their first flight in 1989, are powered by Aviadvigatel PS-90 turbofan engines.