13 September 2009
Iran plans to buy the latest Russian airliner, the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ), a lawmaker said.
Mohammadreza Saberi told ISNA that Roads and Transportation Minister Hamid Behbahani met his Russian counterpart in Moscow recently, where it was decided to buy the SSJ.
The SSJ is Russia's latest medium-haul airliner, designed and built with an eye on the lucrative export market. It has already secured tens of orders domestically in Russia, including from the flag carrier Aeroflot. SSJ can carry 75 to 95 passengers, and is priced competitively at around $28 million, which is claimed to undercut its main rival the Brazilian Embraer 190 and 195 by 18-22 percent.
It is powered by two Powerjet SaM146 turbofan engines, which are jointly produced by France's Snecma and Russia's NPO Saturn.
Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, US imposed unilateral sanctions against Iran, which has restricted the country's ability to renew its fleet of airliners with western aircraft.
Iran is now embarking on a major fleet renewal program by purchasing the latest Russian aircraft, including the 210-seat Tupolev Tu-204SM.
Iran plans to buy the latest Russian airliner, the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ), a lawmaker said.
Mohammadreza Saberi told ISNA that Roads and Transportation Minister Hamid Behbahani met his Russian counterpart in Moscow recently, where it was decided to buy the SSJ.
The SSJ is Russia's latest medium-haul airliner, designed and built with an eye on the lucrative export market. It has already secured tens of orders domestically in Russia, including from the flag carrier Aeroflot. SSJ can carry 75 to 95 passengers, and is priced competitively at around $28 million, which is claimed to undercut its main rival the Brazilian Embraer 190 and 195 by 18-22 percent.
It is powered by two Powerjet SaM146 turbofan engines, which are jointly produced by France's Snecma and Russia's NPO Saturn.
Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, US imposed unilateral sanctions against Iran, which has restricted the country's ability to renew its fleet of airliners with western aircraft.
Iran is now embarking on a major fleet renewal program by purchasing the latest Russian aircraft, including the 210-seat Tupolev Tu-204SM.
© Iran Daily 2009
