SATURN – SNECMA Moteurs
Relations between the NPO Saturn scientific production association and the Snecma Moteurs company well predate their joint work under the RRJ programme, having started with data exchange and mutual visits. In September 1996, the French company placed its first orders with NPO Saturn for manufacture of components. At the present time, NPO Saturn conducts full-rate production of a number of assembly units and pasts for several versions of the CFM-56 engine, which power airliners of the Airbus and Boeing aircraft families. Since August 2001, Saturn has been cooperating with the French company in developing the SM-146 turbofan engine that has been selected by the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft joint-stock company to power the RRJ family.
The problems being faced by the Russian civil aircraft engine industry and its lack of competitive ability are common knowledge. At the same time, there is a rather developed promising regional aircraft market. The class of these aircraft has been all the rage both with Russian and foreign carriers all over the world. According to the data cited by the federal programme Upgrading the Transport System of Russia, the pooled estimate of demand for regional aircraft for Russia, less their lightweight types, in 2003-2010 total 253 planes. Compare it with the long-haul aircraft acquisition plans for the same period of time, providing for 14 aircraft.










