Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA) is considering bringing a Russian partner into the planned 120-seat airliner programme under study with Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) and South Korea's Samsung.
The suggestion comes in a report on a joint German-Russian aviation study, concluded on 23 August with its signing by departing DASA aircraft group president Hartmut Mehdorn and Russia's state defence industry committee deputy chairman Anatoli Bratuchin.
DASA says that likely candidates in such co-operation would be Tupolev - with which the German company is already working on using hydrogen and natural gas as alternative aircraft fuels - as well as the Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute.
The company dismisses suggestions that Tupolev's freshly unveiled 102- to 126-seater Tu-334 could be considered to be a rival to an airliner proposed in a new international programme.
The possibility of a Russian tie-up is complicated by the possible merging of the DASA regional bid into a wider European/Asian airliner programme.
The German-Russian report urges more CIS participation in materials-and-parts supply for the aerospace industry, and the investigation of a Russian Airbus maintenance centre.
The report encourages Russian entry into the European Association of Aerospace Manufacturers and the European Joint Airworthiness Authorities.
Source: Flight International
