Russia's United Aircraft has concluded an agreement with engine manufacturer PowerJet covering the supply of its SaM146 engines for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft.
During a meeting on 26 May in Rybinsk, the two sides discussed the possibility of increasing the engine production rate by the Franco-Russian joint enterprise in 2011-12.
Ilya Fyodorov, managing director of PowerJet's Russian partner NPO Saturn, said it had demonstrated the ability to build up to five engines a month.
"To ensure this build rate, we've expanded its facility, modernised the foundry shop and localised the manufacture of rotating vanes and nozzle segments for the SaM146 low-pressure turbines," said Fyodorov.
"We've also introduced lean technology and more than halved production times to fabricate the most critical engine components such as turbine shafts."
Following the presentation, Sukhoi's civil division and PowerJet initialled an updated agreement specifying the schedule for engine delivery to Sukhoi's assembly plant KnAAPO.
SaM146 programme co-director Yuri Basyuk said: "Most important, we've solved all contradictions regarding the schedule.
"It is fully harmonised with Superjet 100 delivery plans and provides for increasing the engine production rate starting from October."
Source: Flight International
