Civil Aircraft Agreement Opens New Dimension In Long-Standing Relationship

Thales says it's reinforced its position in the Russian aerospace market by signing a protocol with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company to provide the development and integration of Thales' full avionics suite on board the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) airplane. The protocol, signed in Moscow, outlines just how the two companies will interact in the construction of the RRJ and includes a contract of around 70 million euros for a first batch of equipment.

Thales will supply Sukhoi's RRJ program with avionics and will integrate them into the entire RRJ family. The full avionics suite provided by Thales, including the cockpit display, communication, navigation and surveillance systems, will boost the capacity and performances of the RRJ aircraft. The global scope of this agreement implies the production of a new family of regional aircraft ranging from 60 to 95 seats.

Thales has a long-standing relationship with Sukhoi in the military field, as integrator of retrofit equipment on SU-30 fighters for various customers. Thales was recently awarded a new contract by the Malaysian Air Force to equip a new fleet of Sukhoi SU-3 MKM with the full Cockpit Display System and the last generation Head-Up Display. This contract is being carried out in partnership between Sukhoi and Thales.

Equipped with Thales avionics, Sukhoi hopes the RRJ aircraft will be ready to face the Russian national and export markets as soon as 2007. Sukhoi was already awarded a first contract from SIBIR airline for 50 RRJs. Other companies outside of Russia have also shown a strong interest in the Sukhoi regional jet family.

The agreement reached in a highly competitive international environment strengthens Thales' links with its Russian industrial partners in civil and military markets. The RRJ program, which will last between 10 and 15 years, represents a strategic milestone for both companies in industrial cooperation between France and Russia, according to Thales.

"For the first time in Russia, an airplane manufacturer builds up such vast international cooperation around a commercial airplane program. Such cooperation is vitally important for Sukhoi's future aircraft, as it has to be fully marketable and certifiable as per international standards. Today, six European aeronautical companies participate in the RRJ Program, notably Thales," said Sukhoi Holding CEO, Mikhail Pogosyan.

Fran�ois Quentin, Thales Vice President Aerospace, said in a statement to ANN, "Thales is proud of taking a leading position in this industrial cooperation by offering our new generation avionics system. We are delighted that Sukhoi has chosen Thales, the European leader in avionics, to provide the best high-tech solutions that illustrate our group's experience in this domain."

FMI: www.thalesgroup.com