OREANDA-NEWS. July 23, 2010. At the Farnborough International IRKUT Corporation and Malaysia based CRECOM BURJ RESOURCES Ltd. signed a contract on 50 MC-21 passenger aircraft. The contract includes firm order for 25 MC-21-200 and 25 MC-21-300 starting from 2016. The contract will be worth up to USD 3 billion.

The sides have fixed their intention on further development of industrial and technology cooperation within the contract framework.

The Malaysian MoD Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who witnessed the contract signature stated that IRKUT Corporation has been Malaysia’s reliable partner for a long time. He also stressed Malaysia’s full satisfaction regarding Su-30MK program which “conducts extremely well”. The Malaysian MoD has been also satisfied with the cooperation development in the high-tech sphere.

From his hand Oleg Demchenko, IRKUT Corporation President stressed his deep satisfaction in a fact that a company from Malaysia became the first international customer for MC-21. He said: “We do appreciate the atmosphere of trust we enjoy through our relationship with Malaysia. The launch customer is a special person but we are confident to fulfil our obligations in time. Our confidence has been based on the up-to-date fulfilment of the MC-21 program”.

According to the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) President Alexey Fedorov MC-21 is a UAC top priority product in the field of civil aviation being fully supported by the Russian government. He also stressed that both UAC and IRKUT Corporation are to develop mutually beneficial cooperation with Malaysian companies demonstrating impressive achievements in high-tech sphere.

MC-21 program includes a family of short and medium range passenger aircraft of advanced cost-efficiency targeting Russia’s domestic and international markets. IRKUT Corporation is a program prime-contractor. The aircraft are to be developed within the frame work of the Russia’s Federal program on the civil aircraft development.  The high technology application to the MC-21 aircraft gives advantages against all existing aircraft at the market. The ecologically friendly aircraft will benefit with 12-15% fuel consumption reduction as well as high level of passengers comfort. The MC-21 maiden flight has been scheduled for 2014, the aircraft is going to be certified in 2015 according to the Russian standards and receive an international certificate by 2016. The MC-21-200 and MC-21-300 has been designed for 150 and 181 passengers accordingly (single class cabin design with chairs gap of 32 inches).