Russian aircraft construction company Irkut published on Thursday a list of companies it has selected to supply major systems for its new-generation MS-21 airliner.
The MS-21 plane, developed by Russia's major manufacturing companies Ilyushin, Tupolev and Yakovlev, is to replace the aging Tu-154, which currently accounts for some 80% of Russia's passenger and freight traffic. It is also set to compete with the Airbus A-320 and Boeing 737 aircraft.
Russian company Avionika and U.S. Rockwell Collins, a provider of aviation and information technology systems, will jointly deliver avionics systems to be assembled by Irkut.
Another U.S. company, Pratt & Whitney, has won a tender to supply the high-bypass turbofan engine PW1000G for the MS-21. The engine is also used for the Bombardier C-Series and Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) airliners.
The MS-21 airliner, which is expected to perform its maiden flight in 2015, should go on stream in 2016.
Irkut has been designing the $8 billion project jointly with the Yakovlev design bureau since 2007.
MOSCOW, December 10 (RIA Novosti)