Sukhoi SuperJet 100

Today, Russia rolled out its first new passenger jet - 'Sukhoi Superjet 100', since the collapse of the Soviet Union, marking a milestone in President Vladimir Putin's drive to revive an aircraft industry that was once one of the world's most prolific. OAO Sukhoi Aviation Holding Co.'s 95-seat SuperJet was unveiled before more than 1,000 foreign and domestic officials and executives in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, eight hours east of Moscow.

Sukhoi, better known for warplanes, Tuesday doubled its sales forecast for the $28 million SuperJet to 1,800 over 20 years and said it will build a larger version to compete with Airbus and The Boeing Co. The bigger variant will hold 120 passengers.

"This marks Russia's re-entry into the global pool of commercial aircraft makers," Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said at the SuperJet plant in Komsomolsk.

Russia is spending $1.4 billion on the SuperJet in an effort to make its aviation industry internationally competitive. Sukhoi and Italian partner Finmeccanica SpA have received 73 firm orders, plus 39 options, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said at the factory Wednesday. Link