Engine delay holds up SuperJet deliveries

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft will supply six Sukhoi Superjets to Aeroflot flagship carrier this year instead of the planned ten due to delays in engine supplies, Sukhoi President Vladimir Prisyazhnyuk said on Thursday. The Superjet is powered by the SaM 146 turbofan developed jointly by Russia's Saturn and France's Snecma. Sukhoi will deliver four Superjets to Aeroflot this year in addition to the two jets already delivered. Aeroflot has ordered a total 30 Sukhoi Superjet-100s. It expected to receive ten jets this year, 12 jets next year and eight jets in 2013 to replace ageing Soviet-made Tupolev Tu-134s. Prisyazhnyuk also said the company would produce 12 Sukhoi Superjets this year, one of which has been delivered to Armenian carrier Armavia. Sukhoi now produces one SSJ100 a month, and plans to double monthly output to two by December. By the end of 2012, it will build three aircraft a month.