1. Development
     CRAIC joint venture    Preliminary design  

2. Design
    Engines 

3. Specifications

4. See also

5. References

6. External links

The CRAIC CR929 (UAC: {{abbr|LRWBCA|Long-Range Wide-Body Commercial Aircraft}}^[1]), formerly known as Comac C929, is a planned long-range 250-to-320-seat wide-body twinjet airliner family to be developed by CRAIC, a joint-venture between Chinese Comac and Russian United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), to challenge the Airbus and Boeing duopoly.

Development

In June 2011, Comac was studying the 290-seat C929 and 390-seat C939 wide-body aircraft.^[2]

In June 2012, after assessing demand, Russia and China were to set up a joint venture between UAC and Comac to develop a successor to the Il-96. Development was expected to take at least seven years and cost $7–12 billion, with target production of several hundred aircraft. Russia would contribute its knowledge and China would provide the resources.^[3]

In May 2014, a memorandum on cooperation was reached and a feasibility study completed in autumn 2014.

UAC estimated that wide-body demand worldwide through 2033 amounts to 8,000 aircraft, including 1,000 in China.

In November 2014, UAC suggested a range of {{cvt|12000|km|nmi}} range while Comac pointed to a gap in the market for a moderate range of {{cvt|7400|km|nmi}}; initial capacity was targeted for 250-280 seats with later shrink and stretch.

In February 2015 preliminary design had begun.

A nine-year, $13 billion development program was expected to be launched in 2016, targeting a 2025 introduction.

Comac was expected to develop and build the fuselage while UAC handles the composite wing and fin.^[4]

In June 2015, an agreement targeted a mid-2021 first flight, with certification and initial deliveries in 2024.

The airframe would be 50% composite and 15% titanium; UAC would deliver the first {{cvt|360|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} composite wing in 2019-2020.^[14]

In November 2015, a more fuel-efficient, re-engined version of the Ilyushin IL-96-400M was announced as a more attainable and affordable alternative.^[5]

In June 2016, an agreement was signed to set up a 50-50 joint venture.^[6]

In November 2016, at Zhuhai Airshow, Comac and UAC searched for suppliers and approached Honeywell and United Technologies.^[7]

A mock-up was exhibited at the show.^[8]

Comac and UAC estimated the development at 10 years, implying a first delivery in 2027 if the joint company was established and the program launched in 2017.^[9]

CRAIC joint venture

The China-Russia Commercial Aircraft International Corporation Limited (CRAIC) 50-50 joint venture was launched on May 22, 2017 in Shanghai, targeting a 2025-2028 maiden flight and first delivery.

It aims to take 10% of a market dominated by Boeing and Airbus of 9,100 widebodies over 20 years through 2035, with a plane 10-15% cheaper to run.^[10]

Based in Shanghai where the assembly line will be located, CRAIC will oversee the programme : technology development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, customer services, and programme management.

The fuselage will be aluminium, total investment will be $13–20 billion.^[11]

For 2023–45, UAC and Comac forecast a 7,000 widebodies demand for $1.5 trillion - an average of ${{#expr:1500/7round0}} million, their goal for first delivery is 2027.

The 280 passengers capacity over 12,000 km is comparable to the Airbus A330-900 but with a nine-abreast economy seating, the shrink would seat 230 while the stretch 320.

Major suppliers will be picked among 169 companies by the end of 2018, as detailed design should be completed and a joint engineering center in Moscow with a branch in Shanghai will oversee development, employing around 100 engineers from both countries.

Comac's will be in charge of the fuselage sections, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, wing fairings, nose cone and landing gear; UAC will develop the composite wing, wing flap systems, engine pylons and main landing gear, with Chinese manufacture if it is cheaper.^[12]

For Russia, "Moscow will provide the know-how and technology, while Beijing will be responsible for the cash".^[13]

China could see the joint venture involving joint financial investments, rather than an intellectual property sale, as Russia wants with the research and development center in Moscow and the aircraft manufacturing in Shanghai.^[14]

The main design center is in Russia and Shanghai will also have its own design office, for half of the work each.^[15]

In September 2017, it was named CR 929 (CR standing for China-Russia), concept approval was slated for 2017, early configuration and preliminary design for 2018, design documentation for 2021, first flight for 2023 and introduction for 2025.

Leonardo confirmed the joint venture on 26 October.^[29]

In November 2018, a mockup of the forward cabin was unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow China.^[47]

CRAIC requested technical and after sales support clarifications from four providers down from seven bids in May: Rolls-Royce, General Electric, UEC and AECC, to be closed by the first quarter of 2019.^[30]

UAC forecasts 8,000 airplanes worth $2.4 trillion over 20 years, with 20% of the demand from Russia and China, and out of a thousand aircraft, the CR929 may catch half of the sales: 250 in China, 50 in Russia plus from Southeast Asian countries.

Definition freeze is aimed for the first half of 2022, first flight for 2025 and certification for 2027.^[33]

Design

Three variants are planned: the -500 will carry 250 passengers in three-classes with a range of {{cvt|14,000|km|nmi|-1}}, the -600 will have 280 seats and a range of {{cvt|12,000|km|nmi|-1}} and the -700 will carry 320 over {{cvt|10,000|km|nmi|0}}.^[16]

A two class layout of the -600 would seat 291 with 243 economy seats and {{#expr:291-243}} six-abreast business seats, which can be split in eight four-abreast first class seats and 30 business for a seating of {{#expr:243+30+8}} in three classes.