China-Russia wide-body C929 jet to rely on western suppliers for systems

China’s planned wide-body jet joint venture with Russia will see a higher proportion of work from Chinese suppliers, though for key systems like avionics it will still rely mostly on western manufacturers, the jet’s chief designer said. China has been plowing billions of dollars into developing jets to raise its profile in global aviation and to disrupt the current Boeing and Airbus duopoly, most recently with its C919 narrrowbody aircraft. It has also been vocal about wanting to support local industry. “Western suppliers need not be too worried,” said Chen Yingchun, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China’s (COMAC‘s) chief designer for the C929 wide-body program with Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. There will be more Chinese contribution to the C929 project, compared with the C919, “but all systems, like signaling, won’t be affected”, Chen said Wednesday. <br/>