Russia's United Aircraft Corp Details Sukhoi, Irkut Merger

Russia’s United Aircraft (UAC) has announced plans to establish a new corporate centre that combines the operations of member companies Irkut and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC).

The plan also includes setting up of a new civil aviation division on the basis of Irkut. The new plan is expected to help integrate the three companies into a unified corporate centre under a single united company, UAC announced Friday.

The plan was disclosed after a board meeting held between the governing bodies of UAC, Irkut and SCAC. It is also a part of the corporate transformation programme decided by the UAC’s board of directors in December 2016.

UAC president Yury Slyusar said, “We are close to a situation where any project should involve all parts of the mechanism and the old structure is becoming less and less adequate to new challenges.

“We are not competing inside the country, as previously, we are competing globally with global players. Without solidarity, there is no competitiveness.” Slyusar added.

“The single united company should become the vehicle that will help to achieve the necessary competitiveness level. In this logic, we are bringing UAC’s corporate landscape to the target model.” He added.

According to the new plan, UAC president Yury Slyusar will continue to retain his current post during the transformation and become president of Irkut after the completion of the transformation.

Oleg Demchenko, who has been managing Irkut, will become the first vice-president and chief designer of Irkut. SCAC will be responsible for marketing, sales and after-sales support of all civil aircraft produced by UAC.

Alexander Rubtsov will replace Vladislav Masalov to become the new president of SCAC. UAC further noted that its corporate transformation programmes are aimed at helping the company to achieve its strategic goal of increasing the share of civil product portfolio to 45% by 2035.

The programmes are also expected to increase annual civil aircraft production between 100 and 120 aircraft a year, as well as increase UAC’s economic efficiency and reduce costs.