Discussions between United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and Comac are continuing on changes to their cooperation on the CR929 program.

A graphic at Comac's stand at the Paris Air Show showed no sign of UAC participation in the project any more, but a Russian industry source confirms no decision to exit the program has been taken so far.

CR929 development has been defined by the Sino-Russian intergovernmental agreement, therefore any changes require a lengthy process of approvals. Engineering teams both in Moscow and Shanghai continue to work as usual. Russia’s TsAGI Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute plans to start static tests of a 22-m (72-ft.) long composite wing prototype for the CR929 this summer.

Comac and UAC have been working together on the widebody airliner since 2017 through joint-venture CRAIC, which is based in Shanghai. The baseline CR929-600 was intended to carry 280 passengers in a three-class configuration and was to have a range of 12,000 km (6,480 nm).

Problems emerged in 2022 when Western suppliers refused to participate in the program after UAC came under Western sanctions imposed after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

In an interview to Rossiya 24 state TV channel on June 16, UAC CEO Yury Slyusar confirmed he had discussed new approaches to the partnership in Shanghai a few weeks ago. “We are currently analyzing possible approaches,” Slyusar said. 

However, he admitted that the possible solution for UAC was to pull out of the full-fledged partnership and to become a technology supplier for the program which would be run by the Chinese side alone.

Russia’s minister of industry and trade Denis Manturov was cited by RIA Novosti government news agency also saying that the CR929 program would be amended. 

Meanwhile, Russian officials have started emphasizing other domestic widebody programs. Slyusar said that UAC was ready to conduct deep modernization of the Ilyushin Il-96 widebody airliner including its re-engining from the current four PS-90A turbofans to two future PD-35 motors.

Manturov mentioned that TsAGI was conducting research for the future widebody configuration under the Integral program. The first technology demonstrator is expected to be ready in 2027-2028.