The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has signed a contract with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) for the delivery of a third Sukhoi Business Jet (SBJ).
The new Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) is expected to join the air force fleet in 2018.
Under the previous contract, the RTAF has already received two SBJs in July this year.
The RTAF's previous SBJs have four-seat VIP area, six-seat business area, and standard area to accommodate 50 passengers.
The third aircraft will have a two-cabin layout with a common zone for VIP and business class and will have enough capacity to accommodate up to 73 passengers, including four VIPs.
This aircraft will be fitted with the latest passenger comfort systems, including various types of communication and the inflight-entertainment multimedia system.
The SSJ100 is designed to carry passengers on short-haul and medium-haul routes and has an operating range of more than 4,500km.
The contract also requires the company to provide the after-sales support on site in Thailand.
Additionally, SCAC will conduct crews’ education and training at SuperJet International’s training centre in Venice.
Production and assembly of the aircraft will be carried out in Komsomolsk-on-Amur (Russia).
To date, SCAC has delivered 111 aircraft to several customers in Russia, Central Europe, Central America and Southeast Asia.
Eight of the aircraft are in business configuration and jets with special purposes, such as air hospital for EMERCOM, for border aviation regiment.
Image: The SSJ100 in flight. Photo: courtesy of JSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft.
