The CR-929 long-range wide-body large aircraft project, originally developed by China and Russia, eventually evolved into China's independent R&D project C-929 after a series of disagreements and changes in Russia's attitude. Russia's reluctance to provide key technology and its attempt to collect royalties for the sale of the C-929 in the Chinese domestic market has sparked disagreement. In addition, with the rapid development of China's domestically produced large aircraft technology, Russia's aircraft research and development experience and technology are not irreplaceable. Therefore, China and Russia chose to part ways in the face of large differences, and China decided to undertake the research and development of the C-929 alone.
Expanding: In the course of cooperation in the past, China and Russia have encountered many difficulties and differences. Russia's protective attitude towards some key technologies has made China feel dissatisfied and disappointed. Although the Russian side has been involved in the cooperation for some time, the demand for patent fees in the Chinese domestic market has caused greater controversy. This unfair treatment has made China determined to develop the C-929 independently and no longer rely on Russian technology and experience. The rapid development of China's domestic large aircraft technology has also provided a solid foundation for the independent research and development of the C-929. Therefore, the breakdown of the cooperative relationship between the two countries is a natural result.
Despite the breakdown of Sino-Russian cooperation, recently Russia seems to be seeking cooperation with China again. According to the Russian Satellite News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and ** of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov said that Russia is ready to continue cooperation with China on long-range mainline aircraft projects, but the form of cooperation is changing, and Russia is focusing on the development of aircraft components. This form of cooperation means that the status of the developer will be reduced to that of a first-class component manufacturer, providing the corresponding parts for the C-929.
Expanding: Although cooperation between China and Russia has broken down, Russia seems to have recently changed its tune and once again offered cooperation to China. Deputy Prime Minister Manturov said that Russia is ready to continue cooperation with China on long-range trunk aircraft projects, but the form of cooperation will change. The Russian side will focus on the research and development of aircraft parts for the C-929 aircraft. This form of cooperation is essentially changing the role of the Russian side from a developer to a supplier of spare parts. The manufacture of large aircraft requires a large number of first-class manufacturers to provide parts, which is a way of cooperation. The production of modern large aircraft requires the support of dozens or even hundreds of leading manufacturers, from fuselage materials to aero engines, from large to small parts are provided by these leading manufacturers. However, unlike the previous status as a developer in the cooperation, the first company does not have the right to participate in the development and manufacturing of the aircraft, and all they do is to provide parts and components according to the contract to meet the needs of the buyer. Therefore, the current nature of the C-929 large aircraft is still an independent research and development project of China, and not a return to the orbit of Sino-Russian joint research.
From the current point of view, Russia has gradually lost its core technology in the field of modern twin-engine wide-body long-range large aircraft, that is, the overall design and integration capabilities. The Russian aviation industry is aware of this, and after assessing the upper limit of its own level, it has chosen to lower its status and become a first-class supplier of spare parts. Although Russia is currently the only country in the world that is still introducing new four-engine long-range wide-body aircraft, such four-engine aircraft have long been phased out by the market and many aircraft manufacturers, showing the inadequacy of the Russian aviation industry. In terms of research and development work on twin-engine long-range wide-body aircraft, the Russian side may even be even less than China.
Expansion: In the modern twin-engine wide-body long-range large aircraft space, overall design and integration capabilities are critical. Russia's capabilities in this area have gradually declined in recent years, which makes them face great challenges. They realized that their technical level and capabilities had reached a relative ceiling, and they no longer had the strength to undertake the entire R&D work on their own. As a result, they have opted to downgrade their status and position themselves as parts dealers, focusing on providing accessories to other manufacturers. Although Russia is still one of the few countries that is still creating four-engine long-range wide-body aircraft, this type of aircraft has long been abandoned by the market, so the competitiveness of the Russian aviation industry in this area is somewhat insufficient. In contrast, China has shown greater strength and potential in the research and development of twin-engine long-range wide-body large aircraft.
How can we judge whether a country has the ability to develop large aircraft with independent intellectual property rights?Rather than obsessing over 100% localization, it is more important to see whether a country has the overall design and integration capabilities. Taking China's domestically produced C-919 narrow-body trunk airliner as an example, on the basis of its independent intellectual property rights, it has gradually increased the localization rate, which has now exceeded 60%. This is a manifestation of the good development of the aircraft.
Expansion: When judging whether a country has the ability to develop large aircraft, we should not simply pursue 100% localization, but should pay more attention to the overall design and integration capabilities. This is the most critical and core competency. Taking China's domestically produced C-919 narrow-body trunk airliner as an example, on the basis of its own intellectual property rights, it has gradually increased its localization rate, which has now exceeded 60%. This marks the healthy development of the aircraft. Therefore, when evaluating the development of the C-929 large aircraft, we should focus on whether China has the overall design and integration capabilities, rather than focusing too much on Russia's attitude and opinions.
In short, although the Russian side may cooperate with China as a supplier, this does not mean the return of Sino-Russian cooperation or joint research. The current tone for the C-929 project is still China's independent R&D, and China no longer needs to take into account Russia's attitude and opinions. China's technical standards will not change, and if Russia can provide the corresponding parts at low cost and quality and quantity, it will have a competitive advantage in future bidding. However, if the Russian side is unable to do this, China will not take any special care of it, but will choose the most suitable businessman. If Russia wants to get a contract for an order from China, it will have to work harder.
Expansion: After China and Russia parted ways, China decided to independently complete the development of the C-929 large aircraft. Although the Russian side may cooperate with China as a supplier, this does not mean the return of Sino-Russian cooperation or joint research. China's tone for the C-929 project is still independent development. For the Russian side, if they can provide spare parts for the C-929 at low cost and with guaranteed quality, then they will have a great competitive advantage in the future bidding process. However, if the Russian side fails to meet this requirement, China will not take any special care of them. China will choose the most suitable business. The Russian side needs to work harder to get the Chinese order contract. The cooperative relationship between China and Russia may change, but the current situation of China's independent development of the C-929 aircraft is irreversible. The Chinese side will move forward with the project according to its own plan and schedule, and look for other partners if needed.