Following the success of its narrowbody C919 aircraft, China's Commercial Aircraft Corporation (Comac) is currently developing the C939, a new widebody jet aimed at challenging industry giants Boeing and Airbus.
According to the South China Morning Post, with the C919 already in service on domestic routes, Comac's initiation of the C939 project shows the country's determination to secure a foothold in the competitive global aviation market, traditionally dominated by Western manufacturers.
Comac has outlined preliminary designs for the C939, although it will take several years for these plans to materialize into a viable prototype.
Comac recently convened a week-long research meeting to advance the C929, gathering top talent from universities and aviation companies to address key areas such as aerodynamics, structural design, and propulsion systems.
China's Comac Aircrafts
Now, while Comac is still developing another widebody aircraft called the C929, initially planned to be a joint venture with Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), uncertainties and concerns arise due to geopolitical tensions.
As a result, Comac has decided to proceed with the development of the C929 independently, without the involvement of UAC.
Russia's withdrawal from the joint venture does not deter Comac as the company remains optimistic about the project's timeline through existing expertise and resources from the C919's development process.
As part of its competition with the Western aviation industry, Comac also plans to increase its production capacity to satisfy growing demand despite potential obstacles such as trade disputes and disruptions in the supply chain.
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