A senior Russian aviation official says Iranian carriers are taking interest in Tupolev's new Tu-204SM twin-jet passenger aircraft and are among the potential customers of the plane, reported Press TV.
Vice President of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Alexander Tulyakov told reporters on Monday that Iranian airliners have raised the total purchase order for the Tupolev Tu-204SM jets to 20, Mehr news agency reported Tuesday.
The remarks come as Russia was expected to deliver only five Tupolev Tu-204 SM passenger aircraft to Iran under an agreement signed between Russian Ilyushin Finance Company (IFC) and Iran Airtour Airline in 2009.
However, Pratt & Whitney -- an American aircraft engine manufacturer and a major shareholder of Russia's Perm Engine Company -- informed Iran Airtour Airline a year later that the delivery of five Tupolev TU-204SM jetliners equipped with PS-90A2 engines are impossible due to Washington's unilateral sanctions against Tehran.
According to UAC officials, Russia will deliver Tupolev TU-204SM airliners equipped with PS-90A engines to Iran. It seems that Americans have had no role in the development of PS-90A engines.
The Tupolev Tu-204SM, a significant upgrade of Tupolev Tu-204, is a twin-engine medium range Russian airliner capable of carrying 210 passengers.
The aircraft is equipped with the latest navigation and radio communication equipment, as well as state-of-the-art hardware. It is controlled by two pilots instead of three crew members required to navigate the basic Tu-204 version.
The Tupolev Tu-204SM performed its maiden flight from Russia's Ulyanovsk Vostochny Airport on December 29, 2010.
Iran plans to purchase the Russian-built passenger aircraft to renovate its aviation fleet.