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Explainer | C919: what is China’s home-grown alternative to Airbus, Boeing duopoly, and why is it important?
- Chinese government formed the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) in 2008 to design and build the single-aisle C919
- Most of the parts are currently imported from foreign manufacturers, though China is hoping to produce its own indigenous engine for the C919
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What is the C919?
The C919 is a narrow-body jet being built by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), a state-owned company based in Shanghai, to compete with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320.
How is the C919 being developed?
The Chinese government formed Comac in 2008 to design and build the single-aisle C919.
However, most of the parts are imported from foreign manufacturers, including the engine, avionics, control systems, communications and landing gear.
According to a report published in December 2020 by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank, American companies make up almost three-fifths of the C919’s primary suppliers.
Nearly one-third are from Europe, while there are 14 Chinese suppliers, with seven of those being joint ventures with foreign firms.
Among the foreign suppliers, the US’ General Electric and France’s Safran provide the engine; American firm Honeywell makes the flight-control system; and US-based Rockwell Collins produces the communication and navigation systems.
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