The Superjet 100 project is a family of medium-haul passenger aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in cooperation with major U.S. and European aviation corporations, including Boeing, Snecma, Thales, Messier Dowty, Liebherr Aerospace and Honeywell.
Kommersant said Russian MP Anatoly Lisitsyn had outlined the need for additional financing for the Superjet 100 project on the eve of Friday's plenary session of the lower house of parliament.
"Without additional financing we will not be able to manufacture 60 Superjet 100s annually as envisioned by the federal program on the development of civil aviation until 2015," Lisitsyn said.
A source at Sukhoi Civil Aircraft told Kommersant that the company needed 3 billion rubles ($114 million) until 2010 to cover rising interest rates and costs for aircraft construction materials as part of the $1.4-billion Superjet project.
In addition, NPO Saturn, a leading Russian engine maker, which manufactures the SaM-146 engine for the Superjet 100, has asked for one billion rubles ($38 mln) for the same purposes.
Sukhoi, which is part of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation, plans to manufacture at least 700 Superjet 100s, and intends to sell 35% of them to North America, 25% to Europe, 10% to Latin America, and 7% to Russia and China.
Sukhoi earlier said it had so far secured at least 100 firm orders for the aircraft.
The airliner made its first test flights in May and Sukhoi is planning to start Superjet 100 deliveries to clients in the second half of 2009.
Russian government's foreign investment commission recently approved the acquisition of 25% plus one share in Sukhoi Civil Aircraft by Switzerland's World's Wing SA.
