Russia, China to develop long-range jets to challenge Airbus, Boeing
Russia and China have agreed a $20bn deal to develop a long-range, 280 seat, wide-body passenger plan, to rival Boeing and Airbus. The plane, with a range of 12,000km (7,500 miles), will make its first flight in seven years and be delivered three years later. China's aviation market is set to increase dramatically in the near future: Airbus has estimated that China will need 6,000 new planes in the next two decades to meet demand, becoming the world's largest aviation market.

It is set to rival Boeing and Airbus models of a similar size

The two groups will develop a 280 seat wide-body plane

It is a joint venture between COMAC and United Aircraft Corp

China and Russia have announced the joint development of a long-range passenger plane which is set to challenge Boeing and Airbus.

State-owned planemakers Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and United Aircraft Corp (UAC) of Russia presented a mock-up of the jet at the Zhuhai Airshow in China on November 1.

According to COMAC, the joint venture will develop a 280 seat wide-body plane with a range of 12,000 kilometres (7,500 miles).

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A mock-up model of the COMAC was put on display at the Zhuhai Airshow

It's said that the joint venture will rival Boeing and Airbus aircrafts

Both COMAC and UAC will invest up to $20 billion (£16 billion) to develop the long-haul wide-bodied jet.

The agreement was reached in 2014 when Russian President Vladimir Putin met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

The two groups will develop a 280 seat aircraft which will rival Airbus and Boeing.

According to Chinese media, the project is worth between $13 billion (£10 billion) and $20 billion (£16 billion) with each side contributing half.

UAC president Yury Slyusar told the Global Times at the Zhuhai Airshow: 'COMAC has outstanding technology and designs and we will not only cooperate in technology but also in intellectual property.'

China is in great need of extra aircraft as passenger numbers increase (File photo)

COMAC said that the plane will make its first flight in around seven years time.

Deliveries of the craft will come some three years later.

According to COMAC when it comes to suppliers, they will be looking for experience more than anything.

Guo Bozhi, general manager of COMAC's widebody department said: 'We will choose suppliers who have rich experience in development, whose products are competitive globally, and who can continue to guarantee quality from the development stage until the planes go into operation.

In the future, China is expected to become the world's largest aviation market with an increasing number of Chinese people travelling by plane.

Airbus estimates that China will need 6,000 new planes in the next two decades to cope with demand.