The decision to continue with the Tupolev Tu-204SM project was made by Sergei Ivanov as he chaired a special meeting with the Russian aircraft manufacturing industry leaders earlier this week.

Over the whole of the past year, the project was under heavy critics for delays and overspendings. There were voices urging to sacrifice the Tu-204SM so as to save the money for other, more promising aeronautic designs. On the other hand, the Tu-204SM is needed to bridge the gap before the next generation MS-21 narrow body jet becomes available sometime in 2016.

The Tu-204SM is in the same class with the MS-21 and could help Russia keep presence in the given market segment. Besides, closing down the Tu-204 might have further impoverished the social situation in Ulyanovsk, where Aviastar-SP plant is located. Obviously, the Kremlin does not want it in the view of presidential elections in 2012. This consideration is understood to have set a prevailing mood at the decisive meeting chaired by Sergei Ivanov.

The Tu-204SM is the newest version of the initial Tu-204 twinjet that first flew in January 1989. Since then the design has come a long way. Nearly fifty airframes have been built so far. An operable prototype of the Tu-204SM got airborne on 29 December 2010. It has performed several flights since then. Certification is expected in late 2011 and entry into service in early 2012.