China's AVIC Electromechanical Systems Company and US aviation systems supplier Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation have agreed to establish a joint venture to develop the electric power system for C919 aircrafts, China's first home-made large commercial airliner, the National Business Daily reported Thursday.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday at an airshow in Zhuhai. According to the agreement, the joint venture will co-develop and manufacture C919's electrical power system, including generation and distribution sub-systems. Also, the joint venture will be a tier-1 supplier to the C919's manufacturer Commercial Aviation Corporation of China (Comac) on this project.
The two sides didn't provide any details about their shareholdings in the venture; however, AVIC Electromechanical Systems Company's general manager Wang Jian said the two sides will be "cooperating as equals." The joint venture will be looking at a $3-billion market, Wang said.
Hamilton Sundstrand is a systems provider for Comac's 90-seat ARJ21 regional aircraft and supplies APS2600 Auxiliary Power Units, ram air turbines, high-lift actuation systems, and the power generating, primary distribution and emergency power system. In the first half of this year, Comac selected Hamilton Sundstrand to supply the electrical power, pilot-control and fire protection systems to the 150-seat C919 aircrafts. These projects are expected to bring a total of $1.5 billion to the US systems provider.
