Comac of China and Irkut of Russia are also developing similar aircraft in the 100- to 200-seat class.

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United Aircraft Corporation, the agglomeration of all Russia's state-owned planemakers, is backing the GTF for its 150-212 seat Irkut MS-21.

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Alexey Fedorov, the boss of Irkut, the subsidiary making the MC-21, says eventually it and the Superjet, made by Sukhoi, will evolve into a family of planes with common technology, but this will take time.

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