China’s C929 jet secures Western tech as manufacturer signs parts deals

China’s chief civilian aircraft maker has secured deals to buy Western-made parts for its first widebody jet – expected to resemble the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 series – despite ongoing turbulence in trade and supply chains.

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) reached an agreement to work with French aerospace firm Safran on the development of the widebody C929’s brake controls, ice detection system, tyre pressure indicators and on-board oxygen system, according to reports from Chinese media outlets on Monday.

Comac said on its website on Tuesday it had signed a “memorandum of understanding” with Safran during this week’s Paris Air Show. A photo from the event depicts a signing ceremony for the braking control and tyre pressure systems.

The Shanghai-based plane manufacturer separately reached a deal to acquire aircraft cabin door sensors from the US-based Crane Aerospace and Electronics, the media reports said.

Comac landed those deals despite slowdowns in global aviation supply chains and uncertainty fanned by US export controls.

South China Morning Post