An agreement signed at the show on Tuesday gives Italy's Avio 8.8% of the SM146 engine program being developed by Snecma of France and Russia's Saturn for Sukhoi's Russian Regional Jet. The agreement, signed by Snecma chairman and CEO Marc Ventre, and his Avio counterpart, Saverio Strati, gives Italy a risk-sharing element within that part of the program owned by Snecma. "The SM146 will embody the world's leading engine technology, and Avio's contribution will be a key element in this strategy," said Ventre. Sukhoi is anticipating sales of between 800 and 1,000 of the twin-jets.
