The C929 wants to be the great leap of China in commercial aviation. For now, your heart remains in Western hands

For years, the domain of commercial sky has been in the hands of two giants: Airbus and Boeing. China wants to break that hegemony, and is willing to do it with its own name in the cabin. Comacthe China commercial aircraft corporationhe has been trying to make planes capable of competing with global references for years. First was the C919. Now, the bet is redoubled with The C929.

This new model, even in a preliminary design phase, represents the most serious ambition of Beijing for placing a long -range plane on the international board. The objective is clear: to deal with heavyweights such as the Airbus A330neohe A350 or the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. And the figures accompany: capacity for about 280 passengers, an estimated autonomy of 12,000 kilometers and a design that, on paper, would allow to cover routes such as Beijing – New York.

The internal deployment of C919: a discreet but strategic conquest

The C919 has not conquered the global sky, but it has begun to take off within China. Since It was officially presented in 2017has gone through years of evidence, certifications and adjustments. SCMP points out thatas of June 2025, about 18 units fly domestic routes, mainly operated by airlines such as China Eastern.

It may seem little, but the fact that it works only in China is not necessarily a failure. On the contrary: We talk about one of the largest aviation markets on the planet. And in that context, having its own plane capable of covering regional routes without depending on Western manufacturers is already, in itself, a strategic movement.

The real commitment of Comac, however, is the C929. A plane from Width and long scope fuselage which aims to stand up to the most advanced models in the market. The project has won impulse in recent months: Air China signed an agreement To become a launch customer, and a supplier has reported that he hopes to deliver the first fuselage section in 2027.

PROMOTIONAL IMAGE OF COMAC C-929

The development of C929 has a peculiar history. In the beginning, it was a joint effort with Russia. The project was then known as CR929, under the baton of a mixed company between Comac and the UAC Russian, called CRAIC (China-Russia Commercial Aircraft International Corporation). However, political tensions, the invasion of Ukraine and international sanctions on Moscow ended up forcing The dissolution of that alliance. Since 2023, Comac has moved on solo, turning C929 into an exclusively Chinese project.

Comac has presented this plane highlighting several advanced technologies, including a Optimized aerodynamicsstate -of -the -art engines and integration of smart flight systems. In theory, it is a plane at the height of its western competitors.

A C-919 Landing in China

But there is a key detail: to fly, the C929 needs much more than Chinese wings. His “technological heart” continues to depend on the West. Safranthe French giant of the aerospace industry, He has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with COMAC to supply the brake system, ice detection, tire pressure sensors and oxygen system. For her part, the American Crane Aerospace will provide sensors for cabin doors.

Although these agreements show that Comac is still able to attract international suppliers, they also put an uncomfortable reality on the table: their program remains, to a large extent, Tied to foreign technology. And that, in an uncertain global context, is a latent risk.

The Russian precedent that China cannot ignore

Russia offers a mirror. The latest Western sanctions cut off the country’s access to key components for its aeronautical industry. The TU-214a half-long reach that could transport between 155 and 210 passengers and fly to about 6,500 kilometers, was severely limited. Many of their critical systems depended on foreign technology. Moscow has worked since then in local substitutions, but possibly at the expense of performance and reliability.

China, of course, has proven to be very resilient. He has dodged restrictions in sectors such as semiconductors, and has learned to convert traction obstacles. However, a change in United States commercial policy I could leave them without western engine. “If the US authorities prevent ge supplies the engine, then there will be no CFM engine,” A spokeswoman for Safran warned during the Paris Aeronautical Hall.

Images | Comac

In Xataka | The C919 Comac