MOSCOW, April 4 (RIA Novosti) – Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi said on Wednesday it would repurchase its first ten Sukhoi SuperJet-100 (SSJ-100) aircraft from the national flagship airline Aeroflot for approximately $19 million each.

The first ten aircraft that were delivered to Aeroflot in a simplified version are to be replaced with “full-version” aircraft in 2013-2014.

The catalog price for SSJ-100 is about $35.4 million in its “Basic” version and $36.2 million in the “Long Range” version.

Aeroflot was the launch customer for the SSJ-100 project, signing a contract for the delivery of 30 aircraft. The value of the contract was not disclosed, but according to Sukhoi sources, the Russian flagship air carrier bought the planes at a substantial discount.

Sukhoi Vice President Igor Syrtsov has said the ten aircraft might be converted into business-class planes and sold to private buyers.

Photo: Rob Vogelaar Z.A.P.P.