In December 2005, Aeroflot already signed a contract for the supply of 30 Sukhoi Superjet-100 aircraft, becoming a customer of the Russian regional aircraft program. The first aircraft under this contract should be delivered at the end of 2008. A day earlier, at a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and members of the government, First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov announced the upcoming signing of a memorandum between Aeroflot and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft CJSC. With the upcoming contract, only one Aeroflot will be delivered 45 aircraft, said First Deputy Prime Minister. President Putin endorsed the progress of the project and its broad international cooperation.
At the ceremony of signing the protocol of intentions, Aeroflot CEO Valery Okulov drew the attention of journalists to the fact that the new Russian airframe is another important one. He suggested making it the graduation class for flight schools: "We are interested in civilian pilots graduating with certificate of flight operations on this aircraft."