Aeroflot placed a follow-on order for 20 Sukhoi Superjet 100s in a factory standard configuration dubbed “Aeroflot Full” on the first day of the MAKS ’17 airshow in Moscow. Russian president Vladimir Putin witnessed the ceremonies marking the contract, signed by Aeroflot general manager Vitaly Saveliev, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) president Yuri Slyusar and VEB state development bank chairman Sergei Gorkov.

Aeroflot already operates 30 Superjets—the last of which came last year—acquired under the initial contract signed in December 2005. The sides announced the follow-on deal under a memorandum of understanding in January 2015, but Aeroflot experienced problems finding a suitable financier. The additional aircraft will come in a similar configuration, seating 12 business and 75 economy class passengers.

Speaking at the ceremony, Slyusar promised to improve the after-sales support for the type, “sparing no effort to make it compliant to the best international standards.” He added that Sukhoi Civil Aircraft will complete the deliveries under the follow-on order within a year, the last SSJ100 on order coming in July 2018. For his part, Saveliev said the airline appreciates the importance of Aeroflot’s support for Russian manufacturing.

“Throughout our entire history, we have been helping the local manufacturers make their products viable, help them with curing the teething problems and then operate new types en mass on revenue services,” he explained. “I am convinced that we will continue our cooperation with the local industry, acting in the best interests of Russian aviation and our country.”

Saveliev did not hide that Aeroflot placed the additional order for the SSJ100 under the insistence of the Russian president and his government. Gorkov said that his bank, as one of the biggest Russian financial institutions, considers aviation one of the top priorities for its investment activities. He stressed that the bank and its leasing arm, VEB Leasing, have long participated in SSJ100 development funding and structuring financial packages for airlines that operate the type.