Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (Zhukovsky) has signed contracts with customers in Zambia for the supply of five SSJ 100/95s, the president of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Yury Slyusar, has said.

Speaking to Rossiya 24 television last week, Slyusar said the order entailed four SuperJets for a planned start-up carrier and a VIP-configured jet for use by Zambia's President Edgar Lungu.

"The delivery of the aircraft to the African continent will take place as early as next year," he said.

As previously reported, Sukhoi is also courting entities in Namibia, Nigeria, and Ghana over their purported interest in the aircraft.